Game Changing Player of the Week: Paul Lasike

The BYU Cougars strolled over the UNLV Rebels en route to bowl eligibility on Saturday, overcoming the fight that the Rebels displayed early, with power running and calculated and precision strikes in the passing game to the tune of 592 total yards and a 42-23 victory. The Cougars look to continue the trend against their softest competition of the year this Saturday, November 22^nd against FCS foe Savannah State, who enters Saturday's tilt at 0-11. For the 6-4 Cougars, this will be a welcome reprieve before going on the road to Berkley to take on a better than expected California Golden Bears team that sits at 5-5 and is clawing for bowl eligibility.

The Tigers enter this game woefully outmatched and should be mauled by the Cougars early and often. Look for BYU to dominate the line of scrimmage, building up a huge lead early in the game. Most of the starters should be resting by halftime. Recent weeks, and the injury of standout running back Jamaal Williams have seen the emergence of Paul Lasike as the bell cow of the offense. He paced the Cougars last week against UNLV with 70 yards and two rushing scores, while averaging a whopping 8.8 yards per carry.

I expect the entire stable of BYU backs to have a huge day on Saturday while the offensive line goes wild. Paul Lasike, in particular, should have a huge game as BYU imposes its will upon Savannah State.  His tough, physical running style should have the will of the SSU defenders flattened after one or two quarters. Lasike had a break out game last week against UNLV, and nothing about this game suggests that he will be slowing down at all. A hundred yard, multi- touchdown performance is almost a given against the soft middle that the Cougars will be facing Saturday. Even though he's likely only facing a maximum of a half of work, Lasike should compile some impressive stats as the Cougars and the Tigers engage in a race to get the clock to show all zeroes.

Here are some entertaining highlights of Lasike running the rock as well as some rugby highlights.