“It wasn’t the best game that I’ve played,” Moa stated when asked to comment specifically on his touchdown score. “We weren’t the best at converting touchdowns in the redzone tonight, so I just had to get in…I had to do something positive.”

Moa himself gained 29 yards on seven carries to contribute to BYU’s unspectacular 332 total yards gained on offense.

Central to BYU’s offensive pedestrian production was freshman quarterback Bear Bachmeier, who missed on several early targets while making a few misreads in coverages. Much like during BYU’s opening game versus Portland State, Bachmeier managed to settle in better as the game wore on, however, which is a positive sign.

“It’s coming. It just takes time,” said BYU’s Chase Roberts, who led all receivers with five receptions for 84 yards, doing most of his work late in the game. “Obviously with the short time that we’ve had…it just takes time. I think it’s awesome to have game reps now and to get everything rolling…I think it brings the confidence to Bear. I need to make catches myself, and all the receivers as well, and the pass game is going to start soaring. You’ll start seeing it soon.”

The sooner BYU’s offense soars the better. Sure, the superior defensive and special team performances have more than sufficed to coast by the likes of Portland State and Stanford, but tougher tests are on the horizon. In order to meet those tests effectively, the Cougar offense is going to have to make strides to bridge a lot of the current deficit of production relative to the defense.

Time and again on Saturday the Cougar defense set up the offense in prime position to score, but the offense then sputtered, and particularly in the second quarter with the two field goals scored coming off of offensive possessions of four plays for a single yard and five plays for a negative seven yards, respectively.

Things did improve, however, with the two offensive possessions in the second half producing a 13-play drive that covered 72 yards that ultimately led to a field goal and a five-play 43-yard possession that was capped off with Moa’s touchdown run.

Perhaps the best passing sequence of the evening was when Bachmeier completed a long 41-yarder to Roberts that hit the streaking senior in stride which was followed up by a 25-yard completion to tight end Carsen Ryan in tight coverage. Both plays occurred at the outset of the fourth quarter and ultimately led to a field goal made by Will Ferrin.

“We’ve repped it before in practice and now it’s just executing it,” Roberts said when asked about his long pass reception. “…That’s BYU football and we’ll keep doing that.”

Roberts wasn’t perfect, however, and had one notable drop in a third-and-goal situation that could have gone for a touchdown. Roberts’ gaffe was just one of several BYU committed within the redzone with penalties, missed blocking assignments and errant throws all contributing the the stalemate.

“I think a lot of it was stupid penalties,” Roberts said. “We need to clean those up as an offense and it happens. It’s a first couple of games jitters and that’s what happens when you start college football…You need to be clean and the best teams are those that can clean up that little stuff and execute in the redzone.”

The Cougar offense will now have a bye week to pour over film and address its redzone woes, among other issues before traveling to take on East Carolina on October 20.

“I think this bye week can definitely help us to get that film work in and adjust where we need to adjust,” Moa said. “I think it’s super beneficial to see where we’re at during these first two games and go from there.”