Turnovers cost BYU the win

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    By Stephenson Beck

    Colorado Springs, Colo. – Three turnovers stifled three Cougar drives in the fourth quarter and Air Force held on to defeat BYU 31-23 Saturday at Falcon Stadium.

    Down the entire second half, the Cougars closed within 28-23 on kicker Owen Pochman’s 43-yard field goal with 8:31 left in the fourth quarter.

    BYU’s defense forced the Falcons to punt, but on the next play, running back Brian McDonald fumbled the ball and Air Force recovered.

    BYU again forced Air Force to punt, but on the punt return, Mike Rigell fumbled the ball and again Air Force recovered.

    Following an Air Force field goal that pushed the lead to eight, BYU’s last drive ended when quarterback Bret Engemann’s pass was intercepted at the BYU 30-yard line with 2:10 left in the game, ending any hope of a Cougar rally. “Turnovers were the difference. They killed us,” head coach LaVell Edwards said. “We couldn’t get anything going in the second half.”

    The Air Force defense held BYU to 86 yards of total offense in the second half. Engemann completed only seven of 20 passes in the second half, including the interception. He finished 18-of-40 for 235 yards and one touchdown.

    “I still can’t figure it out. It hurts, but I’m not going to make any excuses,” Engemann said. “They’ve got a touch group of kids. Hats off to them.”

    The Cougars ran for 125 yards in the game, but only 32 of those came after halftime. McDonald led the team with 89 yards.

    “We came out flat as pancakes in the second half,” said offensive coordinator Lance Reynolds.

    Air Force quarterback Mike Thiessen completed 11 of 16 passes for 203 yards and four touchdowns, and the Falcon’s offense gained 389 total yards and committed no turnovers. “We were ready. We knew what they were going to do,” said middle linebacker Justin Ena. “This should have been another step forward, but we have no excuses.”

    The Cougars have only five days to get ready for their next game. They will face Mississippi State Thursday in Cougar Stadium.

    “We have to get back and get ready to play another good team,” said free safety Jared Lee. “You have to have a short memory sometimes.”

    The Cougars fell to 1-2, 0-1 in conference. Air Force improved to 2-0, 1-0.

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