Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

MAACO Bowl Las Vegas:

Senior quarterbacks to share spotlight in bowl game

Hall, Canfield have both put together impressive seasons

Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl

Justin M. Bowen

Max Hall of BYU throws a pass during the Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl at Sam Boyd Stadium last year. Hall is back in the Las Vegas Bowl this year and will face Oregon State quarterback Sean Canfield.

Las Vegas Bowl Presser

Initial thoughts on the selection of BYU and Oregon State to play in this year's Maaco Bowl Las Vegas from the programs' head coaches and players.

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Oregon State quarterback Sean Canfield has never met BYU quarterback Max Hall, but Canfield feels comfortable speaking for Hall and himself when it comes to a prediction for Tuesday's MAACO Bowl Las Vegas.

"We're going to have a shootout," Canfield said.

With Canfield and Hall leading their respective teams, it's hard to expect anything else to transpire when the Beavers and Cougars meet at 5 p.m. Tuesday at Sam Boyd Stadium.

Hall has thrown for 3,368 yards and 30 touchdowns this season for No. 15 BYU. Meanwhile, the Pac-10 Conference named Canfield to its all-conference team after he passed for 3,103 yards and 21 touchdowns for No. 16 Oregon State.

"If you look at why these teams are having success, you have to start with the quarterbacks," BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall said. "You're talking about a lot of experience and points of reference."

Canfield and Hall, both seniors, have started since they were sophomores. But their paths have not been exactly the same.

Hall has started every game for the past three years for the Cougars, posting a 31-7 record. Canfield, on the other hand, started off and on before this season.

Canfield split time with Lyle Moevao, also a senior, for the last two years as both had success at different points. Because of competition and injuries, Oregon State coach Mike Riley could never stick with just one of them.

Until this year. Canfield's production made it impossible for him to lose the job. Riley said he was proud of his senior signal caller.

"It's been the culmination of a lot of perseverance and a lot of hard work," Riley said. "It's been fun to see him grow throughout the year."

While Canfield's achievements this season may have come as a surprise, Hall was expected to thrive. Many considered him to be a dark-horse Heisman candidate entering the season after spending two years as one of the nation's most efficient quarterbacks.

He didn't disappoint. Hall opened the season by throwing for 329 yards and two touchdowns against then-No. 3 Oklahoma, leading lead BYU to the upset. He's currently ranked third in the nation in passing efficiency.

Mendenhall said both teams had benefitted from having a senior quarterback at the controls.

"I think you have more consistency," Mendenhall said. "You handle adversity a lot better because there will be tight moments in the game and there might be margins where one team is pulling away and the other team will have to rally to come back. When you have a senior at quarterback, it gives you the greatest chance."

If the game comes down to one of the situations Mendenhall is referencing, something will have to give. One of the two senior quarterbacks in the game will have to step up.

Both know the other is capable.

"Sean is a great quarterback," Hall said. "He's a guy who is going to play at the next level. He's a guy who their team has rallied around. He's a great leader for them."

Both Hall and Canfield have a good chance to be selected in next year's NFL Draft.

With such similarities, it would be natural if a rivalry existed between the two. But that's not the case. They're fans of each other.

"I've seen him play a bunch on TV," Canfield said. "He's a very talented quarterback and a proven, seasoned quarterback. He's done very good things."

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