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Provo • The Cougars were rolling in the third quarter against Central Florida. They scored three quick touchdowns to take a 24-10 lead, and their defense was containing the Knights after giving up chunks of yards in the first half.

The momentum switched when UCF's Rannell Hall returned a kickoff 58 yards to the BYU 37. The Knights scored eight plays later to get back into the game. Later, UCF's J.J. Worton returned a punt 29 yards into BYU territory, and the Knights went on to knot the score at 24-24.

The kick coverage breakdowns were familiar to BYU fans who watched Washington use two long returns in its 31-16 win over the Cougars in the Fight Hunger Bowl last December.

Special teams coordinator Kelly Poppinga said they were the reason BYU lost 31-24 in overtime to the Knights.

"Those two returns really just killed us," Poppinga said Tuesday. "Really, as much as [special teams] helped our team win against Virginia, I thought [they] helped our team lose the game against Central Florida. If we don't give up those two big returns, I think we win the game."

Coach Bronco Mendenhall said the kick coverage teams had been "pretty solid" until the UCF game, but things changed quickly.

"They had a good returner," he said. "I can't tell you [what went wrong], other than simple execution. And they kind of showed up toward the end of the game, which bothered me."

Poppinga said that, after the bowl game debacle, coaches decided to put their best players on the kick coverage units. He acknowledged that fatigue might have played a factor, as guys such as Jordan Leslie, Algie Brown, Skye PoVey and Paul Lasike played a lot on offense or defense, then were asked to cover 10 punts. Worton also had a 32-yard punt return in the first quarter that set up a 42-yard field goal and gave UCF a 10-0 lead.

"I would say the guys that are on the punt team, those guys battled," Poppinga said. "…They are basically playing every single rep [on their side of the ball]. But that's how we designed our punt team."

Rotating returners

BYU has used Devon Blackmon, Mitchell Juergens and Keanu Nelson as its primary punt returner at different times this season, with Blackmon getting eight opportunities for returns, Juergens six and Nelson two. For longs, Blackmon had a 25-yarder, Juergens a 24-yarder and Nelson a 17-yarder.

Poppinga said coaches hope to settle on one returner the remainder of the season.

"For right now, we are going to stick with [Juergens] and probably give [Nelson] more of a role and see if [Blackmon] can settle down a little bit and execute a little better," Poppinga said, noting that the speedy Blackmon is trying too hard to make a big play.

Fearing Fajardo

Poppinga and defensive coordinator Nick Howell both said Tuesday that Nevada quarterback Cody Fajardo will be the best quarterback the Cougars will have faced up to this point this season.

Poppinga's outside linebackers will try to contain the dual-threat quarterback who is second on the school's all-time total offense list (11,403 yards) behind only San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

"Best one, no question," Poppinga said. "He's the best one we have played so far this year." Added Howell: "Best athlete, for sure. He can throw it pretty good, too. I like him. He's good."

Briefly

BYU tight end Devin Mahina earned CFPA National Tight End of the Week honors after catching two touchdown passes against Central Florida. … BYU leads the all-time series 5-2-2, but lost 27-13 to the Wolf Pack and Kaepernick when they visited Provo in 2010. —

Nevada at BYU

O Saturday, 8:15 p.m.

TV • ESPN2