LOGAN -- Though the BYU offense has reached the end zone at least four times every game on its way to averaging 34.4 points per contest, the Cougar defense has often made Max Hall & Company's job a lot easier.

"It was reminiscent of the UCLA game and that is ideally what should happen if a team does turn the ball over, you turn it into points," said BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall. "That didn't happen throughout the entire game but it did happen frequently enough to give us a convincing start."

The latest turnover for six by the Cougars came compliments of Brandon Bradley, a sophomore from Tallahassee, Fla., playing in his third game of the season. While others muscled for the ball in a scrum, Bradley instead found the football all to himself, picking it up at the 38-yard line and taking it to the house.

The fumble recovery and touchdown were both firsts in Bradley's young career. The sophomore saw just limited action in seven games last season, playing mainly on special teams.

"I can't even explain it," Bradley said. "I haven't been in the end zone for a long, long time. I was happy to be out there. Once I had a chance to make a play, I picked it up and ran with it and did what I could so I couldn't get caught."

Consider in 2007, BYU recovered just four total fumbles. Before BYU's game against Utah State, the Cougars were tied for third in the country with eight recoveries, but that placement will likely be even higher come Sunday thanks to an additional three recoveries against the Aggies.

Besides Bradley's "pickup-six," BYU caused three other turnovers, including two fumbles. Junior linebacker Matt Bauman landed on a loose ball after Coleby Clawson delivered a nasty blindside hit on Utah State quarterback Diondre Borel and sophomore Andrew Rich recovered a fumble by the Aggies after freshman Iona Pritchard knocked the ball loose on a USU kickoff return. Senior David Nixon also intercepted a Borel pass off a tipped ball, his second interception in as many games.

"The turnovers early in the game were a huge factor," said Utah State coach Brent Guy. "We kept fumbling the ball back to them. When you turn the ball over like we did tonight, it's very hard to win a football game against anyone, especially in the WAC."

• It had to end sometime: Utah State finally ended BYU's shutout streak, scoring on a 40-yard run by Robert Turbin with 13:47 remaining in the fourth quarter. That's eleven quarters -- 116 minutes and 13 seconds -- straight without a point. The Cougars scored 137 unanswered points during that same time. BYU has either outscored or tied its opponent every quarter this season excluding the third quarter against Northern Iowa.

• Another big game: Breaking the 100-yard mark for the third straight game, junior Austin Collie moved to eighth on BYU's all-time record list for receiving yards. Collie caught eight passes for 132 yards to pass Glen Kozlowski. Collie now has 2,235 yards in his career.

• The good and the bad: BYU placekicker Mitch Payne knocked through the longest field goal of his career with 1:46 remaining in the first quarter. Payne, a sophomore, launched a 45-yarder with plenty of room to spare, breaking his previous high of 42 yards against Air Force last year. Payne hit another one through the uprights from 21 yards away, but also missed from 30 yards and had another attempt blocked.

• Five long, one short: Freshman kicker Justin Sorenson tied his career high for most kickoffs in a quarter, booting five in the first period. Sorenson kicked four times due to three touchdowns and a field goal in addition to the opening kickoff. The South Jordan native also booted five in the second quarter against UCLA, one for each touchdown BYU scored that quarter.

Sorenson also made the first PAT attempt of his career in the third quarter.

• For real, not for fake: Max Hall was sacked (at least legitimately) for the first time in five games this season in the fourth quarter. Hall went down on a 3-and-9 with just under four minutes remaining in the game. Hall was also hit in the end zone against Northern Iowa, but fumbled before going down. Though the play wasn't originally ruled a sack, the Panthers appealed to the NCAA and a sack was eventually awarded.

• Wants to be Cougar: Richard Wilson (6-3 224), a highly recruited tight end from Spanish Fork, made an oral commitment to play football at BYU on Friday, according to totalbluesports.com. Wilson has scored nine touchdowns this season (seven receiving and two rushing), including a 13-yard scoring catch in Spanish Fork's 34-7 win over Timpanogos on Friday night.

Wilson was also recruited by LSU, Miami, Stanford, Tennessee, Utah and Washington. Scout.com rates Wilson as a four-star recruit (out of five).

• Extra Points: BYU lost the opening coin toss and Utah State elected to receive. ... BYU attempted its first fourth-down conversion of the season. Harvey Unga ran four yards on a fourth-and-one for the first down. ... Senior Brock Richardson, a defensive lineman from Idaho Falls, led the Cougars out onto the field carrying the Y flag. Former Cougar Mike Tanner carried the alumni flag.