58. 10/19/13 - Blue beats Red in Cougar Showdown - BYU - 47, Houston - 46

             The BYU Cougars (4-2) traveled to Texas to play the undefeated Houston Cougars (5-0) for the first match-up in program history. Both universities used cougars as their mascots, but which Cougar would rise to the occasion? Blue or Red?

The BYU Defense got things started on the right foot with an interception by Spencer Hadley that delivered the ball to the BYU Offense at the Houston 41. After getting to the 15 on a couple of first down receptions by WR Cody Hoffman, QB Taysom Hill faked a handoff, then threw a lateral pass to RB Jamaal Williams who barreled his way into the end zone with a 15-yard TD run. BYU’s second drive started at their own 9. The drive stalled at the Houston 23, but that was close enough for Justin Sorensen to put the Blue Cougars up by ten with a 41-yard FG. Unfortunately, the cushion disappeared on the kickoff, which Demarcus Ayers ran back 95 yards for a touchdown. Undaunted, BYU went back to work, charging 75 yards upfield in 7 plays - the final 11 coming on a TD pass from Taysom Hill to WR Ross Apo on the right side of the end zone. The Red Cougars played copycat, driving 75 yards in 3 plays, including a 69-yard TD reception by Xavier Maxwell. Houston then took the lead on a 30-yard Pick-6 by Derrick Mathews. The Blue Cougars shrugged off the miscue by embarking on another 75-yard trip. This one ending on an eerily similar play to their previous TD drive, with Hill scrambling right and finding Apo in the end zone with an 18-yard TD pass. When Houston tried to respond, Daniel Sorensen picked off an errant pass by QB O’Korn and ran it back 22 yards to the Houston 23. On third-and-9, Hill used his legs to run for the first down, setting up first-and-goal inside the five after a late hit penalty against Houston. BYU was in prime position to score 31 points in one quarter of play, but Houston’s Thomas Bates picked off the pass in the end zone. When the smoke finally cleared from the first quarter fireworks, BYU held a 24-21 lead.

Jamaal Williams' TD run
Courtesy of BYU Photo

            Early in the second quarter, Houston tied up the score on a 29-yard FG. After a quick BYU punt, Houston went up by seven on 6-yard TD pass that O’Korn threaded to Deontay Greenberry between two BYU defenders. After trading punts, the Blue Cougars went back on the prowl, traipsing 75 yards in 9 plays, then handing the ball to Jamaal Williams to crash through the line for yard 76, tying the game at 31-all. With almost 4 minutes to work with, the Red Cougars sharpened their claws and took the lead back on a broken play on third-and-22. Running for his life, with four Blue Cougars closing in, O’Korn lobbed a pass over the BYU defenders to Daniel Spencer, who caught the pass at about the 25, almost fell to the ground, but stayed upright and raced almost all the way across the field before cutting toward the end zone and scoring with a “41-yard” reception. With only 1:31 left before intermission, BYU went to “hurry-up mode,” making it to the Houston 2-yard line for fourth-and-one. Rather than risk ending the half on a sour note, BYU opted to kick the short FG, pulling them to within four (38-34) at halftime.

After such an offensive first half, the defenses dominated the third quarter. Houston attempted a FG, but failed, and had to punt on each of their next three possessions. BYU’s offense did even worse: turning the ball over on downs, throwing an interception, punting, and a suffering a sack in the end zone for a safety. They got the ball back (at their own 3) right before the quarter ended, hoping desperately to flip their fortunes as they flipped sides for the fourth quarter, down 40-34.

Taysom Hill proved his mettle as a top-notch QB by leading BYU on a 97-yard drive. Twenty-five yards away from their goal, Hill found his favorite target, Cody Hoffman, who caught the ball despite pass interference, for a 25-yard TD completion. Sorensen’s extra point gave the Cougars in blue a one-point lead over Red. Houston tried to take back the lead on a 76-yard catch and run by Daniel Spencer, but he was brought down inside the BYU 5. On third-and-goal, O’Korn was sacked by the blitzing Blue back at the 25, and Houston’s FGA missed. Unfortunately, BYU couldn’t add on, punting on each of their next 3 possessions. With 6:36 remaining, Houston orchestrated their longest drive of the day, going 84 yards to retake the lead on a 10-yard TD pass to Greenberry. The 2-point conversion attempt bounced off the receiver, then a defender before falling incomplete. When BYU had to punt with three and a half minutes remaining, things looked grim; but the BYU Defense rose to the occasion, forcing Red to punt after a three-and-out. Trailing by five with 1:50 to play, Hill completed a first down pass to Skyler Ridley at the Houston 20. On second-and-one, Hill found Ridley in the end zone from 11 yards out to give BYU a one-point lead. Playing the numbers, they too tried for the two; and failed. Alani Fua intercepted O'Korn’s pass on the next play from scrimmage, allowing BYU to run out the clock for the one-point win. 

Cody Hoffman sets the record
Courtesy of BYU Photo

Taysom Hill had a career day, throwing for 417 yards and 4 TDs and running for 128 yards. Cody Hoffman set a Cougar record for career receptions, and tied another for career TD receptions. He would finish the season as the Cougars all-time career leader with: 259 receptions, 33 receiving touchdowns, 3,604 receiving yards, 18 100-yard receiving games and 5,015 all-purpose yards. As a team, the Cougars set team records by running an NCAA-record 115 plays and converting 41 first downs in the contest. The team would finish the regular season with an 8-4 record, earning an invite to the Fight Hunger Bowl.

Game highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zlb6rrpi2kg