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BYU offensive lineman prepare to run a play during the Big 12 game against UCF at FBC Mortgage Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024.

Courtesy BYU Photo

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BYU junior offensive lineman Weylin Lapuaho (61) and senior Caleb Etienne (76) celebrate with wide receiver Darius Lassiter after Lassiter scored a touchdown during the Big 12 game against Kansas State at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024.

Nate Edwards, BYU Photo

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BYU offensive linemen block during the Big 12 game against Arizona at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024.

Harold Mitchell, Special to the Herald

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BYU senior offensive lineman Caleb Etienne (76) prepares to block during fall camp in Provo on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024.

Jaren Wilkey, BYU Photo

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How important does BYU offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick think the offensive line play will be as the Cougars play at Utah this week?

“It’s everything,” Roderick said after practice on Wednesday. “The game is won and lost at the line of scrimmage for sure. We are going against a very, very good front. Utah is as good as it gets in college football in their front seven every year, so we have to be ready to play.”

Fortunately for BYU, according to senior Brayden Keim, this squad has an offensive line unit that has had to face some tough defenses already.

“This (Utah) is a good team that is big, strong and physical,” Keim said. “But we’ve played big, physical defensive lines, so we need to stick to what we’ve been doing all year. That’s prepared us to play well in this game.”

One of the benefits is have veterans like Keim and senior Caleb Etienne with experience and understanding of what it takes to perform against good opponents.

Etienne said the key is to beat a physical defense at its own game.

“They’re very physical,” Etienne said. “Up front they are very strong and they play with good technique, so we just have to go out there play with better technique and out-physical them and play smart. It’s going to be a very hostile environment, so we can’t let anybody get in our heads. We just need to go out there and just dominate. That’s our main goal.”

He explained that to make that happen, everyone has to be on top of their game consistently throughout the contest.

“You’ve got to win every rep, one at a time,” Etienne said. “You can’t take any plays off, period. You’ve just got to win your rep in the play that’s called so you can get yards and score, score, score. That’s all that matters.”

It’s much easier said than done, as Etienne knows.

Both individually and as part of the BYU squad, there have been some tough times that weren’t that far in the past. Etienne took a moment to reflect on the growth of the past year.

“Everything is different,” he said. “We are winning the games now. We’re stronger, closer and just way better than last year. That was just something we fed on coming into this year. We knew we had to just do better and have a better season. That’s what’s happening. Now we have to keep on going out there and taking care of business.”

He thought about how he rallied after making “a lot” of mistakes last season and credited his belief in himself and the team for getting him to where he is at now.

“There were frustrated moments,” Etienne said. “I just had to keep chipping away and look forward to the good days. I knew it would all be perfect because I put in the work all season. I had no worries. I was confident that this year was going to be a great.”

He considers himself fortunate to have the support and strength to work through the challenges.

“I looked at myself and knew I had to go fix this and learn this and learn the plays better and be better. I had to know my assignment, which is something I’ve just been hammering at ever since. It’s been a journey and a process, and I’m just thankful and blessed that I’ve been able to be here at BYU.”

Now he’s ready to go out with his guys and give everything he’s got to get BYU another win on Saturday. He sees it as another job to get done.

“I approach a rivalry game the same way as any other game,” Etienne said. “It’s a big game against a rival and it will get everybody excited. But you just have to just go out there and play ball. The environment changes, but you don’t. We just go out there, have fun, do our assignment, get a W and come back to Provo.”