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Provo • BYU seniors such as Bronson Kaufusi, Remington Peck, Terenn Houk and Mitch Mathews can now say something that no senior class since 2008 has been able to say.
They went undefeated at LaVell Edwards Stadium in their final campaigns.
Fittingly, those four had standout games as the Cougars thumped Fresno State 52-10 in front of 57,515 fans on Senior Day.
Houk, who was cleared to play at the last minute by trainers after having to sit out last week's 20-16 loss to Missouri with a concussion, expressed gratitude in a pregame tweet for the support he's received the past four years.
"It was a blessing to go out there and play because I didn't know if the trainers would clear me or not," he said. "Also, to have a good game and get that win is an awesome feeling to go out on."
Houk caught five passes for 44 yards and a 15-yard touchdown — from Peck, of all people.
"There's so much emotion that comes with Senior Night," Peck said. "It is funny for a play like that to end your last game in the stadium," Peck said. A defensive end for most of his BYU career, he switched to tight end three games ago and now has a QB rating of 566. Not bad.
Not to be outdone by the offensive players, Kaufusi was an absolute beast on defense, and finished with three sacks to give him 10 for the season, the most by a BYU player since Kyle Van Noy had 13 in 2012. Kaufusi now has 25 career sacks.
"If I had to rank this [performance], it would definitely be up there towards the front because it is Senior Night, and being able to play with all the guys for the last time at home," he said. "I enjoyed every single second of it."
Mathews extended his streak to 35 games with at least one reception when he hauled in a 45-yard pass from Mangum in the second quarter. He finished with two catches for 52 yards.
Blackmon's quest
Another receiver, Devon Blackmon, still doesn't have a touchdown reception in his career, which is why the crowd booed anytime the senior was taken out of the game when the Cougars were in scoring territory. Blackmon caught two passes for 20 yards, including one in which he almost wiggled his way to paydirt.
"I didn't know until I was asked on the field coming off [why the crowd was booing]," said coach Bronco Mendenhall. "I didn't know what everyone was chanting. Yeah, I was oblivious to it, which won't be the first time I've been oblivious to something. I would love to see Devon get a touchdown this year. Two more chances — two more games."
Senior service
Every senior played with the exception of linebacker Manoa Pikula, who was suspended for undisclosed reasons, and running back Adam Hine, still recovering from an ankle injury.
Linebacker Jherremya Leuta-Douyere made four tackles and Teu Kautai, Graham Rowley and Michael Wadsworth had three apiece. Trevor Samson booted a 40-yard field goal, and the only graduating offensive lineman, Ryker Mathews, led a unit that helped the Cougars roll up 520 yards of offense.
Briefly
Former BYU OL Eli Herring carried out the alumni flag. Herring played in 1987 and then from 1991-94. Austin Heder and Jake Ziolkowski carried out the team flags. … Temperature at kickoff was 38 degrees.
Twitter: @drewjay