SEATTLE -- There was a last-second field goal at Arizona and an overtime disappointment at Boston College. There was a blind-side hit at UCLA that turned the tide of the game.

"I just think it was one more imposed goal and mark people were measuring us against, and now it's gone," Mendenhall said. "We weren't measuring ourselves against it, but we do know we have to acknowlege that because the players hear it all the time. It's not a huge step for the program, just the next step."

The hot discussion on blogs and chat rooms was about the unsportsmanlike conduct call on Washington's Jake Locker, who flung the ball into the air after scoring a touchdown with two seconds left to bring his team within one point. BYU's Jan Jorgensen blocked Washington's 35-yard extra point attempt.

"I'm glad that there was one play left still to decide the outcome and I'm not sure that play or the penalty can say they determined the outcome," Mendenhall said. "There still was another play left and in that play our young man tried hard and we blocked the kick. I don't know where they went or who got it but I just said, 'everybody rush.' "

• Tough game: BYU junior wide receiver Austin Collie caught a 38-yard touchdown pass on BYU's first possession but struggled the rest of game. In the first half alone, Collie had four dropped passes.

"We were trying to gauge if he was looking back into the sun in a particular place," Mendenhall said, "but he needs to catch ball."

• On fire: BYU junior quarterback Max Hall is off to an outstanding start to the 2008 season.

After two games, Hall is 64-of-82 (78 percent) for 824 yards, five touchdowns and one interception. On BYU's opening possession against Washington, Hall led the Cougars on a 9-play, 76-yard scoring drive. He was 6-for-6 for 80 yards on the drive, including the touchdown pass to Collie.

"Our offense is all about moving the chains, getting first downs and touchdowns," Hall said. "It really goes to the offensive line. They gave me great protection and we were running the ball well. They did a great job today. I'd do anything for those guys."

• Admiring a star: Hall was torn standing on the sideline watching Washington's Jake Locker manufacture his team's last-minute drive.

"It's tough as a quarterback," he said. "It's awesome to see that guy lead his team down the field and score and put his team in position to win. I'm standing there a nervous wreck hoping for our defense to do well. Man, Jake Locker is a great quarterback and football player. You want a guy like that on your team."

• He said it: "I didn't realize I had done it. I just scored the touchdown and jumped up and the ball flew in the air. I was excited and going to celebrate with my team. Honestly, it was just a reaction." -- Locker on his touchdown celebration that cost his team 15 yards, forcing a 35-yard extra point attempt.

• They said it: "But there are moments in sports where the games are best served by restrained officials. There are events that are too good to be decided by an overzealous official.

"Games are meant to be played with joy. And there never, ever should be anything wrong with doing what Jake Locker did in the final seconds of one memorable Saturday afternoon." -- Steve Kelley, Seattle Times

• Pitta power: In two games, BYU tight end Dennis Pitta has caught 22 passes for 361 yards, including what turned out to be the game-winner, a 16-yard scoring reception in the fourth quarter against Washington.

"I'm starting to view him similarly in crucial situations like Jonny Harline," Mendenhall said, referencing BYU's two-time All-MWC tight end of 2005-06. "Dennis is such a hard matchup and he's so sure handed. He and Max are developing maybe a John Beck-Jonny Harline relationship and trust."

• On the ground: BYU stuck with the ground game and it paid off, with sophomore Harvey Unga rushing for 136 yards on 23 carries.

"Just like it did last week, Washington played a lot of zone coverage," Mendenhall said. "That keeps their players high, and when they didn't bring that eighth or ninth player down (to the line of scrimmage), we continued on with that plan (running Unga)."

• Prepsters: A couple of top BYU recruits also performed in Washington state on Saturday. Jake Heaps, BYU's No. 1 target for the Class of 2010, threw a touchdown pass to lead Skyline (Wash.) to a 21-0 shutout of Sheldon (Ore.). Manti Te'o, the top outside linebacker in the Class of 2009, spearheaded a rugged defense as Punahau (Hawaii) routed Central Kitsap (Wash.) 42-19 at Seattle's Qwest Field.

• Familiar foe: For the third time in little more than a year, BYU and UCLA will meet on the football field. The Bruins and Cougars face off in Provo on Saturday at LaVell Edwards Stadium (1:30 p.m. MT, Versus). UCLA beat BYU 27-17 in Los Angeles last September but the Cougars won a 17-16 decision in the Las Vegas Bowl.

UCLA, who fell out of the AP poll after being 23rd in last week's rankings, knocked off Tennessee 27-24 in overtime on Sept. 2.

• Extra points: BYU won for the first time in four tries in Seattle. ... BYU has won 24 of its past 28 games, dating back to the 2006 season. ... BYU's 2-0 record marks its best start since the 2002 season. ... Saturday was BYU's first non-conference road victory since beating Utah State, 35-34, in 2002, a streak of nine games. ... Senior offensive lineman Dallas Reynolds made his 40th straight career start.

• Daily Herald Sports Editor Darnell Dickson can be reached at 344-2555 or by e-mail at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Read his blog at cougarblue.com. Dickson is the host of "The Home Team" on AM 1400 KSTAR weekdays from 4-6 p.m.