#87 - 11/25/89 – First WAC Championship in 4 years: #21 BYU - 48, SDSU - 27

         After stringing together ten straight WAC titles from 1976-1985, the #21 BYU Cougars (9-2) were in position to win their first WAC championship in four years. A win over the San Diego State Aztecs (6-4-1) would clinch the conference championship and secure the Holiday Bowl bid.

BYU got the ball first, but went three-and-out. The Aztecs marched down the field and scored on their first possession, with Curtis Butts smashing over the line from a yard out for the score. The Cougars responded quickly. QB Ty Detmer let loose a pass that Jeff Frandsen caught and ran all the way to pay dirt for a 67-yard TD reception. The Aztecs responded with another scoring drive. This time Ron Slack did the honors, rushing into the end zone from the Cougar 4. Detmer led the Cougars back into the Blue Zone, taking 4 plays to move 55 yards. From the Aztec 12, Detmer couldn’t find an open receiver, but saw an open lane and scrambled into the end zone for a 12-yard TD rush. Unfortunately, K Jason Chaffetz missed the PAT, breaking his record streak of 37 consecutive successful PATs. After one quarter, it was 14-13, Aztecs.

Jason Chaffetz

An Aztec fumble gave the Cougars good field position, but they failed to capitalize. Luckily, they got another chance after Byron Beatty downed the punt at the Aztec 1. A superb defensive stand, and shallow punt, gave the Cougars the ball back in Aztec territory. Detmer connected with Frandsen again for the score - this time for 27 yards. A two-point conversion to Matt Bellini gave them a 7-point lead. Late in the half, Bellini came through again, capping an 89-yard drive with a 3-yard TD rush. After another SDSU punt, BYU got the ball back with just over a minute left on the clock. The Cougars went into hurry-up mode. A 9-yard TD pass to Andy Boyce with 18 seconds remaining gave the Cougars a 35-14 halftime lead.

The Aztecs began the second half by flying down the field, going 83 yards in four plays - the fourth, a 32-yard TD pass to Tony Nettles from QB Dan McGwire. Midway through the third, the Aztecs drew closer with a 46-yard FG. Near the end of the quarter, an Aztec fumble on a fair catch set up the Cougars’ next score. Starting at the Aztec 19, the Cougars failed to secure a first down, and were going to attempt a field goal. However, a roughing-the-kicker call against SDSU gave the Cougs a fresh set of downs. They advanced to the 1-yard line, where Detmer scored on the keeper. 41-24 Cougars after three.

A 61-yard Aztec drive to start the fourth was capped by a 38-yard FG. The Cougars however went for the jugular on their next possession. Fred Whittingham busted free and out-raced the Aztecs to the end zone for a 34-yard TD rush. The Cougar D forced an Aztec punt on their next possession; then the Cougar Offense went to work running out the clock. The Aztecs didn’t have enough time left to forge a comeback, but they went for it anyway. A Cougar interception with less than a minute ended it - Cougars - 48, Aztecs - 27.

Moe Elewonibi's Outland Trophy
Legacy Hall

Ty Detmer threw for 327 yards in the contest to finish the regular season with 4,560 passing yards (3rd; 2nd best in NCAA history at the time) and 32 TD passes (T10th). Cougar OL Moe Elewonibi, who spent the whole season providing great pass protection for Detmer, was awarded the Outland Trophy for his efforts. With their 10th victory, the Cougars clinched their first WAC title in 4 years and rose to #19 (#15 UPI poll). In the Holiday Bowl, they lost to #18 Penn State, despite Detmer’s  record 576 passing yards (4th) in a bowl game (earning him co-MVP honors), and finished the season ranked #22.

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