One of the more absurd stats in college football is Boise State's win-loss record in home games this century. The Broncos are 111-8 on their home turf since 2000. Which is why one of the more annoying things about being a BYU fan is the three one-point losses the Cougars have had in Boise since 2004. Although it was a five-point loss on Saturday, it was just as annoying as the one-point games.
With the ball two-yards from the end zone and seven seconds left in the game, there was a feeling this would be the year BYU would end the blue-turf jinx. The Cougars had all the momentum.
Early on, the momentum was clearly on Boise State's side. The Broncos scored two touchdowns with ease in the first quarter. Sandwiched between the Boise State touchdowns was a missed field goal by BYU. Skyler Southam probably makes the kick if not for an eight-yard sack two plays earlier.
BYU fumbled the kickoff after Boise State's second touchdown. The Broncos were poised to create an insurmountable lead. Except a holding call followed by a Trajan Pili sack helped force Boise State to settle for a field goal. It, too, was no good.
From there, the Cougars started chipping away at the lead. They got on the board with a field goal making it 14-3 with 9:08 to play in the first half.
Michael Shelton intercepted a pass on the first play of Boise State's ensuing drive. He returned it 31 yards to the Boise State 19-yard line. As great as that was, he could have had a touchdown if he had broken towards the sideline. He had at least one blocker that way who could have kept any remaining Broncos away. Instead, Shelton broke inside where most of the offensive line was waiting for him.
In three plays, BYU had moved to the five-yard line. Back-to-back sacks created an impossible 3rd and Goal from the 25-yard line. BYU had to settle for another field goal. It was now 14-6.
The Cougar defense continued its second quarter dominance of Boise State. That got the offense the ball back near midfield with just under three minutes to play in the half.
Quarterback Zach Wilson got BYU down to the Boise State 13-yard line in less than two minutes. A holding penalty moved BYU back 10 yards and set up 3rd and 19. On that play, the shotgun snap was a little high. It went through Wilson's hands, and over his shoulder. Boise State recovered the ball 18 yards behind the line of scrimmage.
Another scoring opportunity squandered. It wouldn't be the last.
Boise State received the second half kickoff, and quickly moved into BYU territory. However, Rhett Sandlin recovered a fumble by the Boise State quarterback to end that drive. BYU was able to turn that turnover into seven points.
Wilson connected with Talon Shumway for a 42-yard gain to get the Cougars in scoring position. The touchdown came on a four-yard run by Wilson on a designed quarterback draw.
It was now a one-point game, 14-13.
The Broncos answered with a 16-play, 79-yard touchdown drive that took 8:02 off the clock. The lead was back to eight, 21-13.
The BYU offense, however, had found its groove. Dylan Collie broke off an 18-yard run, and Wilson scrambled for 17 yards on the next play.
The Cougars then used the same trick play that got a touchdown at Wisconsin earlier in the season. This time, Neil Pau'u, who played quarterback in high school, was the receiver to throw the ball after catching a backwards pass from Wilson. Tight end Matt Bushman made a spectacular one-hand grab with a Boise State defender in tight coverage. Bushman was even alert enough to cover the ball with two hands as the defender started wraping him up.
Before hitting the turf, Bushman decided it was more important to use that second hand to soften his fall. That resulted in the ball coming out at the three-yard line, just before he hit the ground. The ball rolled into the end zone, and Boise State recovered.
It took a little while, but the Cougar defense got the ball back without giving up any points stopping Boise State on downs. BYU continued to have success moving the ball and reached the Broncos' 26-yard line. In what is becoming a far too common theme, a penalty and sack killed the drive. With 6:32 to play, BYU kicked another field goal. It was now 21-16.
The Cougar defense forced a quick punt. Wilson had played like a veteran most of the night, but he returned to making freshman mistakes. Rather than throw the ball away, he took a 12-yard sack. BYU had to punt the ball right back.
Fortunately, the BYU defense had one more stop in them. Boise State punted the ball back to BYU with 2:05 to play. With one timeout left, BYU was 83 yards away from victory.
Matt Hadley took a screen pass 59 yards on the first play of the drive. Time was no longer an issue. On 4th and 2 from the five-yard line, and 15 seconds to play, Wilson ran for the first down. After stopping the clock by spiking the ball, BYU had seven seconds left. Enough time for two plays, if the first pass was quick enough.
Boise State called timeout. BYU was out of timeouts. Wilson HAD to throw the ball if there was even a one percent doubt he couldn't run into the end zone.
He took the snap, and never even cocked his arm to throw the ball. He danced around a little before getting smothered by the Boise State defense while trying to run.
Once again, BYU leaves Boise State after losing a game it should have won.
PLAY OF THE GAME: Matt Hadley 59-yard catch (BYU's longest play of the year).
