#83 - 11/5/77 - Marc Wilson sets an NCAA record by throwing for 571 yards: #14 BYU - 38, Utah - 8

         After losing starting QB Gifford Nielsen in game 4 of the season, the #14 BYU Cougars (6-1) were once again soaring behind the golden arm of sophomore QB Marc Wilson. Wilson had astounded the nation when he passed for a team record 7 TDs in his first start as quarterback. With their eyes set on winning another WAC title, the Cougars prepared for their showdown with their northern rivals - the Utah Utes (2-5). Although the Utes were already out of the title race, they would like nothing better than to keep the Cougars from winning it too.

The Cougars opened the contest with a 74-yard drive, highlighted by a 32-yard catch by Todd Christensen. that culminated with a 23-yard FG by Dev Duke. After a Ute punt, the Cougars embarked on a 55-yard scoring drive, including a 34-yard reception by Christensen. Wilson’s 11-yard TD pass to Christensen gave BYU an early 10 point lead. Another Ute punt led to another Cougar score. On second down, Marc Wilson led Mike Chronister with a pass that he ran all the way to the house for a 72-yard touchdown. After one quarter, BYU led 17-0.

In the second, the Cougar D stopped a 52-yard Ute drive when Larry Miller recovered a fumble at the BYU 26. Although Wilson connected with Chronister on a 63-yard pass that took them to the Ute 11, the drive ended on an unsuccessful fourth down attempt. The rest of the quarter was filled with defensive highlights. The lowlight came when the Cougars were pinned by a punt at their own 3. The Ute Defense swarmed the backfield on first down to record a safety - the only points recorded in quarter. At intermission, the Cougars were still in control 17-2.

The third quarter started with another long Ute drive for 61 yards. Fortunately, the Cougar D came through again with another fumble recovery, this one by Steve Corson. Unfortunately, the Cougars fumbled the ball back to the Utes after going 63 yards the other way. A Ute punt was then followed by a Cougar interception, setting up the Utes for a short 30-yard scoring drive. The Utes’ lone touchdown came on a 12-yard rush by Rocky Liapis with 1:19 left in the quarter. They went for a 2-point conversion, but the Cougar D stopped them. After three, the score was now a much less comfortable 17-8.

The Cougars responded with a 10-play, 78-yard drive, capped by a 14-yard TD pass to John Van Der Wouden. Fortunately, the Cougars intercepted a Ute pass on the ensuing possession. Unfortunately, they fumbled the ball back to Utah on the same play. Fortunately, the Cougar D forced another punt. This time, Wilson and the Cougars flew 80 yards downfield in just four plays. The second was a 34-yard reception by Tod Thompson, and the fourth was a 26-yard TD catch by Thompson. With the Cougars leading by a comfortable margin of 31-8, Wilson was removed from the game with 555 passing yards and 4 TDs. However, someone in the press box noticed that Wilson was only six yards shy of the NCAA record for passing yards in a game. A message was sent down to the field and the Cougars decided to send Wilson back out during the final drive - much to the disgust of the Utah coaching staff. An 8-yard pass to WR John Van Der Wouden broke the record. With 0:39 remaining on the clock, Wilson threw another 8-yard pass to Van Der Wouden, this time for a touchdown, and a 38-8 win, as BYU defeated the Utes for the sixth straight time.

Marc Wilson
Courtesy of sports-reference.com
Mike Chronister
Courtesy of BYU Photo



Marc Wilson set an NCAA record by throwing for 571 yards (5th), while gaining 582 yards of total offense (5th). Mike Chronister caught 4 passes for 176 yards, for an amazing average of 44.0 yards/catch. The Cougars tied a team record with 33 first downs. The Cougars would move up to #13 in the polls, but their unblemished conference record would end the following week against Arizona State. They would finish the year with a win over UTEP, tying them for the conference title with ASU with a 6-1 record. Unfortunately, the conference tie-in bowl, the Fiesta Bowl, was held on a Sunday that year, so BYU had to decline the invitation, and participated in their own version of postseason - a good will trip to Japan to play a pair of Japanese All-Star teams in what would be named the “Silk Bowl.” Not playing an official bowl game dropped the 9-2 Cougars 3 spots to #20 when the final polls came out.

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