This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Provo • It wasn't as pretty as its demanding fans perhaps wanted, but BYU sent its 19 seniors out on a winning note in their final home game at LaVell Edwards Stadium late Saturday night.

The bowl-bound Cougars played unevenly at times, but still had way too much for their most recent visitor from the Western Athletic Conference. They cruised past New Mexico State 42-7 in front of 57,134 shivering fans in the first-ever meeting between the Cougars and Aggies.

In his first start since Sept. 30, sophomore quarterback Jake Heaps threw for 238 yards and four touchdowns, but also threw an interception that set up NMSU's first touchdown. BYU's defense forced two turnovers — both fumbles by NMSU's quarterbacks — while improving to 4-0 against WAC teams this season.

Even seldom-used seniors Matt Marshall and Matthew Edwards got into the offensive act — and before the game was totally out of the Aggies' reach.

Marshall, a valuable kick holder and special teams star, scored on a 2-yard TD run from a direct snap to give BYU a 28-7 lead midway through the third quarter.

Edwards, grandson of the man whose name is on the stadium's facade, caught a 9-yard TD pass a few minutes after Marshall's TD, sealing the Cougars' eighth win.

At 8-3, the Cougars have a bye this week before playing at Hawaii on Dec. 3 in the regular-season finale. BYU accepted an invitation to play in the Armed Forces Bowl on Dec. 30 at halftime, although that contracted postseason destination was a given once the Cougars became bowl-eligible four weeks ago with six wins.

It was a feel-good win for BYU, as coach Bronco Mendenhall was able to substitute liberally in the second half and get all his seniors a lot of playing time. Heaps' 27-yard touchdown pass to JD Falslev with 7:30 remaining in the game capped BYU's scoring.

It took some time for the Cougars to get rolling in the first half.

After forcing a fumble on New Mexico State's first possession after the Aggies had driven to their 26, the Cougars drove 52 yards and struck first. Bryan Kariya's 4-yard TD run, his third TD in two games, staked BYU to a 7-0 lead in the first quarter.

But the Aggies answered after forcing a turnover themselves. Danyae Coleman stepped in front of a Heaps pass at the BYU 38, and nine plays later NMSU had tied the score when Matt Christian hit Austin Franklin from 3 yards out.

Heaps has thrown an interception in every game he has appeared in except the one game in which he was benched, the Utah State game.

The Cougars, not quite clicking on offense in the second quarter, still cobbled together a 15-play, 90-yard drive to regain the lead, 14-7, with three minutes, 25 second remaining in the first half. After Falslev's diving catch on third down kept the drive alive, Heaps threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Ross Apo.

BYU's defense struggled early with NMSU's wide-open offense, but finally forced a three-and-out late in the first half, and the offense quickly capitalized.

After Falslev's 16-yard punt return moved the ball into NMSU territory, Heaps threw another touchdown pass to Apo, this time from 9 yards out, and the Cougars took a 21-7 lead into halftime.

Of Heaps' nine touchdown passes, six have gone to Apo, who caught just one of Riley Nelson's 13 TD throws.

Storylines

R In Short • BYU blasts another overmatched foe from the WAC in its 2011 home finale.

Key Moment • Jadon Wagner forces a fumble on NMSU's first possession, and the Cougars reverse the momentum early in the game.