Stephenson Beck
BYU senior Owen Pochman kicked a 27-yard field goal in overtime, capping a 21-point comeback as BYU defeated the Virginia Cavaliers 38-35 Saturday, Sept. 2, in Charlottesville, Va.
Down 21-0 at halftime and 35-21 in the fourth quarter, the Cougars rallied behind the passing of sophomore Bret Engemann, who completed 34 of 42 passes for 447 yards and two touchdowns. His seven-yard touchdown pass to senior Margin Hooks with 50 seconds left in the second half tied the score at 35.
The Cavaliers missed a potential game-winning 48-yard field goal with three seconds left.
Junior Brian McDonald ran for three touchdowns and 86 yards on 20 carries for the Cougars.
The Cavaliers dominated the first half, scoring three touchdowns and holding the Cougars to two yards rushing. The Cougars offense got on track after halftime, driving 80 yards on consecutive drives to pull within seven.
“We let them back in the game too quickly,” said Virginia head coach George Welsh. “It went from 21-0 to 21-14 really quick.”
BYU sophomore Tyson Smith intercepted a pass from Cavalier quarterback Dan Ellis on Virginia’s overtime possession, and the Cougars ran the ball twice before Pochman’s game-winning kick.
BYU’s record went to 1-1, while Virginia fell to 0-1. BYU plays Air Force next Saturday, Sept. 9, in Colorado Springs, Colo.
