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Albuquerque, N.M. • After a celebratory fist pump for escaping his players' initial attempt to drench him, and after just a hint of self-congratulation for the way the defense he took over stopped the run the last half of the season, BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall acknowledged Saturday he made an early-season blunder.

Speaking at the postgame news conference after the Cougars belted UTEP 52-24 in the fifth annual New Mexico Bowl that improved BYU's season record to 7-6, Mendenhall said he would do some things differently if given the chance to start the season over again in regard to the quarterback situation.

Riley Nelson started the Cougars' first three games, while freshman Jake Heaps rotated in the first halves of all three, but didn't play in the second half of a 35-14 loss at Air Force and played the entire second half in the 34-10 loss at Florida State.

Heaps played brilliantly in BYU's final five games, including a four-touchdown, 264-yard performance against the Miners.

"It was a nice transition for us, with this particular team, with so many questions, and quite frankly some mishandling of the team early on on my part, trying to figure out how to manage quarterbacks," Mendenhall said, when asked if the program is back on track for more 10-win seasons.

Asked specifically if he mishandled Heaps early in the season, Mendenhall said he did.

"I learned so much," he said. "I had never been through … having a freshman quarterback, let alone having two brand-new quarterbacks who have identical percentages and grades all the way through spring, summer and fall camp. I was praying that there would be a clear starter emerge."

Nelson aggravated an injury in the FSU game that required surgery, and the decision was made for Mendenhall, although clearly he had been leaning toward starting Heaps in the following game, against Nevada.

"I think the worst thing that happened is we beat Washington in the opener with two quarterbacks. And that made me think it could work, and prolonged me ... into naming [a full-time] quarterback and putting all the reps into a player.

"That's hard to do when you love both players, who are so equal," he continued. "But I think it hurt us at the beginning of the year, and it is no one's fault but my own."

Another true freshman who took a backseat early, running back Josh Quezada, was also instrumental in the team's offensive turnaround. Quezada led all rushers with 101 yards on 15 carries, nipping junior J.J. Di Luigi, who had 98 on 20 attempts.

Redshirt freshman Cody Hoffman posted career highs in catches (eight), receiving yards (137) and touchdowns (three).

"I am not sure if anyone [that] studied the roster and looked at the roster, how they wouldn't be smiling for the future," Mendenhall said. "They are good players, but more importantly they belong at BYU and they are good kids."

All told, the Cougars broke or tied 42 records in the 5-year-old bowl, including most points (52), most touchdowns (6) and largest margin of victory (28).

"This just showed the continued improvement of this particular team," Mendenhall said. "I am excited for our schedule next year, and I am excited for the future, mostly because the younger players on this particular team have seen how difficult it is to play games at the college level."

And also because the coach has learned from his mistakes, too.

Twitter: @drewjay —

New Mexico Bowl records set by BYU

Most points • 52

Most PATs made • 7, Mitch Payne

Most touchdown passes • 4 (tied), Jake Heaps

Best completion percentage • 73.5, Jake Heaps

Most touchdown receptions • 3 (tied), Cody Hoffman

Most interceptions • 2 (tied), Andrew Rich

Longest punt • 60 yards, Riley Stephenson

Most rushing attempts • 52

Most rushing yards • 219