68. 12/20/12 – Poinsettia Bowl: BYU – 23, San Diego St. - 6

             Following a moderately successful season, the BYU Cougars (7-5) accepted an invitation to play the SDSU Aztecs (9-3) in the Poinsettia Bowl in San Diego. Although this was their first Poinsettia Bowl, the city played host to the Cougars for many of their previous postseason heroics back when BYU ruled the WAC.

The Cougar D (ranked #3 in the nation) got off to a good start, with Ezekiel Ansah snagging a deflected pass to cut short the Aztecs’ first drive. However, the offense couldn’t get anything going, punting on each of its first four possessions. San Diego State, meanwhile overcame their early miscue with a scoring drive on their very next possession. Chance Marden booted a 27-yard FG to give SDSU a 3-0 lead.

Early in the second quarter, Marden popped a 23-yarder through the uprights to double the Aztec lead. When the Aztecs intercepted an errant pass, and advanced to the Cougar 29, it appeared as if they would quickly add to their lead. However, the Cougar D, and some SDSU penalties, pushed the Aztecs out of FG range. With a little over two minutes remaining, SDSU elected to punt on fourth-and-17, hoping to pin the Cougars right in front of their goal line. Instead, the ball bounced into the end zone, and the Cougars got to take it out at the 20. Third-string QB James Lark, making his second start, led the Cougars on a 74-yard drive to the Aztec 6 thanks to a 38-yard reception by Devin Mahina. With time remaining for one more play, Justin Sorensen hit a 23-yard field goal, sending the Cougars to the locker room with a 6-3 deficit.

When the teams took the field in the third quarter, Defense continued to rule supreme, with neither team scoring in the third. In the fourth, BYU drove to the Aztec 4, but failed to score when SDSU picked off a deflected pass on what should have been the Cougars first TD. That’s when superstar LB Kyle Van Noy took matters into his own hands. *With SDSU pinned at their own 3, Kyle Van Noy caught QB Adam Dingwell in the end zone right as he was getting ready to throw. After stripping the ball from Dingwell’s cocked arm, Van Noy pounced on the loose ball for the Cougars’ first TD (#31). On the Aztecs’ very next play, they fumbled again, and Jordan Johnson was there to recover it. That put BYU in great field position for a second TD, this one a 14-yard rush up the middle by Jamaal Williams. In a matter of 12 seconds, the Cougars went from a 3 point deficit to an 10 point lead. But they weren’t done yet. The Cougar D gained 9 yards on the Aztecs’ next possession, due to intentional grounding, forcing a punt. On SDSU’s next possession, with Dingwell scrambling to avoid a safety, Van Noy tracked the QB’s eyes, then leaped and intercepted his desperate pass toward a receiver camped out along the sideline. With his route to the end zone littered with players, Van Noy dashed back toward the middle of the field, then knifed his way to the end zone for a 17-yard Pick Six. The Cougars snatched one more interception that night, courtesy of Alani Fua, sealing the 23-6 win with four fourth quarter turnovers.

Kyle Van Noy forcing a fumble for a TD
Courtesy of BYU Photo

With 2 TDs, a forced fumble and recovery, an interception, a blocked punt, 3.5 tackles for a loss, 1.5 sacks, and 8 total tackles, Kyle Van Noy was a shoo-in for defensive MVP honors. Cody Hoffman was named offensive MVP after making 10 catches for 114 yards. The Cougars’ whole special teams deserved special recognition after pinning SDSU inside their own 5-yard line on five different occasions.

#3 Ranked BYU Cougars Defense
Courtesy of BYU Photo

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

 *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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