Baylor Romney Injury Among Observations From BYU Win vs Utah State

PROVO, Utah – The 13th ranked BYU Cougars are taking the wagon wheel back to Provo after taking down the Utah State Aggies 34-20.

Tyler Allgeier was unstoppable en route to a career high 218 yards with three touchdowns on 22 carries. It’s only the 15th 200 yard rushing game by a BYU running back in program history.

He put the Cougars on his back offensively after Baylor Romney left the game with an injury. More on that in my three observations.

Tyler Allgeier's career-high 218 rushing yards are the most by a BYU player since Jamaal Williams' BYU-record 286 rush yards v. Toledo in 2016.

Allgeier is the 11th BYU player to hit the 200-yard plateau, and tonight recorded the 15th 200+ yard ground outing in program history. pic.twitter.com/zlsrU25f5Z

— Greg Wrubell (@gregwrubell) October 2, 2021

James Empey and Harris LaChance weren’t available, but it didn’t matter. The BYU offensive line dominated the line of scrimmage.

The Cougar defense dominated in the trench as well only allowing 22 rushing yards.

BYU has yet to play a consistent football game for four quarters, but they keep finding ways to win.

1. Baylor Romney injury vs Utah State

What is it about this game between in-state schools that seems to knock out BYU quarterbacks year after year?

On the final drive of the first half Romney rolled out and fired a pass for Neil Pau’u.

It was an unfortunate sequence for BYU as Romney was hit and the whiplash sent his head into the turf.

QBs to get injured in #BYU/Utah State games over the past decade

– 2012: Taysom Hill
– 2013: Chuckie Keeton
– 2014: Taysom Hill
– 2016: Taysom Hill
– 2017: Beau Hoge
– 2019: Jaren Hall
– 2021: Baylor Romney #BYU #BYUFootball @kslsports

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) October 2, 2021

Pau’u seemingly caught the football, but it was jarred loose well after his knee hit the ground.

The incomplete pass led to a missed field goal by Jake Oldroyd, his first miss since 2019.

It’s quite a bummer for Romney, who was playing great football for the second consecutive week.

I can only imagine how difficult it was for him to receive the news in fall camp that he lost the starting quarterback job to Jaren Hall.

How he handled himself since that moment, and his execution in relief for Jaren Hall, makes this injury extra painful.

Freshman Jacob Conover finished the game at quarterback. The question now is will Jaren Hall be healthy enough to start next week.

2. Tyler Allgeier in the red zone

There have been times this year where the BYU offense has gotten cute in the red zone, and it’s cost them points.

It happened in the first quarter when the Cougar offense went backwards after a trick play completion to Baylor Romney had them at first and goal from the one yard line.

With the game on the line in the fourth quarter offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick dialed up consecutive run plays that resulted in Allgeier scoring his third touchdown of the game.

His ability to break tackles and fall forward is a unique skill that will serve him well in the NFL.

Tyler Algiers is a BEAST!! @BYUfootball pic.twitter.com/f8cyEYuldC

— Chad Lewis (@Chadlewis89) October 2, 2021

Allgeier is clearly an NFL caliber running back. At this rate, it’s likely to be his final season wearing blue and white.

3. Jake Oldroyd swag

After a wild sequence resulting in the BYU offense going from the one yard line all the way back to 34 yard yard line with a Baylor Romney fumble, Jake Oldroyd calmly nailed a 49 yard field goal to give the Cougars a 10-0 first quarter lead.

The kick was right down the middle which prompted a little celebration from Oldroyd.

Confidence is everything with a kicker, and the 4th year sophomore has plenty of it.

He missed his first kick of the year the end of the first half, but he rebounded nicely to give BYU a 27-13 lead near the end of the third quarter.

It was a similar angled kick to the one he missed.

At some point I believe Kalani Sitake will need Oldroyd to make a pressure kick to win a football game.

As long as he can remain healthy, BYU is in good hands at the kicker position.

RIVALRY GAME—Big win! Bringing home the Wagon Wheel… #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/fYR4SLEtmG

— Billy Nixon (@byuequipment) October 2, 2021

The Cougars get one extra day of rest before they host Boise State next week. They’ll need it after the rash of injuries in the past three weeks.

You can hear Matt Baiamonte every Saturday on KSL Newsradio for Cougar Sports Saturday from 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. or you can find him on Twitter here.