Highlights, key plays and photos from BYU’s victory over Southern Utah

Final score

BYU 41, Southern Utah 16

BYU, as expected, moved to 2-0 on the young season after the Cougars offense bounced back from a rough Week 1 with 394 yards of total offense. Kedon Slovis threw for 348 yards, four touchdowns and an interception while also rushing for another score.

The BYU defense bent more this week than the season-opening win over Sam Houston, but the Cougars held the SUU offense down through much of the first half before the T-Birds got some things offensively in the second half.

Fourth quarter

BYU 41, Southern Utah 16

5:17 — Targhee Lambson scored on a 2-yard run to give SUU its second touchdown of the half, punctuating an impressive 75-yard drive for the visiting T-Birds. BYU 41, Southern Utah 16.

9:39 — BYU capitalized on a special teams miscue, scoring on a 39-yard touchdown pass from Kedon Slovis to Chase Roberts. That came one play after true freshman Marcus McKenzie, who’s having a stellar special teams day, recovered a muffed punt by Southern Utah. BYU 41, Southern Utah 10.

Third quarter

BYU 34, Southern Utah 10

0:36 — Kedon Slovis scored his third rushing touchdown of the season, running it in from 6 yards out as BYU finally got its offense going in the second half. The Cougars converted a fourth-and-3 in SUU territory to extend the drive. BYU 34, Southern Utah 10.

11:00 — Southern Utah found the end zone for the first time this afternoon, scoring on a 33-yard touchdown pass from Justin Miller to Isaiah Wooden. That came after a 27-yard wide receiver pass and a long run, as SUU drove 75 yards for the score to open the second half. BYU 27, Southern Utah 10.

Halftime

BYU 27, Southern Utah 3

BYU overcame a sluggish start and is in charge in this one. Kedon Slovis had an early interception, but now the offense is rolling behind the quarterback, who has completed 16 of 24 passes for 247 yards and three touchdowns. Isaac Rex (four catches, 112 yards, one touchdown) and Darius Lassiter (four catches, 61 yards, one touchdown) have been his main targets.

The Cougar defense, meanwhile, has been strong again. BYU gave up a field goal to start the game but followed that with four straight three-and-outs and an interception from Kamden Garrett.

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Second quarter

BYU 27, Southern Utah 3

0:30 — BYU took advantage of a Kamden Garrett interception, moving the ball 70 yards in just four plays and 37 seconds to add a fourth touchdown before the half. Kedon Slovis threaded a pass between three defenders to Isaac Rex on a 65-yard catch-and-run, and Deion Smith scored his first TD as a Cougar on a 3-yard carry. BYU 27, SUU 3.

5:47 — BYU scored a touchdown on a third straight drive, this time on a 42-yard screen pass for Darius Lassiter, who weaved his way down the sideline. For Lassiter, who has four catches for 61 yards, that’s his first score as a Cougar. That drive covered 78 yards on eight plays, and BYU has established control in this one. BYU 20, SUU 3.

12:36 — BYU capitalized off a short field created from a blocked punt. The Cougars drove 36 yards after the momentum-swinging play and got their second touchdown — an 8-yard pass from Kedon Slovis to Keanu Hill, who missed the season opener with an injury. True freshman LJ Martin looked good on the drive, with a 17-yard carry and a 5-yard catch. BYU 13, SUU 3.

First quarter

BYU 6, Southern Utah 3

1:03 — Kedon Slovis threw his first touchdown pass as a Cougar, hitting Isaac Rex for a 20-yard touchdown. Rex’s TD catch gives him 22 for his career, tying the tight end record at BYU, as the Cougars drove 85 yards for the score. BYU 6, SUU 3.

7:18 — After the Cougars’ opening drive stalled, Southern Utah marched 52 yards before scoring on a 29-yard field goal from Tyler Graham to go ahead. It’s the first points BYU has given up this season. SUU 3, BYU 0.

Pregame prep

Here are a few stories to get ready for BYU’s game against Southern Utah: