PROVO, Utah — The final home game for BYU’s seniors turned into a big stage for the Cougars’ freshmen.
Jake Heaps threw two touchdown passes to fellow freshman Cody Hoffman and ran for another score as BYU earned bowl eligibility with a 40-7 win over New Mexico on Saturday.
A third freshman, Josh Quezada, ran for 107 yards and a touchdown as the Cougars (6-5, 5-2 Mountain West) won for the fifth time in six games.
Stump Godfrey threw for 125 yards and a touchdown and added 53 yards rushing for New Mexico (1-10, 1-6).
Heaps threw a 17-yard pass to Hoffman in the third quarter to give BYU a 27-0 lead, and the pair connected again on a 10-yard pass in the fourth period.
Heaps completed 18-of-32 passes for 231 yards. Hoffman caught five passes for 71 yards.
The victory completed BYU’s rebound from a 1-4 start to qualifying for a bowl.
“There was a time this season I didn’t think that would happen,” Cougars coach Bronco Mendenhall said. “It seemed pretty daunting.”
