PROVO, Utah — Taysom Hill led a big night on the ground for BYU, rushing for 259 yards — second-most in school history — and three touchdowns to help the Cougars beat up No. 15 Texas 40-21 on Saturday night.
Hill was masterful in guiding the team’s new read-option offense as the Cougars (1-1) rolled up 550 yards rushing, eclipsing a 55-year-old team record. It was also the most yards rushing Texas (1-1) has ever allowed, and brought back memories of last season’s myriad defensive failures by the Longhorns.
The elusive Hill scored on runs of 68, 20 and 26 yards. He came close to breaking BYU’s single-game rushing record of 272 yards, a mark set by quarterback Eldon Fortie in 1962.
Jamaal Williams had a career-high 182 yards and Paul Lasike added 87 along with a score.
David Ash threw two TD passes to Mike Davis and Joe Bergeron had a short TD. The Longhorns set a school-record with 715 yards of offense last weekend in a blowout win over New Mexico State. They gained 445 against a stingy BYU defense that was one of the best in the nation last season
The teams had to wait out a lengthy weather delay after a storm rolled through the area, complete with a gusty wind and violent rain. When lightning began to flash near the stadium, the kickoff was pushed back 1 hour, 47 minutes.
It’s the second straight game BYU had to wait out a lengthy delay.
Hill and the Cougars came out of the locker room ready to go to work, taking the opening drive and marching down the field, before stalling out and settling for a field goal.
The sophomore quarterback from Pocatello, Idaho, was just warming up. He energized the Cougars with a 68-yard TD run late in the first quarter, the longest by a BYU quarterback. His gallop surpassed long TD runs from other distinguished BYU luminaries such as Jim McMahon and Steve Young.
So effective was Hill with his legs that he had 166 yards rushing at halftime.
When Texas tried to focus on the run to start the second half, Hill simply turned to the air, throwing a few down the field to keep the Longhorns honest. He finished 9 of 26 for 129 yards. He also threw an interception.
After a 19-16 loss at Virginia to open the season, the Cougars shuffled around their offensive line. It seemed to do the trick, paving the way for BYU’s rushing attack. The previous record for most yards rushing in a game was 465 against Montana in 1958.
That total was eclipsed on Williams’ 34-yard run in the third quarter that led to a 24-yard field goal from Justin Sorensen — his fourth of the night — to make it a 40-21 game.
The defense certainly did its part, too, thwarting the Longhorns three times on fourth down in the final quarter.
BYU receiver Cody Hoffman was back on the field after missing last week with a hamstring injury. He had two catches to move closer to Dennis Pitta’s team record for most career receptions.
The loss snapped the Longhorns’ streak of 13 straight wins against nonconference opponents. Texas’ speedy Daje Johnson hurt his left ankle in the first half and only had two carries for 4 yards.
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