Given the preparation time allotted bowl games, coaches can mix and match different personnel and even develop slightly-different schemes for not only any given team’s best chance to win the bowl game, but to get a sense of the team’s best options with almost three months of offseason until the team’s next practice sessions. It’s also an opportunity to assess the team’s current roster to decide which players to pursue, along with how many, when the transfer portal opens up this coming January.

All of this process was on display for BYU during its thrilling 25-21 comeback win over Georgia Tech in the Pop-tarts Bowl on Saturday. Several players were vaulted into playing more significant roles, whether it be due to more senior players opting out or otherwise, with those playing bigger roles largely responding well in helping secure the win.

On the offensive side of the football it was running backs Jovesa Damuni and Enoch Nawahine taking center stage. For Nawahine, it was his last go for BYU as a graduating senior, but for Damuni, he’s just a redshirt freshman and could have a bright future ahead of him after showing some flashes of stellar play against the Yellowjackets.

The 6-foot, 190 pound product from Ridgeline High School didn’t start strong, but found his groove late, benefitting mostly from off-tackle runs to the right side of the line or on speed-option plays. He was allotted his opportunity due to the absence of LJ Martin and it was the first real action he’s had since fumbling the ball away in a 38-24 win over West Virginia early in the season.

Damuni responded with seven carries for 48 yards and what proved to be the game-winning touchdown run with just over two minutes remaining on the clock.

“I was really proud of Jovesa,” said BYU Coach Kalani Sitake. “I think A-Rod (Aaron Roderick) mentioned it before. He said we’re going to give him a chance. I was just showing Bear (Bachmeier) his seven runs for 48yards and 19 was a long. He did some really good things, and I think Bear put him in a really good spot.”

At receiver it was sophomore Jojo Phillips stepping up in hauling in four passes for 43 yards as the Cougars had to throw the ball more than usual due to Martin’s absence. Phillips has been inconsistent throughout the season, but on Saturday proved to be sure-handed and a reliable option in utilizing his extraordinary athleticism and superior 6-foot-5 frame effectively.

On the defensive side of the football it was Stanford transfer Nusi Taumoepeau who was front and center in taking on a critical role relative to what he’s been tasked to accomplish for the better part of the season. Normally employed as a defensive end, the 6-foot-3, 245 pound freshman had to fill in for BYU star linebacker Jack Kelly, who opted to not participate, and responded to tie for the team lead in tackles with six.

Mum on Hill

The distracting aspect of BYU’s win on Saturday was the prospect of BYU losing the services of Defensive Coordinator Jay Hill after the season. Shortly after Kyle Whittingham was named as Michigan’s new head coach reports began to surface of the former Utah head coach looking to bring in Hill as his defensive coordinator to Ann Arbor. Hill began his coaching career at Utah, working under Whittingham before taking the head coaching job at Weber State before joining Kalani Sitake’s staff prior to the 2023 season.

“I think Jay is going to make his own statements on what he is going to do,” said Sitake when asked directly regarding Hill potentially leaving to coach at Michigan. “I am just acknowledging that Kyle is at Michigan and people have some decisions to make. Guys have decisions to make whether they’re going to go to the NFL or come back.”

Sitake did express a desire to keep his coaching staff intact after providing a stellar run over the course of the past two seasons, which saw BYU complete a 23-4 overall record.

“It is not me. I am here to stay. Everyone else can speak for themselves,” Sitake said. “The program is in a really good spot, because of a lot of people — players, coaches, and the people that have gotten to where we are at right now. It would be awesome for me as a head coach and an honor for me to continue this thing going.”