59. 10/14/16 - Double OT Victory: BYU - 28, Mississippi St. - 21

             The BYU Cougars (3-3) hosted the Mississippi State Bulldogs (2-3) for their annual Homecoming Game. The two programs had split the all-time series with one win apiece. Although neither team was off to a great start to the season, both knew that their opponent wasn’t going to be a pushover. The Bulldogs played in the tough SEC, playing quality opponents almost every week. And although the Cougars had 3 losses, they’d lost those games by a grand total of 7 points.

MSU collected 50 yards on their initial drive, but their 42-yard field goal attempt sailed wide left. After a BYU punt, the Bulldogs’ second possession was more successful. On third-and-5, QB Nick Fitzgerald faked a handoff, then tucked the ball and ran hard to the left. As the Cougar D pounced, Fitzgerald pulled up and lobbed an off-balance pass to Keith Mixon, who raced 44 yards up sideline to give the Bulldogs a 7-0 lead. The Cougars then embarked on a long, 75-yard drive, that lasted 15 plays and chewed up almost 8 1/2 minutes. On the final play, senior QB Taysom Hill faked a handoff, then lobbed a short TD pass to Hunter Marshall, all by himself in the back corner of the end zone, tying the game at 7-all.

In the second quarter, BYU’s Mica Hannemann intercepted a pass in Cougar territory. Although the Cougars managed to drive 44 yards on the ensuing possession, they couldn’t capitalize, missing a long FGA. MSU did take advantage of the failed attempt by marching 75 yards to take the lead on a keeper by QB Fitzgerald. Neither team managed to do much offensively the remainder of the half, and the Cougars entered the locker room down 14-7.

Both offenses continued to struggle through most of the third quarter, punting away the ball on each possession. However, as the teams flipped sides to begin the fourth quarter, the Cougars were sitting on the Bulldog 4. Unfortunately, they were pushed back due to a holding penalty. On third-and-goal, from the Mississippi 15, Taysom Hill zipped a pass between two MSU defenders to WR Moroni Laulu-Pututau, who made a spectacular diving catch in the end zone. The extra point tied the game at 14-14. MSU tried to take back the lead, but their 40-yard drive ended with an interception by Kai Nacua - his NCAA-leading fifth interception of the year. Unfortunately, the Cougar offense couldn’t find any traction following their TD, punting the ball away twice. With 0:12 remaining in regulation, BYU got the ball back. On the first play, Hill surveyed the field, broke from the pocket and threw a pass to Laulu-Pututau. The ball was overthrown, but Moroni leaped in the air and made an amazing one-handed catch before tumbling out of bounds at the BYU 40. Hill tried to make something happen on the final play, but ended up fumbling the ball, sending the game to overtime.

BYU won the coin toss, forcing MSU to take the first possession of OT. Unfortunately, the Bulldogs scored a TD in four plays, with Fitzgerald leaping over two Cougar defenders and landing in the end zone for the score. Knowing they needed a TD, the Cougars turned to their star. Taysom almost fumbled away the game, but the ball was scooped up by Tanner Balderee, who managed to get positive yards on the play. On third-and-goal, a yard-and-a-half outside the end zone, Taysom called his own number and surged over the line, sending the game into double overtime.

BYU vs. Mississippi State
Courtesy of BYU Photo

The Cougars got the ball back to start the second OT. This time, Hill faked a handoff to Williams, rolled to his right and fired the ball to TE Tanner Balderree who caught it, leaped out of a Bulldog tackle and outraced the pursuing canines for the Cougars’ first lead of the game. Mississippi State still had a chance to tie it up. They managed to get a first down, but on fourth-and-9, the Cougar D forced Fitzgerald out of the pocket, where he threw a prayer into the end zone. BYU linebacker Fred Warner tipped away the pass, which fell incomplete, sealing the win.

Jamaal Williams
Courtesy of BYU Photo

In overtime, RB Jamaal Williams became BYU’s all-time leading rusher, collecting 76 yards overall to surpass Harvey Unga on the all-time list. The Cougars would go on to finish out their regular season with an 8-4 record, and receiving an invitation to the Poinsettia Bowl, where they defeated the Wyoming Cowboys in another thriller.

Game highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1AIKu3ZHq8


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