BYU's special teams make special plays in rivalry win over Utah

BYU football did it. And the Cougars did it the way they’ve been doing it all season. Together.

It was not a pretty win — in fact, it was downright ugly at times. In the second quarter, the game snowballed against BYU and all the momentum was on Utah’s side.

And Utah's best shot was a good one, too.

But in the end, the Cougars edged the Utes 22-21.

Rivalry games always come down to an inch, a play, or a penalty flag. Outside of a Keelan Marion kickoff return for a touchdown, everything that could have gone wrong did for BYU in the first half. In Utah’s previous four games, all four being losses, the Utes had not reached 20 points in an entire game. But, of course, Utah scored 21 points in the first half against BYU.

The Utes decided to start Brandon Rose at quarterback, his first career start, and Rose delivered. He threw eight passes for 87 yards in the first half and rushed three times for 44 yards. The Cougars' defense had their chances; Raider Damuni watched a Rose pass go through his hands into a Utah receiver's arms for an explosive play. BYU’s Isaiah Glasker was a victim of a phantom penalty call as he swung Rose down by his jersey but was called for a face mask. Rose led his team to what felt like a decisive 21-10 lead at halftime.

BYU’s offense had drops; quarterback Jake Retzlaff had multiple throws batted down and the game broke Utah’s way. The usual recipe did not work exactly for BYU on Saturday night either. The Cougars forced two turnovers on the night but only mustered six points from those takeaways. BYU had been one of the best third-quarter teams in the country this season but only outscored Utah 3-0. Typically a disciplined team, BYU struggled with penalties and had drives stall out because of false starts and illegal shifts. The BYU defense kept Utah drives alive with pass interference and roughing the passer penalties. The Cougars were 1 of 12 on third down and fumbled the ball three times. There was not a lot that went right for BYU.

But somehow, BYU was still in the game late. Down 21-13 in the fourth quarter, Retzlaff snuck his way in for a touchdown to make the game 21-19. But the Cougars failed to convert the two-point conversion. However, the defense came up big time and time again in the second half and allowed zero points. But could offense win them the game?

For BYU, it appeared they would finish one play short. Until a flag from heaven fell onto the field. Did Brett Yormark make the call from Texas to keep BYU's dream season alive? Utah athletic director Mark Harlan believes so.

BYU head coach Kalani Sitake disagrees.

With the fatal flag, the Cougars landed the knockout blow. In the same way, so many previous BYU teams had lost years before, ending the field goal kicking demons that had plagued BYU in 2010 and 2012 and years before that.

BYU special teams scored all but six of BYU's points. Over and over this season, the Cougars have found different ways to win ball games. Coming back from down double digits after your offense only scores three points and the defense gives up 21 is the toughest win BYU has gotten yet.

As for Will Ferrin, who booted the game-winning 44-yard field goal with three seconds remaining, he will go down as one of rivalry's biggest heroes or villains, depending on where your fandom falls.

What does this game mean in the big picture?

The Big 12 championship is not just within shouting distance now; BYU is solidly in unless it suffers a late-season collapse. But as everyone has seen all season, this BYU team is a team of destiny. The Cougars can never be counted out, they will never quit, and they do it together as a team in all three phases. They always take the fans on a roller coaster ride from the opening kick-off to the final whistle.