Hail Mary Saves UVU From Collapse

This past Saturday marked the first meeting of BYU and UVU football teams. Unfortunately it wasn't an NCAA match up but the UTFL will have to do for now.

UVU is a perennial power in the UTFL and this is the first Season for the BYU team. This difference showed in the first half as turnovers and overly aggressive play hurt the Cougars early and often. Starting off with this pick six for UVU.

BYU's defense struggled to contain UVU's outside running game and the Cougar offense could not find its groove in the first half.

UVU step offed the field with an 18-0 halftime lead, but they failed on all of their extra point attempts. BYU needed to make a change and it did switching the defense from a 2-4 to a 3-3. The increased presence on the line allowed the linebackers to roam more freely and make plays to stop what had seemed to be an unstopple UVU offense.

The Cougar offense also stepped up at this time relying more on the running game with QB draws and passes over the middle instead of leaning heavily on deep outside throws.

.BYU's offense looked as though it had found its footing early in the second half when they drove down the field but were stopped short of the end zone. Desperately needing a turnover the defense made it happen and gave the ball back to the now clicking offense.

BYU broke into the score colom with a little trickeration. The Cougars moved there center over to the tight end; the defense was looking for a run to that side. Instead he ran a route into the end zone and caught the ball uncontested for a touchdown. UVU made good on their two point attempt and the game was now 18-8

BYU regained possession as the defense was now playing very good football. The Cougs drove down the field but were stopped inside the two yard line by the aggressive Wolverine defense. The defense once again needed make a play. They came through with a safety making the game 18-10. The game now only a one score difference. Missing on the point after attempts looked to be haunting UVU.

BYU once again made it down the field and scored on this play.

 

The Cougars once again converted on the two point attempt and the game was all knotted up at 18. 

With under two minutes left to play the Wolverines were on there heels after allowing 18 unanswered points and went to the air to try to move quickly down the field. That is when apparent disaster struck when a Cougar player appeared to pick off a UVU pass.

As you can see the referee ruled that he had landed out of bounds and gave UVU a fresh life after the near miss. They moved the ball closer down the field and were down to one play left when they heaved up a prayer.

Touchdown was the call and UVU escaped with a 24-18 win and a still perfect record at 4-0. The Cougars fell to 1-3 on the year with the defeat being the second time this season they lost on the last play of the game.

The UTFL has this week off but will return to play on Saturday October 20th. UVU plays defending champions Stealth at 10 am and BYU will take on SLCC at 11 am.

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