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Provo • After losing 30-13 to BYU two weeks ago, UConn coach Bob Diaco downplayed the Cougars' so-called altitude advantage, saying the thin air played no factor in his team getting outscored 20-3 in the fourth quarter.
Same story on Friday night for Cincinnati coach Tommy Tuberville, who said playing at 4,549 feet above sea level was not the reason the Bearcats lost the fourth quarter 21-0 after entering with a 24-17 lead.
"You can make excuses, but there ain't no excuses for this game," Tuberville said. "We got whipped up front on both sides, pretty much."
What is it, then — the water?
BYU (5-2) has now outscored opponents 84-34 in the fourth quarter.
"You might question [BYU's resiliency] after one come-from-behind win, or two or three, but it just seems like our team comes alive in the fourth quarter and plays hard and wants to win," BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall said. "I've just been amazed and impressed by how they've played in the fourth quarter."
Offensive stars Tanner Mangum, Algernon Brown, Nick Kurtz and Francis Bernard got the glory for the Cougars' second-half surge, but Tuberville was right — BYU won the game in the trenches, overpowering the visitors with the wrecking-ball play of defensive linemen Travis Tuiloma and Bronson Kaufusi and the dominance of blockers such as Tejan Koroma, Brad Wilcox, Tuni Kanuch and Kyle Johnson.
Most impressive stat in the 38-24 win: BYU sacked UC freshman Hayden Moore eight times, while Cincy barely touched Cougars freshman Mangum and had zero sacks.
Playing without right guard Ului Lapuaho, who had a high-ankle sprain, and the last three quarters without left tackle Ryker Mathews, the Cougars got outstanding fill-in efforts from Kanuch and freshman Austin Hoyt and out-yarded the visitors 430-136 after the first quarter.
In the first quarter, Cincy won the yardage battle 205-19, and it looked like the Cougars were going to be in for a long night.
But BYU's conditioning level, developed by new strength and conditioning coach Frank Wintrich — who would have been a worthy recipient of a game ball — and his staff in the offseason won the day.
"Once we kind of settled into what they were doing, and how they were doing it and how fast they go, which took a quarter or so, a quarter and a half, we simplified the plan," Mendenhall said. "Our defensive front did a really nice job without us having to bring tons and tons of exotic pressure. I think both fronts really were the key determinant of the game."
Eight days ago, Mendenhall's teams had never overcome as much as a 14-point deficit to win a game. Now they've done it twice, outscoring ECU 38-7 after falling behind 14-0 and Cincinnati 35-7 after falling behind 17-3.
"It's all inside. It's all in our hearts," said Mangum, who was 5 for 15 for 80 yards and an interception in the first half and then 14 of 17 for 172 yards and two touchdowns in the second half. "That's where it has to come from. On both sides of the ball, we fight on every single play."
Mendenhall said resiliency has become the team's identity.
"I wish I could take credit for it," he said. "I can't say I know what it is — other than I think their urgency increases. I think their determination increases. I think their concentration increases and their execution — all of that. You can kind of just feel it happen."
After seven games against the fourth-most difficult schedule in the land (it will drop some when this weekend's games are figured in) that have taken their toll physically and mentally, BYU moves into the soft part of its slate with a game against Wagner of the Football Championship Subdivision next Saturday (1 p.m.) and then a bye the last weekend of October. Its next meaningful game is Nov. 6 at San Jose State, which was 3-3 heading into Saturday's late game at San Diego State.
Twitter: @drewjay —
A tale of three quarters
First-quarter yardage • Cincinnati 205, BYU 19
Last three quarters yardage • BYU 430, Cincinnati 136