BYU Football: 3 takeaways from dominant win over Louisiana Tech

2. Khyiris Tonga transcends the box score

As impressive as the BYU football offense has been so far in 2020, the defense has been equally as dominant. Allowing just five points on average through the start of the college football season, Louisiana Tech would represent their biggest test with the Bulldogs averaging 48.5 points and 461 yards per game. Ultimately, they posed little threat mainly in part to the play of Khyiris Tonga.

A cursory scouting of the box score won’t immediately impress. By the half Tonga had just one tackle to show for his efforts, whilst Tyler Batty led the way with two sacks from an impressive defensive drive late in the second quarter. Even by the full time whistle, Tonga had only registered two tackles.

His contribution to this BYU football defense is so much more than statistics. The 6-foot-4, 321-pound defensive tackle drew double coverage all night long allowing other players along the BYU football three man front to notch up tackles and sacks.

He is also a leader of the defense, both vocally, physically and with his play.

When Payton Wilgar made an ill-advised late hit on Louisiana Tech quarterback Luke Anthony, and a crucial penalty, Tonga forcefully made his feelings known to his younger teammate. Tonga followed up by letting his actions speak louder than words with a quarterback pressure and then forcing a holding penalty from the Louisiana Tech left tackle who had to grab hold of Tonga to stop him getting to Anthony.

This BYU football defense with Bracken El-Bakri, Zak Dawe and the emerging Batty is an impressive unit and Tonga is the beating heart of it, regardless of how it shows up on the boxscore.