PROVO — Squally Canada has been BYU football's workhorse running back in the early season, but backup Lopini Katoa shined during BYU's 30-3 win over McNeese State on Saturday. The Cougars hardly missed a beat.
Katoa received his first carry on the first offensive play from scrimmage following a fumble by Canada, the starter, midway through the first quarter. Katoa responded with a 7-yard run, and then topped it with a 15-yard gallop two plays after, giving the lagging BYU offense a much-needed jump-start.
“Squally was a little banged up, and you saw his ankle slip out on him a little bit, but it was nice to be able to rely on Lopini to get in there,” said BYU coach Kalani Sitake.