BYU Beats Bruins Big to Advance to Semis

Published: Saturday, 5. May, 2012 in category U.S.

The BYU Cougars scored a season-high 103 points, but allowed a season-high of 27 points on their way to victory over the UCLA Bruins today on South Field.

The win marks the 15th straight for BYU and gives the Cougars their 8th straight semi-final appearance where they will travel to Marietta, GA and take on the Life University Running Eagles next Saturday, May 12th.

BYU's 15th win came with 15 tries via 11 different players and with BYU scrum half Shaun Davies only missing 4 of 16 attempts at goal, the Cougars controlled the scoreboard from the 1st minute of the game.

Davies' first shot at goal came right from the opening kick-off as UCLA was penalized for shepharding only 30 meters out. The BYU scrum half was good and BYU took a 3-0 lead.

Another UCLA penalty, this time for being offsides, led to Davies' second penalty goal in the 6th minute.

BYU would garner more possession and territory leading to the four successives tries by flanker Hynie Leaaetoa, Davies, wing Jeff Ott and flanker Kumi Tua'one.

Following the Tua'one try and restart miscue from BYU led to a UCLA lineout meters from the BYU goal line. And after a deft series of passes UCLA would find the end zone for their first try of the game.

BYU would close out the first half with tries from prop Ray Forrester and center Seki Kofe after BYU turned a UCLA scrum over. At the half BYU would lead confidently 51-7.

The second half saw a resurgent UCLA team cause some havoc to the BYU defense with three tries in the 43rd, 56th and 61st minutes.

Working from BYU turn overs or in counter-attack the Bruins backs matched BYU try-for-try in the second half until the final quarter when the Cougars regained their stride and scored a final tally of five tries.

BYU capped a confident quarterfinal play-off win with the 103-24 scoreline.

The win moves BYU on in the post-season to face Life University in the semi-finals in Marietta, GA on May 12th. Kick-off is set for 12pm ET and will be webcast live on www.liferunningeagles.com.

Commenting on his team's win over UCLA BYU head coach said his team performed well, but will face a very different foe next week.

"We did well," BYU's head coach David Smyth said, "And played solid in attack. UCLA really has some good athletes and did well when their opportunities came. Life will present some tough issues for us defensively, so we'll have to make sure we're on our game."

For more details on the Cougars’ post-season preparations and plans follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

BYU 1st XV vs. Colorado University

Mikey Su’a
Ishmael Tilialo (Chad Harker @ 50′)
Ray Forrester (Joey Mount @ 60′)
TJ Allred
Kyle Sumsion (Mark Bonham @ 50′)
Kumi Tua’one (Braden Bair @ 43′)
Hynie Leaaetoa
Ryan Roundy ©
Shaun Davies
Dylan Lubbe
Malosi Te’o
Seki Kofe (Chris Wernli @ 55')
Tua Leai
Jeff Ott (Austin Allred @ 40')
Jordan Lowry (Will Taylor @ 40′)

SCORING

BYU 103
Tries: Davies 11', 19'; Leaaetoa 16'; Ott 22'; Tua'one 25'; Forrester 34', 48'; Kofe 37'; Leai 55', 57'; Taylor 63', 78'; Te'o 72'; Bair 74'; Roundy 76'
Conversions: Davies 11/15 (11', 16', 19', 22', 34', 48', 55', 63', 72', 74', 76')
Penalties: Davies 2/2 (1', 6')

UCLA 24
Tries: UCLA 28′, 43′, 56', 61'
Conversions: UCLA 2/4 (28′, 61')

Referee: Aruna Ranaweera
Official Attendance: 1,889