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BYU Football: 3 takeaways from tough loss to Hawaii in 2019 Hawaii Bowl

By Connor Muldowney

BOISE, ID - DECEMBER 21: Quarterback Zach Wilson #11(MVP) and Head Coach Kalani Sitake of the BYU Cougars celebrate during the awards ceremony at the conclusion of the game against the Western Michigan Broncos at the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl on December 21, 2018 at Albertsons Stadium in Boise, Idaho. BYU won the game 49-18. (Photo by Loren Orr/Getty Images)
BOISE, ID - DECEMBER 21: Quarterback Zach Wilson #11(MVP) and Head Coach Kalani Sitake of the BYU Cougars celebrate during the awards ceremony at the conclusion of the game against the Western Michigan Broncos at the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl on December 21, 2018 at Albertsons Stadium in Boise, Idaho. BYU won the game 49-18. (Photo by Loren Orr/Getty Images) /
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Hawaii and BYU football met up in the 2019 Hawaii Bowl on Christmas Eve and, per usual, it was a classic. What did we learn from this one?

861. 38. 898. Final. 34

What a thriller. Merry Christmas, college football fans, you just got to witness the last bowl game before the holiday that came down to the final minutes between two offenses that moved the ball with relative ease.

In the end, though, it was Hawaii that came away with a 38-34 win thanks to a Cole McDonald-led touchdown drive in the final minutes.

What’d we learn from BYU’s performance against the Rainbow Warriors in the Hawaii Bowl?

3. BYU’s run defense made Hawaii one-dimensional

You wouldn’t think heading into the game that the No. 83 run defense in the country would be the reason Hawaii’s offense became one-dimensional but that’s exactly what the Cougars’ run defense was able to do.

Hawaii had been more known for its passing which showed on Tuesday night but the Cougars’ run defense had been struggling all season, at least until the last couple of games, and it dominated once again versus the Rainbow Warriors — that put a ton of pressure on Cole McDonald and the Hawaii passing attack.

It’s not like Hawaii didn’t try as Miles Reed had 10 rushes for 17 yards, but the pressure on McDonald led to multiple sacks and negative rushing yardage as the Rainbow Warriors accounted for two yards and a long of nine yards on the game in 27 carries.

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