BYU football: Minutemen snipe Cougars on senior night

BYU football got embarrassed by UMass on its own field on Saturday afternoon. And just like that, the Cougars are surrounded by questions and disappointment.

Well, it was fun while it lasted, BYU football.

Beating UNLV in Las Vegas gave Cougar fans a glimmer of hope. There was a chance – albeit a small one – that BYU could get rolling.

Nope.

Instead, BYU football was manhandled by the Minutemen. The offensive line was trounced and UMass dominated the Cougars in front of a sparse LaVell Edwards Stadium crowd, winning 16-10.

UMass quarterback Andrew Ford completed 21-of-35 passes for 230 yards and a touchdown. Andy Isabella hauled in seven passes for 84 yards and a score.

But one touchdown was all it took to beat the Cougars.

Joe Critchlow threw four interceptions, proving that next season’s quarterback battle has no clear front runner. Squally Canada and KJ Hall (19 carries for 89 yards combined) both ran pretty well, but BYU only got in the red zone once.

Granted, that one possession came in garbage time. But Critchlow still delivered a good ball to Matt Bushman with 53 seconds left.

The win is the Minutemen’s first road victory over an FBS team since the program made the leap from Division-II. UMass’s play-by-play man said beating BYU would be the biggest win in program history.

So at least BYU football helped make some history.

Next up for the Cougars? A road trip to take on Hawaii on November 25.

Three things we learned

There are still changes that need to be made. Look, I’m not calling for anyone’s job, but it’s clear that something needs to change. Whether that’s how the team prepares, who is playing, or the coaching staff. Losing to LSU, Wisconsin, Boise State and Mississippi State don’t bother me so much. All of those teams are very good. What bothers me are losses to UMass and ECU – teams that BYU should always be better than. So something has to give.

BYU needs better players. Bronco Mendenhall’s last few recruiting classes left a lot to be desired, and the vast majority of Kalani Sitake’s recruits have yet to suit up for the Cougars. But it is abundantly clear that the Cougars don’t have depth. Obviously no team ever expects to have 40 or so players get injured in a season, but the top-to-bottom depth needs to get better.

Thank you seniors. There are no real positives to take away from this game. However, BYU’s seniors deserve all the praise and recognition. We often forget that these players are kids. They sacrifice so much time and effort to be successful on the field, whether they’re a bench warmer or a starter. All 18 of the Cougar seniors are hard workers with a drive and passion for football. This season stinks for fans, but the players are taking it even harder. So, regardless of the results, Cougar Nation loves its seniors. On behalf of everyone at Lawless Republic, we wish them nothing but the very best in all their future endeavors.