BYU had no trouble with Western Michigan in the 2018 Potato Bowl. The Cougars beat the Broncos 49-18 on the blue turf in Boise, Idaho. Throughout the game it felt like a baseball game, with fans and spectators trying not to talk about BYU’s true freshman quarterback. After the game it happened: Zach Wilson perfect in Potato Bowl. The former Boise State commit ended the route with 317 pass yards, 4 touchdowns, and went 18-for-18. The perfect game.
Zach Wilson Perfect in Potato Bowl
In the preview for the game we discussed four things to watch for in the Potato Bowl and Zach Wilson being perfect was not one of them. Everyone knew that it would be freshman vs. freshman at the quarterback position. It was Wilson that outshined Kaleb Eleby on Friday. Eleby had one rushing touchdown for the Cougars while scoring ten unanswered in the second quarter. Going into the half Western Michigan had a three-point lead, but that lead was short-lived as the Western Michigan defense could not stop Wilson.
In his post game press conference, Broncos head coach acknowledged that more pressure needed put on Wilson, stating “We have to do a better job of getting pressure on the quarterback, but I mean, the quarterback had a great day.” Further stating, “It was going to be about what quarterback could get into rhythm, and we said that all week.” Wilson got into a major rhythm for the second half.
Record Setting Day
Not only was Zach Wilson perfect in Potato Bowl, but he set records while doing it. The youngest quarterback in BYU history came out of the second half and immediately went to work. Wilson looked comfortable on the blue turf in the second half, which is fitting because the 19 year old was committed to Boise State until flipping to BYU one week before National Signing Day a year ago. After Western Michigan went on to score ten unanswered and went up three going into the half, Wilson came out firing.
Wilson found receiver Neil Pau’u for 48 yards on the first play of the second half. This completion set up an eight-yard touchdown two plays later to senior receiver Dylan Collie. After the perfect game Collie praised his young signal caller. “He set the bar for himself, but I’ll go ahead and set it even higher. I truly do believe that this kid will be one of, if not the, greatest quarterbacks in BYU history..” Collie stated. He’s likely not the only one in the BYU locker room, and beyond, that believes that.
Zach Wilson not only threw a perfect game, but also threw his way into the record books. He set a BYU record for consecutive completions in a single game with 18. He passed Steve Sarkisian’s record of 14 set in 1995 and Steve Young in 1982. Not only did he break a school record, but an NCAA one as well. He joins Wake Forest’s Riley Skinner as the only two quarterbacks to finish the bowl game completing every pass. Skinner did so in the 2008 EagleBank Bowl on 11 completions.
Playing Like A Veteran
The freshman did not throw the perfect game by relying on 5-yard passes across the middle and allowing his receivers to do the rest like another Big Ten quarterback that got Heisman buzz. Wilson directed five straight scoring drives on Friday. No drive took more than four plays and consisted of 69, 74, 63, 32, and 54 yards. All of which took place in the second half.
The third quarter saw the perfect game almost end, but an amazing catch by receiver Aleva Hifo for a 70-yard touchdown kept the streak alive.
Wilson sat behind senior quarterback Tanner Mangum until October. Learning what he could from the veteran likely helped the true freshman look so poised. Mangum entered the game in the fourth quarter to a loud roar from a hometown crowd. BYU head coach wanted to run out the clock, so Mangum handed off five consecutive times. The senior then decided to pass. He got his final completion for 41-yards. The crowd went wild. Mangum went out on a high-note and handed off for a one-yard score to end the game. It was a perfect day for both BYU quarterbacks.
