BYU Gets Huskies on the Run, 31-3, and Ends a Streak : For First Time in 38 Games, Cougars Don’t Pass for Score

BYU Coach LaVell Edwards obviously took a long look at the films of Washington’s defeat to Oklahoma State last week.

After watching the Cowboys move the ball on the ground against Washington, Edwards took a little air out of Brigham Young’s game Saturday, and the Cougars routed the Huskies, 31-3.

“I was just embarrassed with the way we played, the way we tackled,” said Washington Coach Don James, after 16th-ranked BYU won the first meeting between last season’s No. 1 and 2 teams.

“We played a rushing team last week and got killed, and then today we played a passing team and the same thing happened,” James said. “Next week we play an option team (Houston), so we’ll see how we do.”

Lakei Heimuli and Vai Sikahema rushed for two touchdowns each as BYU (2-1) complemented its passing game with a strong rushing performance to bounce back with a victory after UCLA ended the Cougars’ 25-game winning streak last week.

BYU quarterback Robbie Bosco, the nation’s total offense leader, completed 23 of 37 passes for 279 yards but did not throw a touchdown pass--something that hadn’t happened to a Cougar quarterback in 38 games. BYU set an NCAA record last week for having at least one touchdown pass in 37 consecutive games.

Edwards was particularly impressed with the BYU defense.

“Our defense created a lot of turnovers and kept them out of scoring position,” Edwards said. “Our defense performed magnificently. I was, of course, as proud today of our defense as I’ve ever been.”

Washington turned the ball over five times, failed to convert three straight fourth-down plays in the third quarter and fumbled on the BYU one in the final period.

The Huskies’ only score came on a 48-yard field goal by Jeff Yaeger with 1:31 remaining in the first half.

“We haven’t played this poorly since last week,” James said. “We had many opportunities offensively but never did anything about it. BYU is a very fine football team with a lot of ability to move the ball.”

Sikahema scored on runs of 29 and five yards and Gary Webster kicked a 34-yard field goal to give BYU a 17-0 lead with about six minutes left in the first half.

Heimuli, who rushed for 112 yards in 18 carries, scored on an 11-yard run early in the second half to make it 24-3 for BYU.