BYU Football Tops Southern Illinois 50-21 in Dominant Season-Opening Win
Cougars Dominate Salukis, Cruise to 3-0 Start
BYU's balanced attack and opportunistic defense propel them to a convincing victory over Southern Illinois.
PROVO, Utah – BYU football opened its 2022 campaign with a resounding 50-21 victory over the Southern Illinois Salukis on Saturday night at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
The Cougars, ranked No. 25 in the AP Top 25 poll, displayed their offensive firepower and defensive dominance throughout the contest.
BYU's offense, led by quarterback Jaren Hall, amassed 598 total yards, including 290 yards through the air and 308 yards on the ground.
- Hall completed 19 of 26 passes for 290 yards and three touchdowns, with no interceptions.
- Running back Christopher Brooks led the ground attack with 21 carries for 132 yards (6.3 YPC) and a touchdown.
- Wide receiver Puka Nacua hauled in five receptions for 113 yards (22.6 YPC) and two touchdowns.
BYU’s defense was equally impressive, limiting Southern Illinois to just 21 points and forcing three turnovers.
- Linebacker Ben Bywater led the defense with nine tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss and a sack.
- Safety Malik Moore recorded an interception and a fumble recovery.
- The Cougars held the Salukis to just 3.2 yards per carry on the ground.
BYU head coach Kalani Sitake praised his team's performance.
"We played physical, played together, and played with great effort," Sitake said. "We had a lot of guys step up and make plays. It was a great team win."
With the victory, BYU improves to 3-0 on the season. The Cougars will next face the Wyoming Cowboys on Saturday, September 17th, at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
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