#93 - 8/29/85 – BYU defends its National Title with a W in the Kickoff Classic: #10 BYU – 28, Boston College - 14

        The #10 BYU Cougars began their defense of their national title by playing in the Kickoff Classic against Cotton Bowl champions - Boston College. The Kickoff Classic was billed as a preseason bowl game by the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, who organized the first Classic in 1983 to replace the less-popular Garden State Bowl. The preseason game provided the benefit of allowing the participating teams to play a 12-game regular season. The Cougars, whose national championship the previous season had been denigrated by college football pundits who claimed that their schedule had been too easy, jumped at the chance to add a big-name college (Boston College finished the 1984 season ranked #4) from a big-name conference to their schedule. 
        In the first quarter, the Cougar D forced an Eagle punt. The Cougars moved into BC territory, but couldn’t convert a fourth-and-one play, turning the ball back over to the Eagles. After a second Eagle punt, the Cougars’ drive was cut short by an interception. The Eagles entered the Red Zone, but the Cougar D, came up big, forcing an Eagle fumble at the Cougar 15, and then pouncing on the loose ball. The Cougars then drove to the Eagle 14, but on third-and-7, senior QB Robbie Bosco was sacked for a big loss. The Cougars’ FGA was blocked. The Cougar D pinned the Eagles deep in their own territory, and the ensuing punt was returned to midfield. After one quarter of play, the teams were stalemated at 0-0. 
        In the second quarter, BYU converted a third-and-20 with a long bomb to Glen Kozlowski. Several plays later, they faced third-and-goal at the Eagle 6-yard line. Bosco dropped back and threaded the needle with a bullet that Mark Bellini caught in the end zone for a 6-yard TD. Unfortunately, the extra point attempt was deflected. On their next drive, the Cougars zipped down the field with a pair of long passes to Kozlowski (23 & 39 yards respectfully). From the Eagle 2, Lakei Heimuli crashed through the line but was brought down just centimeters from pay dirt. On the next play, Bosco called Heimuli’s number again. This time the big back smashed his way through the line on a second effort for the score. The Cougars went for two, taking a 14-0 lead thanks to a short pass from Bosco to Kelly Smith. The Eagles drove 77 yards, scoring on a 1-yard TD rush by John Mihalik. The Cougars threatened to score two drives later, but the drive was aborted when the ball was stripped from Bellini’s grasp inside the Eagle 10-yard line. Luckily the Eagle drive ended with an interception by Jeff Sprowls in Cougar territory with about ten seconds remaining. Bosco tossed up a Hail Mary on the final play of the half, but the deflected ball fell incomplete at the Eagle 2, despite Kozlowski’s valiant attempt to snag it. BYU headed to the locker room with a 14-7 lead. 
        In the third quarter, BC embarked on a long 17-play, 80-yard drive. Troy Stradford ran for the final 5 yards, allowing the Eagles to tie the score at 14-14. On the Cougars’ possession, Bosco tried to scramble out of trouble and was popped hard, coughing up the football to the Eagles. Luckily, the Cougars got the ball right back when Marc Sherman made a diving interception of a deflected ball. Starting at their own 37, the Cougars continued their aerial assault. Bosco dropped back and let loose another bomb. Kozlowski, who was double-covered, came back for the ball and caught it at the Eagle 20. He was brought down at the Eagle 12 for a 51-yard reception. On the very next play, Bosco dropped back and fired the ball to Mark Bellini, who was wide open in the middle of the end zone for a 12-yard TD reception. The Cougars marched to the Eagle 20 on their next drive. Unfortunately, an Eagle swooped in to intercept a bobbled ball and returned it to the Cougar 45. Fortunately, the Cougar D stopped BC’s large running back, Troy Stradford, on fourth-and-short to end the threat. 21-14 Cougars after three. 
        In the fourth quarter, the Eagles thwarted the Cougars’ next drive with another interception in Eagle territory. Fortunately, the Cougar D forced yet another Eagle punt. Bosco then orchestrated a 12-play, 73-yard drive. On the final play of the drive, Bosco dropped back and arched a rainbow to Kozlowski who, after setting up the other Cougar TDs, finally scored with a 22-yard TD reception. Bosco led another Cougar drive to the Eagle 4, but was intercepted again on a batted ball. Once again, the Eagles failed to capitalize on the turnover as Rodney Thomas intercepted a long pass into Cougar territory. The Eagles fumbled away their final chance in the last minute of the game, when the punt returner couldn’t handle the kick. Despite six turnovers, the Cougars returned home with a season-opening 28-14 win. 

Robbie Bosco
Courtesy of BYU Photo
Glen Kozlowski
Courtesy of BYU Photo
Robbie Bosco earned game MVP honors by passing for 508 yards and 3 touchdowns. Bosco's favorite target was Glen Kozlowski, who corralled 10 passes for 241 yards (4th) and a TD. The win extended BYU's winning streak to a record 25 games - the longest win streak of any team during the 1980’s; but it would end the next week against #20 UCLA. Nevertheless, the Cougars would remain in the Top 25 all season and finish the year with a very respectable 11-3 record and a #16 ranking. 
Game link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtD6vF8iHZM

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