Cougars pick up pace on ground

Brigham Young has long been known for its prolific passing attack, but the Cougars' running game has been just as vital in recent years.

BYU (5-2, 3-0 Mountain West) compiled 221 yards rushing in a 42-7 rout of Eastern Washington on Saturday.

Since 1991 the Cougars have a 95-18 record when they rush for at least 100 yards, including 19-3 under coach Bronco Mendenhall.

BYU is also doing a good job against the rushing game. The Cougars and New Mexico are the only Mountain West teams that have yet to allow a 100-yard rusher this season.

The Cougars are 14th in the nation in rush defense, giving up an average of 90.4 yards.

Only three teams in MWC history have finished a season allowing less than 100 yards rushing per game: TCU, which gave up 76.8 a game last year; New Mexico, 88.6 in 2003; and New Mexico, 87.4 in 2001.

Mendenhall said rushing for more than 100 yards and holding opposing rushers under 100 is a weekly goal.

"We consider them really important to winning," Mendenhall said Tuesday. "We know we have to run and stop the run to have a chance to win. It's critical."

Harvey Unga on Saturday became the first freshman in BYU history with four 100-yard rushing games when he ran for 145 yards on 21 carries and scored two touchdowns against Eastern Washington.

Unga leads BYU in rushing with 684 yards, and Mendenhall expects his burly back to continue to improve.

"He'll get bigger, faster and stronger," he said. "A key for him will be staying humble and keeping the same work ethic. To his credit, he's staying really mature and grounded with a positive, team-first attitude."

• HOT HAND -- BYU linebacker Bryan Kehl entered this season with no career interceptions, but he picked off his third pass in as many games in the third quarter Saturday.

The Cougars finished with three interceptions, their most since picking off three passes against UNLV last season.

• COUGARS KEEP WINNING -- Saturday's victory was BYU's ninth straight at Edwards Stadium, its fourth in a row overall and 15th in 17 games. The Cougars also have won 11 consecutive MWC games, including a record nine straight on the road.

• FULL HOUSE -- A sellout crowd of 64,522 attended Saturday's game. It was the third straight home sellout this season and marked the first time since 1999 that BYU has had at least three sellouts in a season.

Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com or (702) 383-0354.