42. 10/26/74 – LaVell’s first win vs. a ranked opponent: BYU 37, #15 Arizona 13

           Just as every journey begins with a single step, every epic journey requires the hero and his company to surpass a series of trials. When LaVell Edwards became the head coach of the BYU Cougars in 1972, he surpassed his first hurdles by winning his first game as head coach, and finishing his first season with a winning record (7-4). In his second season, the team took a step back, finishing with a record of 5-6. When the Cougars started out the 1974 season with 3 losses, Cougar fans must have been thinking, “Well, here we go again.” Thankfully, the Cougars (2-3-1) righted the ship before heading south to take on the #15 Arizona Wildcats (5-1). LaVell’s next hurdle was to lead the Cougars to a victory over a ranked opponent.

The Wildcats got the ball first, and drove 33 yards to midfield. From there they scored the first touchdown of the game when QB Bruce Hill connected with Scott Piper for a 50 TD reception. BYU QB Gary Sheide then got to work, leading a 12-play drive that started at the Cougar 21 and resulted in a 13-yard TD pass to John Betham. An Arizona fumble at the Wildcat 21 opened the door wide for another score, but the Cougars couldn’t even go 10 yards before turning the ball over on downs. Luckily the Cougar D was dominating the field, pushing Arizona back 6 yards on their next drive, then intercepting the ball on 3 straight Wildcat possessions. Sheide and company converted two of those interceptions into touchdowns. The Cougars doubled their score after RB Jeff Blanc swept left and Sheide led him perfectly for a 17-yard TD pass. That worked so well, that he went back to Blanc on their very next play from scrimmage. Blanc was in motion and ran toward the left sideline. When the ball was hiked, he headed upfield and Sheide hit him at about the first down line. From there, Blanc made three Wildcats miss as he raced into the end zone for a 27-yard TD catch to end of the first quarter. Cougars - 21, Wildcats - 7.

In the second quarter, the Cougar D continued to dominate, allowing the offense to organize a long 80-yard drive, that was capped off with a 16-yard TD pass from Sheide to Betham. By halftime, the Cougars held a commanding 28-7 lead.

In the third quarter, Arizona tried to mount a comeback. On third-and-9, at their own 30, Hill connected with Willie Hamilton, who breezed 70 yards into the end zone for Arizona’s second score. The extra point was blocked and the Cougars retained a 15 point lead after three despite struggling to move the ball throughout the third. The only time they ventured into Wildcat territory, their 40-yard FGA sailed right.

In the fourth, the Wildcats started in Cougar territory, but the Cougs pushed them back 12 yards before intercepting a pass at midfield and running it back to the Arizona 30. Three plays later, Gary Sheide threw his fifth touchdown pass of the day - a 24-yarder caught by John Betham for his third TD reception of the night. If that wasn’t the final nail in the coffin, it came six plays later when the Cougars notched their fifth interception of the day. This one was converted into a 31-yard field goal by Dev Duke, giving the Cougars a 37-13 win.

John Betham
Courtesy of BYU Photo

Gary Shaw
Courtesy of BYU Photo

QB Gary Sheide and DB Gary Shaw (2 interceptions & 7 tackles) were named the games “outstanding players.” The victory was big for a few reasons: First, it was LaVell’s first win against a ranked opponent. Second, it proved to be the difference in the Western Athletic Conference Championship hunt, as the Cougars finished one game ahead of the Wildcats to claim the outright conference title. Third, the win over Arizona (and a later win over No. 16 Arizona State) propelled BYU to a Fiesta Bowl invite, the first bowl game of Edwards’ career.