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Corbin Kaufusi - 7 tackles, 1 sack, 1 TFL, 1 pass defensed.
The Editor appreciates all feedback. He can be reached via email at bluecougarfootball@gmail.com
With the ball two-yards from the end zone and seven seconds left in the game, there was a feeling this would be the year BYU would end the blue-turf jinx. The Cougars had all the momentum.
Early on, the momentum was clearly on Boise State's side. The Broncos scored two touchdowns with ease in the first quarter. Sandwiched between the Boise State touchdowns was a missed field goal by BYU. Skyler Southam probably makes the kick if not for an eight-yard sack two plays earlier.
BYU fumbled the kickoff after Boise State's second touchdown. The Broncos were poised to create an insurmountable lead. Except a holding call followed by a Trajan Pili sack helped force Boise State to settle for a field goal. It, too, was no good.
From there, the Cougars started chipping away at the lead. They got on the board with a field goal making it 14-3 with 9:08 to play in the first half.
Michael Shelton intercepted a pass on the first play of Boise State's ensuing drive. He returned it 31 yards to the Boise State 19-yard line. As great as that was, he could have had a touchdown if he had broken towards the sideline. He had at least one blocker that way who could have kept any remaining Broncos away. Instead, Shelton broke inside where most of the offensive line was waiting for him.
In three plays, BYU had moved to the five-yard line. Back-to-back sacks created an impossible 3rd and Goal from the 25-yard line. BYU had to settle for another field goal. It was now 14-6.
The Cougar defense continued its second quarter dominance of Boise State. That got the offense the ball back near midfield with just under three minutes to play in the half.
Quarterback Zach Wilson got BYU down to the Boise State 13-yard line in less than two minutes. A holding penalty moved BYU back 10 yards and set up 3rd and 19. On that play, the shotgun snap was a little high. It went through Wilson's hands, and over his shoulder. Boise State recovered the ball 18 yards behind the line of scrimmage.
Another scoring opportunity squandered. It wouldn't be the last.
Boise State received the second half kickoff, and quickly moved into BYU territory. However, Rhett Sandlin recovered a fumble by the Boise State quarterback to end that drive. BYU was able to turn that turnover into seven points.
Wilson connected with Talon Shumway for a 42-yard gain to get the Cougars in scoring position. The touchdown came on a four-yard run by Wilson on a designed quarterback draw.
It was now a one-point game, 14-13.
The Broncos answered with a 16-play, 79-yard touchdown drive that took 8:02 off the clock. The lead was back to eight, 21-13.
The BYU offense, however, had found its groove. Dylan Collie broke off an 18-yard run, and Wilson scrambled for 17 yards on the next play.
The Cougars then used the same trick play that got a touchdown at Wisconsin earlier in the season. This time, Neil Pau'u, who played quarterback in high school, was the receiver to throw the ball after catching a backwards pass from Wilson. Tight end Matt Bushman made a spectacular one-hand grab with a Boise State defender in tight coverage. Bushman was even alert enough to cover the ball with two hands as the defender started wraping him up.
Before hitting the turf, Bushman decided it was more important to use that second hand to soften his fall. That resulted in the ball coming out at the three-yard line, just before he hit the ground. The ball rolled into the end zone, and Boise State recovered.
It took a little while, but the Cougar defense got the ball back without giving up any points stopping Boise State on downs. BYU continued to have success moving the ball and reached the Broncos' 26-yard line. In what is becoming a far too common theme, a penalty and sack killed the drive. With 6:32 to play, BYU kicked another field goal. It was now 21-16.
The Cougar defense forced a quick punt. Wilson had played like a veteran most of the night, but he returned to making freshman mistakes. Rather than throw the ball away, he took a 12-yard sack. BYU had to punt the ball right back.
Fortunately, the BYU defense had one more stop in them. Boise State punted the ball back to BYU with 2:05 to play. With one timeout left, BYU was 83 yards away from victory.
Matt Hadley took a screen pass 59 yards on the first play of the drive. Time was no longer an issue. On 4th and 2 from the five-yard line, and 15 seconds to play, Wilson ran for the first down. After stopping the clock by spiking the ball, BYU had seven seconds left. Enough time for two plays, if the first pass was quick enough.
Boise State called timeout. BYU was out of timeouts. Wilson HAD to throw the ball if there was even a one percent doubt he couldn't run into the end zone.
He took the snap, and never even cocked his arm to throw the ball. He danced around a little before getting smothered by the Boise State defense while trying to run.
Once again, BYU leaves Boise State after losing a game it should have won.
PLAY OF THE GAME: Matt Hadley 59-yard catch (BYU's longest play of the year).
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Corbin Kaufusi - 7 tackles, 1 sack, 1 TFL, 1 pass defensed.
The Editor appreciates all feedback. He can be reached via email at bluecougarfootball@gmail.com
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