BYU LB Max Tooley Grabs Pick Six To Build Early Lead Over USF

Sep 3, 2022, 5:22 PM | Updated: 7:23 pm

Courtesy of BYU Photo

KSL Sports

TAMPA – The BYU defense must have felt left out after the hot start of the Cougar offense. Linebacker Max Tooley intercepted a pass from USF quarterback Gerry Bohanon and took it to the house for a 33-yard score. That play by the Cougar defense extended the BYU lead to 21-0 early in the 1st quarter of Saturday night’s matchup.

BYU Defense Makes Big Play

#BYU LB Max Tooley with a PICK SIX.

Cougs are rollin! pic.twitter.com/Qz3fTPR9Qe

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) September 3, 2022

After a second touchdown drive led by quarterback Jaren Hall, the defense took the field with a 14-0 lead just seven minutes into the game. After forcing a three and out on the first drive, it took just two plays to extend the BYU lead.

Max Tooley read Bohanon perfectly on a pass to the flat, catching the ball in stride and running uncontested into the end zone. Defensive Coordinator Ilaisa Tuiaki prioritizes turnovers from his defense and will certainly be happy with the start in this game.

BYU vs USF

PICK SIX WE’RE STILL GOING pic.twitter.com/g4n5KQbes0

— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) September 3, 2022

BYU comes into the game as the No. 25 team in the preseason AP Top 25 poll. It’s the first time BYU earned a preseason ranking since 2009.

On the other sideline, USF is looking for its second win against an FBS team this decade. The Bulls are led by third-year head coach Jeff Scott, who has only three games in his first two seasons. But only one of those victories was against an FBS team.