48. 9/7/13 – Taysom runs wild over Texas: BYU – 40, #15 Texas – 21

            After a tough road loss in Virginia, the BYU Cougars (0-1) hosted the #15 ranked Texas Longhorns (1-0) in Provo. It had been more than 3 years since the Cougars had beaten a ranked team, but the Cougars had a game plan to corral the Longhorns. Although Texas had been victorious in their previous meeting (2011), BYU held a 2-1 advantage all-time over the Big 12 program.

            After the opening kickoff, Sophomore QB Taysom Hill got the team rolling right from the start, directing a 60-yard drive that culminated with a 34-yard FG by Justin Sorensen. From there, the Cougar D took over, forcing the Longhorns into 3 consecutive 3-and-outs to start the game. Unfortunately, the Longhorn defense almost as effective, forcing 3 straight Cougar punts. Late in the first quarter wound down, the Longhorns stampeded, scoring on a 57-yard TD pass from David Ash to Mike Davis. The Cougars quickly struck back. *On third-and-two Hill faked a convincing handoff to Jamaal Williams, then tucked the ball and ran left as the Texas linemen collapsed on the decoy. Hill eluded the grasp of three Longhorns, before breaking free for a 68-yard TD run (#36).

Taysom Runs Wild over Texas
Courtesy of BYU Photo

            As the second quarter dawned, the Cougars had the ball back. Unfortunately, after marching 48 yards in 7 plays, the Longhorn D intercepted Hill’s pass. Texas responded by mounting a 76-yard drive. Joe Bergeron busted over the goal line from two yards out to give Texas a 14-10 lead. As before, BYU responded on their next possession. After guiding the Cougars to the Texas 20, Taysom dropped back, surveying the field for an open receiver. After noting that his targets were covered, Hill tucked the ball and churned through the Longhorn D for a 20-yard TD rush that put the Cougars back on top. After the Cougars mauled the Longhorns, forcing a punt, Hill led another TD drive, this time relying heavily on RB Paul Lasike. It was Lasike who broke through the Texas line for the final ten, launching himself into the end zone for the score. Although an excellent Texas punt placed the ball on the Cougar 9 for their next possession, the Cougars were able to get into Texas territory after Jamaal Williams broke free for a 37-yard jaunt before being gang-tackled at the 38. A lateral pass to Williams, who burst up the sideline for another first down, pushed the Cougars into FG range. With 0:04 remaining, Sorensen booted a 32-yard FG to give BYU a 27-14 lead at intermission.

            After an aborted Texas drive resulted in a punt, the Cougar Offense got back to work, cruising 79 yards in 8 plays. On third-and-ten, Hill burst through the Texas D, once again slipping out of the grasp of his Texas pursuers, for a 26-yard TD run to cap the drive. The Longhorns finally rose up in defiance, charging 83 yards in five plays, with Ash connecting with Davis again for a 23-yard TD pass that kept the Longhorns’ hopes alive. BYU responded with a 51-yard drive that culminated with a 36-yard FG. After the Cougar D forced another Texas punt, Taysom and company mounted another scoring drive, this one for 73 yards and a 24-yard FG that gave them a commanding 40-21 lead with just over a quarter to go.

            Throughout the fourth quarter, Texas refused to punt. Instead, the Cougar D herded the Longhorns into three consecutive fourth down fails. The Longhorn D finally managed to shut down the Cougar Offense over the final quarter, but it didn’t matter. The Cougars were able to milk enough time off the clock to retain their 19-point advantage. On the final play of the game, the Cougars batted away a Hail Mary in the end zone as the clock showed triple zero.

Taysom Hill
Courtesy of BYU Photo

Jamaal Williams
Courtesy of BYU Photo


The Cougars not only crushed the Longhorns 40-21, they broke a 55-year-old team record to do it. BYU rushed for a team record 550 yards (obliterating the previous mark of 465), which is also the most rushing yards ever allowed by a Longhorn defense. Taysom Hill ran for 259 yards (3rd), on 15 carries for a jaw-dropping 15.2 yards/rush, and 3 TDs (T9th), while throwing for 129 more yards. Meanwhile, RB Jamaal Williams churned out 182 yards, and RB Paul Lasike racked up 87 yards and a TD. BYU would go on to finish the season with an 8-5 record, including an appearance in the Fight Hunger Bowl.

 Game link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dx6gxsvEiwU

*BYU Tv's Top 100 plays in BYU Football TV history (updated 12/12/20 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYzgPw-bQ_c)

 

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