BYU gets its blowout tuneup over; next week we’ll learn much more about this Cougar team

Lots of smiles, fun and points for BYU’s season opener.

Just what the chef ordered.

No. 14 BYU had three running backs not named LJ Martin run for touchdowns in a breezy, easy win over Utah Tech Saturday night in LaVell Edwards Stadium.

Those guys were Preston Rex, Devaughn Eka and Journee Tonga in BYU’s 63-7 win.

Legend Glasker? Haven’t seen a debut like this since Sylvester Stallone in “Rocky.”

These money games against Power Four teams are like a buffet on a cruise ship for the bigger, deeper, and more talented bullies; you take whatever tickles your taste buds and end it as soon as possible.

Unless you are Rutgers losing to UMass. Or No. 16 Michigan in Kyle Whittingham’s debut, a game where officials put a second back on the clock for a Hail Mary game-winning Wolverine pass completion to beat Western Michigan, 13-12.

Then there was Boise State chasing around, and even leading No. 2 Oregon before losing.

Covering and writing about these games, like Utah over Idaho, are, well, a creative challenge because they are usually lopsided messes.

Fortunately for BYU head coach Kalani Sitake, his 11th season opener at home was nothing like Michigan, Rutgers or Oregon in Autzen Stadium Saturday.

It was a 63-7 BYU blowout over a hard-fighting Utah Tech team.

“I liked our energy, and I liked our effort,” Sitake told reporters afterwards.

“I felt we did a great job approaching the game and the mindset our team had,” he said.

It’s best to bury all the hype and praise over big plays in this game as soon as possible.

So, understand, that’s what this really is — not a declaration of skill and acumen that might be very different against a P4 team instead of an 0-2 Utah Tech.

BYU played a relatively clean game.

Veteran safety Raider Damuni was helped off the field before halftime. Not good.

In about half the game, as expected, BYU decimated Utah Tech with all kinds of big plays, touchdowns, two interceptions, and a fumble recovery — all of which led to Cougar scores.

This was the only time in the last 30 years BYU has had five different players score rushing TDs in a game: Eka, Rex, Tonga, Bear Bachmeier, and Glasker.

The hype of the night?

WR Legend Glasker: As advertised. Explosive, elusive, versatile in scoring three touchdowns on his first four touches. Old-timers, including former quarterback Gifford Nielsen, are finding it tough to identify a BYU receiver with his speed, shakes and acceleration. Todd Watkins had streaky straight speed but nothing like this freshman. Remember when ESPN’s Pete Thamel said in the preseason that Glasker was not only going to be one of the best freshmen in the Big 12 but one of the best receivers in the league? He had three TDs in this game; Chase Roberts had six last season. Maybe true.

Glasker had three catches for 65 yards on three targets and ran a sweep for another score.

WR Kyler Kasper: A stretchy receiver weapon with speed and reach. Call him a tall ghost. He had four catches for 42 yards.

Bear Bachmeier: Slimmer, faster and more mobile. Still a big load to tackle. He is an improved quarterback. He finished 16 of 20 for 198 yards, three touchdowns and a 212.7 efficiency rating.

RB LJ Martin: Still a tank with some vanilla play calls and offensive sets. He got 54 yards, averaging 7.7.

TE Walker Lyons. Great hands, the next Carson Ryan.

CB Evan Johnson: Don’t try him. Pick No. 1 of season.

CB Tre Alexander: Don’t try him either. Pick No. 1 of season.

WR Reggie Frischknecht: Big target, good hands.

RB Journee Tonga: Take an ornery manatee, plaster him with grease, try and bring him down. That’s this kid. He’s a cousin to Sunny Tonga, former BYU volleyball player and wife of Reno Mahe.

RB Devaughn Eka: Baby Tyler Allgeier. Leading rusher on the night off the bench with 59 yards.

Everything Cannon DeVries: Plays nickel, fields punts and kickoffs. Ripped off a 100-yard kickoff return in which he ran 120 yards. Parker Kingston’s replacement might just work. Averaged 30 yards per punt return.

LB Kendal Wall: He makes stops. Like a wall.

LB Cade Uluave: Call him a wall with a hammer.

General observations. Utah Tech improved and fought hard after a season-opening home loss to No. 1 Montana State. And lost by 56.

BYU’s presentation Saturday night was basic formations, schemes and substitutions after halftime. While the questions over BYU’s receiving corps kind of remain in this easy win after losing Roberts and Kingston, it is hard to imagine after this first game that that group is in any way a weak link.

They were impressive.

“Fesi (Sitake) does a great job with the receivers. He knows what he’s doing. There is a lot of talent in that room. We need them to block in this game and they did that. We didn’t need that much (receiving) out of them tonight,” said Kalani.

Things will get serious fast this week with Arizona coming to Provo with revenge in mind after losing a close one to the Cougars in Tucson last year.

Arizona had its own FCS game scheduled Saturday night against Northern Arizona, just like BYU did against Utah Tech.

“Arizona is a good team, and we have to go into this week and work hard to face them,” said linebacker Siale Esera.

Arizona defeated NAU 35-7 Saturday night. While BYU’s Bachmeier did not play in the second half, UA star quarterback Noah Fifita played the entire third quarter and finished a scoring drive in the fourth to lead 35-0.

Again. All the great highlights from BYU’s win over Utah Tech need to be taken away from Sitake’s squad by noon Sunday. Sleep on it. If they don’t, it’s rat poison.

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