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Miami • BYU quarterback Christian Stewart stood in the visiting clubhouse of Marlins Park and replayed in his mind all the missed chances that could have given the Cougars a Miami Beach Bowl victory.
And then he walked into the tunnel and answered questions, saying he was determined to use the lessons of Monday's 55-48 double-overtime loss to Memphis in his professional life.
"Not football," he clarified, managing to smile.
The last pass of Stewart's career landed in the arms of Memphis' DaShaughn Terry, ending any hope of another BYU comeback.
Stewart completed his first nine passes of the game and posted 246 yards and three touchdowns by halftime. Even though the BYU offense did a good job of following through on its defense's takeaways in the second half, Stewart tailed off, finishing with 23 completions in 48 attempts for 348 yards, with three interceptions.
And the offense failed to pick up a first down in two overtime possessions, which ended with a field goal and an interception.
Afterward, BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall labeled Stewart "one of my favorite players that I've coached in 10 years."
Stewart took over the offense in early October after quarterback Taysom Hill's season-ending injury and made his first career start in a 31-24 overtime loss to Central Florida in Orlando. That game ended with an incomplete pass that was intended for Jordan Leslie.
In Miami, Leslie nearly made a spectacular catch in the end zone in the first overtime that could have changed the outcome, because a touchdown would have made Memphis try to convert a fourth-and-22 play on its possession.
Instead, the Tigers forced a second overtime with a field goal, then scored a touchdown. Stewart's last pass came on a second-and-9 play from the Memphis 24-yard line.
Reviewing his season, Stewart said, "I was blessed with a great opportunity to play. … There's no need to dwell on that last pass. I could, but I won't."
Stewart went 4-4 as a starting quarterback, with the Cougars also failing to come back against Utah State after he replaced Hill.
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Stewart's statistics
A quarter-by-quarter look at BYU quarterback Christian Stewart's statistics in Monday's Miami Beach Bowl.
Quarter Comp. Att. Yds. TD Int.
1st 10 15 181 2 1
2nd 7 11 65 1 0
3rd 1 4 5 0 1
4th/OT 5 18 97 0 1