The BYU football team may have flown under the national radar screen this season.
They made it through the season 10-2 and made it through the Mountain West Conference unscathed with an 8-0 mark. The lone losses – the season opener against Arizona and then No. 23 Boston College in double overtime – were by a combined six points.
“They are a legit team, and we are excited to get the opportunity to play them,” senior free safety J.D. Nelson said.
The Las Vegas Bowl offers an intriguing match-up between two explosive offenses.
BYU’s offense averages 139.3 yards per game on the ground. Leading rusher Curtis Brown holds the No. 1 spot on the team with 890 yards and five touchdowns. Fui Vakapuna is second on BYU with 442 rushing yards and eight touchdowns.
BYU gains 319 yards per game through the air for 458.6 yards of total offense per game.
Beck makes an impact
BYU quarterback John Beck earned his sixth Mountain West Conference Offensive Player of the Week honor following his performance in BYU’s 42-17 win over New Mexico. The win earned BYU an invitation to its second straight Las Vegas Bowl.
Beck surpassed the 10,000-yard passing plateau for his career in the game.
The next weekend, Beck complemented his past performances with a 375-yard effort in BYU’s 33-31 come-from-behind victory over Utah. Beck completed 28-of-43 pass attempts and made four touchdown passes.
BYU trailed 24-14 entering the fourth quarter when Beck took charge, completing 15-of-20 passes in the final quarter for 156 yards and three touchdowns. With BYU still down three late, Beck led a 64-yard, nine-play drive to put the Cougars in position to get the go-ahead score.
On BYU’s final play, Beck took the snap, drifted to the left side of the field and back to the right before throwing the ball across the field to Jonny Harline for the touchdown and 33-31 win.
It was BYU’s first win in the rivalry with Utah since 2001.
Meeting the Pac-10 again
BYU is meeting a Pac-10 team in Las Vegas for the second straight year after losing to Cal 35-28 in last year’s edition at Sam Boyd Stadium.
BYU trailed by three touchdowns going into the fourth quarter, but made a late rally with two touchdowns in the final quarter.
Beck set bowl records with 35 completions, 53 attempts and 353 yards passing. Beck also had three touchdown passes.
The explosive offense of Cal made the difference. Running back Marshawn Lynch gained 194 yards on 24 carries and had three touchdowns. Wide receiver DeSean Jackson made six receptions for a game-high 130 yards and two touchdowns.
Oregon ties
Three players with Oregon ties and the same last name dot the BYU roster.
Shawn Doman is a 6-foot-2-inch, 219 pound freshman linebacker. Doman, who is a cousin of BYU quarterbacks coach Brandon Doman, is from Woodburn, Ore. and attended Canby High School.
Quarterback Sam Doman is also from Canby, Ore. and attended Canby High School. The 6-foot-3-inch, 228 pound freshman quarterback is redshirting this season.
The third Doman, Rex, is a 6-foot-1 inch, 219 pound junior linebacker. He is Sam’s brother and Shawn’s cousin. He comes from Woodburn and played at Woodburn High School. He took a longer route to BYU with a stop at Dixie College before transferring.
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