I am not sure why people are saying that the running game wasn't working. It wasn't lighting the world on fire, but it was making steady progress and moving the chains. Here is each run in the first half:
- 1st and 10 at BYU 20 - (13:41 - 1st) Squally Canada run for 5 yds to the BYU 25
- 1st and 5 at BYU 30 (11:28 - 1st) Squally Canada run for 4 yds to the BYU 34
- 2nd and 1 at BYU 34 (11:28 - 1st) Squally Canada run for 3 yds to the BYU 37 for a 1ST down
- 2nd and 7 at BYU 40 (11:28 - 1st) Squally Canada run for 7 yds to the BYU 47 for a 1ST down
- 1st and 10 at BYU 47 (11:28 - 1st) Squally Canada run for 4 yds to the UMass 49
- 1st and 10 at UMASS 43 (11:28 - 1st) Squally Canada run for a loss of 1 yard to the UMass 44
- 2nd and 10 at BYU 34 (14:42 - 2nd) Squally Canada run for 8 yds to the BYU 42
- 3rd and 2 at BYU 42 (14:42 - 2nd) Squally Canada run for 14 yds to the UMass 44 for a 1ST down
- 1st and 10 at BYU 25 (5:15 - 2nd) KJ Hall run for 2 yds to the BYU 27
- 2nd and 1 at BYU 44 (2:10 - 2nd) KJ Hall run for 2 yds to the BYU 46 for a 1ST down
- 3rd and 1 at UMASS 45 (2:10 - 2nd) KJ Hall run for 2 yds to the UMass 43 for a 1ST down
Rushes: 11 for 50 yards, 4.54 yards per run
First Downs: 5
Successful Runs: 8
Runs that lost yards: 1
Runs over 10 yards: 1
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Now, comparing to the first half passing game. Not sure my numbers are right, but they are close I believe:
- 7/19 for 48 yards, 2.53 yards per attempt. Pretty bad, isn't it.
- With the three sacks for 27 yards, it is 22 plays for 27 yards. That gives 1.23 yards per play
- 1 first down, and 4 successful pass plays
- 1 interception
- Passes over 10 yards: 0
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Just looking at the stats, it's pretty clear that even if we were just gaining a couple of yards a run, we would be ahead. But, the running game was doing better than that, at moving the chains much better than the passing game.
Have no idea what we were trying to do. But the running game was working way, way better in the first half, without any doubt.
Go Cougs!!!!!!