PROVO, Utah (AP) — Freshmen Lopini Katoa ran for two touchdowns, Skyler Southam kicked three field goals and No. 25 BYU took advantage of McNeese State’s second-quarter mistakes in a 30-3 victory Saturday.
Coming off an upset victory at Wisconsin, the Cougars (3-1) easily pushed aside McNeese State (3-1) for their 12th victory over an FCS school in the last 30 years.
The Cowboys led 3-0 in the first quarter, but had four turnovers, 10 penalties, a timeout request they no longer had available, a missed field and a blocked field goal.
The second errant field goal was returned 35 yards by Troy Warner with 11:36 left in the second quarter and led to Katoa’s 4-yard scoring run. Less than a minute later, Tanner Jacobsen intercepted Cody Orgeron’s pass and returned it to the McNeese 31. Tanner Mangum, who passed for just 118 yards, then found Talon Shumway on a 7-yard strike to make it 14-3.
Mangum completed 15 of 25 passes and, most importantly, didn’t throw an interception.
Katoa had a 14-yard touchdown run with 1:09 left before halftime and BYU recovered a fumble to set up the first of Southam’s field goals — this one a 30-yarder — to build a 24-3 lead.
James Tabary and Orgeron split time at quarterback for the Cowboys. Tabary had the game’s biggest play — a 39-yard pass to Cyron Sutton — to set up Gunnar Raborn’s 20-yard field goal
Katoa doubled his rushing output this season with 64 yards on 10 carries.
UP NEXT
McNeese State: Host Stephen F. Austin next Saturday.
BYU: At No. 10 Washington next Saturday.