BYU uses ball control to beat Utah State, 6-3

A football game is 60 minutes long, but the game between the Brigham Young Cougars and the Utah State Aggies was decided by one 30 second segment. In the final 30 seconds of the first half, BYU drove 61 yards for its only score of the game, a 3-yard touchdown pass from Taysom Hill to JD Falslev.

This game was billed as a battle of two great defenses. BYU held up its end of the deal limiting Utah State to just 246 yards of total offense and 40 rushing. Utah State didn’t convert a single third down in the first half. BYU, on the other hand, accumulated 380 yards of total offense against the Utah State defense that was allowing just 280.8 yards per game.

The Cougar offense had reasonable success moving the ball on the Aggie D all night long. BYU drove the ball down to the Utah State 30-yard line on the first drive of the game. A failed rush attempt on 4th and 1 resulted in BYU coming away with no points.

Utah State had its most successful drive of the night at the end of the first quarter. The Aggies drove 50 yards in 13 plays and took a 3-0 lead with 34 seconds to go in quarter 1 with a 26 yard field goal.

BYU missed an opportunity to tie the game with a 34-yard field goal with four and a half minutes to play in quarter 2, but the kick was blocked.

On offense, BYU played very conservative to avoid turnovers, but with 28 seconds to play in the second quarter the Cougars attacked. Hill completed three consecutive passes to Cody Hoffman for 58 yards. This set up the 3-yard touchdown pass to Falslev with three seconds to play before halftime. BYU missed the extra point, so the lead was just 6-3 at halftime.

Utah State had two turnovers on their first three drives of the second half. While BYU didn’t come up with any points on these turnovers, they kept the momentum on BYU’s side.

The ball control offense employed by BYU was effective. BYU held onto the ball for 34:49 in the game.

Utah State had a chance to tie the game with 7:47 to play, but a missed field goal kept the score 6-3.

Utah State quarterback Chuckie Keeton had been heralded as the best quarterback in the state of Utah before this game, but he was upstaged by freshman upstart Taysom Hill. Hill made his second career start for BYU. He finished the game completing 24 of 36 passes for 234 yards with 1 TD and 1 interception. Hill also added 82 yards on 18 carries rushing the ball. Whereas, Keeton was 21 of 37 for 206 yards with no interceptions. Keeton carried the ball 10 times for 22 yards. He was sacked three times to Hill’s zero.

Hill benefited from having the services of the undisputed best wide receiver in the state of Utah Cody Hoffman. Hoffman finished the game with 8 receptions for 114 yards.

PLAY OF THE GAME: Taysom Hill 3-yard TD pass to JD Falslev.

PLAYER OF THE GAME: Taysom Hill--24 of 36, 234 yards, 1 TD, 1 Int.; 18 rushes, 82 yards

NEXT: Oregon State
DATE: Saturday, October 13

The Editor appreciates all feedback. He can be reached via email at bluecougarfootball@gmail.com

Comments

  1. That kicking performance was embarrassing. I lay the blame on Bronco, he knew months ago that his FG kicker was injured and did nothing but hope he would get better with cortizen shots. Bronco should have signed a JC kicker last spring. It has cost BYU games this year and almost cost the USU game.

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    1. I think this is one thing we can all agree on. The Placekicker position was mismanaged.

      This year has been a waste of eligibility for Sorensen, and I don't know if he will be able to mentally recover to make next year any good as well. He should have redshirted and made sure everything was reall working perfectly, and then have 2 years of eligibility to give what he was brought here to deliver.

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