Well, I did actually finish watching the game, in spite of my post-3rd quarter rant. The way these games end it just makes one wonder: what would happen if BYU doesn't spot Utah leads time and time again. No discredit to the Utes. They made the four or five plays they needed, they capitalized on BYU's mistakes, and they won the game. But this game was just as much about BYU losing/collapsing mentally as it was about Utah winning.
I am going to toot my own horn here for a second: I was able to predict how this game would play out with pretty darn good accuracy. There was little offense. It all came down to special teams and turnovers where a low-scoring close game would be decided by a field goal, with Utah winning, and defined by one or two big plays. I figured more of those big plays would go Utah's way, which definitely happened. The game pivoted on really just a few plays, some of which Utah made and the others BYU just handed over. How many times in this game did the ball literally bounce the wrong way for the Cougars? The first TD catch by Utah was a bobbled ball, that just as easily could have bounced out of his hands and resulted in a Ute FG attempt (-4 points from Utah). An ill-timed snap: if it hits Nelson on the way back and BYU recovers, they have a chance for a FG to tie it at 10. Instead, it completely misses Nelson, Alisa can't grab it, and it bounces up perfectly to Utah's Mo Lee who runs it back for a TD (10-point swing). That was just a few inches away from being an unfortunate play. Instead, it was a game-changer. BYU was mentally finished for the next few costly minutes of the game, allowing Utah to get ANOTHER touchdown before BYU "woke up." The next possession was marred by penalties, then BYU gave up a big punt return, followed by a BYU DB falling asleep (when the scouting report has to say Utah's going to take a shot on that play), not interferring with the WR enough, and the Ute player making a great catch. Utah made a great play, but that play shouldn't happen if BYU doesn't go into a shell...(additional 7 points Utah)
Speaking of the ball bouncing the wrong way: doink. And out. Another inch the other way and the game-tying FG goes in off the karem. Another unlucky play. It just seems to be that way for BYU against Utah these days (+3 points to BYU).
Again, credit Utah. Their defense played well enough to allow the few plays the O and special teams made to really count. BYU, other than that stretch in the 3rd quarter, played well enough to win the game. Unfortunately, 14-0 during that stretch, and 17-0 in aggregate in the 3rd Quarter can't be ignored. Utah had one drive over 40 yards the entire game and they didn't even score on it. Utah only scored on one possession where they started in their own territory (and that was starting on the 47-yard line and making a long field goal). BYU's D did their job. Two (bad) throws resulted in great catches and TDs for the Utes. Other than that, there was really only one offensive play the rest of the night: a missed tackle in the backfield by BYU resulted in a big gain with under 3 minutes to go.
I said this week, with or without John White IV, with or without Jordan Wynn, Utah was going to struggle moving the ball consistently and had to rely on the big play. They delivered on their end: three big plays and a whole lot of nothing. Utah had one rushing play over 10 yards: a QB scramble on a pass play, actually. Utah had 2 pass plays for over 20 yards: the aforementioned long TD pass and the aforementioned missed tackle on a WR screen that resulted in a big run after the catch with under 3 minutes to go. That was it for Utah offensively.
I said that BYU was going to have to win this game by pinning Utah deep, not turning the ball over, and setting themselves up with good field position through strong defensive play and good returns. Utah started 3 possessions within 53 yards of the end zone, yielding 17 points. Fail. Two turnovers, leading directly to 10 Utah points. Fail. BYU started half of its possessions outside of their 30-yard line. Success. To so badly fail at two of the three keys to the game and only lose by a missed FG at the end...again with that "it makes one wonder" thing.
That's what makes this a rivalry: you don't have to play your best game to have a chance to win (and sometimes you play an arguably better game and lose. Though those losses are piling up more on the BYU side than the Utah one. Again with that mental toughness/killer instinct that BYU has always been missing). What makes it a bitter rivalry: the Ute fans and players that rushed the field, not to celebrate the victory with their team and fellow students, but to run over to the BYU sideline and taunt the Y players after the game.
It was the same thing the last time up in Salt Lake after Utah blocked the potential game-winning FG: people sprinting to the BYU sideline to get a word in before the players get into the locker room. Classless. The entire institution. Haha...not really. Just a shame this kind of thing still exists. It ruins what would otherwise be one of the great rivalries in college sports. If you're going to rush the field after beating a 25th ranked team, do it for YOUR team. Not that I support rushing the field anyway (three times) after eking out a win against a barely-ranked-in-one-poll team (and not ranked in the other poll)...
That's a great win for Utah. It potentially saves their season, certainly things look less bleak tonight than they did after last week. But still, the lack of offense for the 2nd consecutive week has to be a little worrisome for them. BYU goes off to defend their season now, in Boise. They can't lose there if they expect to maintain any kind of relevance or credibility as the season goes along, just as the Utes could not afford to lose tonight.
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