|
Nov. 20, 1999 SportsLine wire reports |
PROVO, Utah -- Two weeks ago, Utah was struggling with a two-game losing
skid. T.D. Croshaw and Andre Dyson made sure the Utes ended their regular
season in the best way possible.
Croshaw threw for two second-half touchdowns and Dyson ended a late BYU
comeback attempt with his second interception as the Utes beat the No. 19
Cougars 20-17 Saturday.
Related Links:
Game summary T O P N E W S
It was a sweet victory for Utah (8-3, 5-2 Mountain West), which won its fourth straight on BYU's field. The Utes also earned a share of the Mountain West title and returned to the postseason picture.
"It says a lot about our team," Utah coach Ron McBride said. "We refused to quit. We refused to let people dictate what our team should be like or what we should play like."
Croshaw threw a 70-yard scoring pass to Cliff Russell and a 4-yard TD pass to Donny Utu as the Utes extended a 10-6 halftime lead and denied BYU (8-3, 5-2) the outright conference title.
After the Utes lost to Colorado State and Wyoming in consecutive weeks, many fans openly criticized McBride. Utah finished the season with a 52-7 victory over New Mexico and the emotional win at BYU.
"We have a piece of the championship while a couple of weeks ago people thought we were out of it," McBride said. "We fought our way back."
The Cougars rallied late, with Kevin Feterik throwing a 6-yard TD pass to Ben Horton with 2:20 to play, pulling BYU to 20-17.
The BYU defense forced a punt, and Feterik had the Cougars moving again when he tried to throw to Jonathan Pittman. Dyson sealed the victory with 1:09 to play, diving for the interception.
The play started a celebration on the Utah sideline as the crowd of 65,942, mostly BYU fans, went silent.
"There's no better way to end it than to let them suffer," said Utah cornerback Jay Hill. "We just had to run out the clock, and we used that minute-and-a-half to celebrate."
After the final gun, the jubilant Utes lifted McBride on their shoulders and paraded him around the field.
Colorado State and Wyoming have 4-2 records in Mountain West play entering their final games next week, when the Rams play at UNLV and Wyoming travels to San Diego State.
The Liberty Bowl can invite whichever Mountain West team it wants if at least two teams share the title. Representative John Barzizza said officials will await the outcome of next week's games before deciding which school to invite.
The Cougars were flat in a 31-17 loss last week at Wyoming, a game where they could have secured the Mountain West title. Until the last five minutes Saturday, they didn't look like they had improved in time for the Utes.
 | |
| BYU defensive back Brian Gray tackles Utah receiver Steve Smith on a 10-yard gain.(AP) |
"We're extremely disappointed. We had two weeks to win a championship, and we didn't do it," Feterik said in the somber BYU interview room.
With standout freshman running back Luke Staley sidelined by a knee injury, the Cougars rushed for 50 yards. BYU didn't have a first down and had 5 rushing yards in the second quarter.
"It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that when you don't have a rushing attack, you can't get it done," said BYU coach LaVell Edwards. "We've beaten these guys in the past when we've been able to run the ball."
Feterik completed 22-of-52 attempts for 309 yards two TDs with three interceptions. He was often off the mark, his receivers dropped at least a dozen passes and the Utah defensive scheme allowed few deep routes.
Owen Pochman had one field goal try blocked and he was wide right on a 38-yard attempt with 8:02 remaining, which would have pulled the Cougars within 20-13.
AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service
Copyright 1999, The Associated Press, All Rights Reserved