20. 9/8/79 – BYU's first victory over a ranked opponent on the road: BYU – 18, #14 Texas A&M - 17

            As BYU prepared for the 1979 season, their first game loomed huge - the #14 ranked Aggies from Texas A&M. The Aggies had finished the 1978 season ranked #19 with a record of 8-4. Pollsters felt they’d be even better in ‘79, ranking them #14 in their preseason poll. The Cougars, meanwhile, were coming off a 9-4 season in which they won their third consecutive conference title. However, when the WAC’s two big dogs (Arizona and Arizona State) headed off to greener pastures (the PAC-10) for the 1978 season, the WAC didn’t hold much credence with pollsters, and the Cougars never broke into the polls all season. The Cougars’ quarterback controversy of the previous season was solved when Jim McMahon agreed to redshirt the 1979 season, but senior QB Marc Wilson was still recovering from a ruptured appendix when the team headed College Station, prompting bookmakers to label the Cougars as 16-point underdogs.

BYU’s prospects took a hit when they fumbled on their very first possession, turning the ball over to A&M at the Cougar 35 yard line. The Aggies pounded away at the Cougar D until David Brothers burst into the end zone from a yard out to put A&M on top. Although the Cougars turned the ball over again on an interception at midfield, they lucked out when the Aggies coughed it back up on the ensuing possession.

In the second quarter, the Cougars finally scored on a 26-yard FG by Brent Johnson. The Aggies looked like they were going to build on their lead later in the quarter, but they fumbled the ball into the end zone where the Cougars recovered. The Cougars gave the ball back on an interception with 41 seconds remaining in the half. A&M quickly advanced 45 yards on two plays, but time ran out before they could score. Halfway through, the Aggies led 7-3.

On their first possession of the third, the Aggies started at midfield and once again pounded their way to the goal line. This time, Mike Mosely scored on a 7-yard rush to give A&M a 14-3 lead. Late in the quarter, A&M fumbled again. BYU took over at their 43. Three plays later, sitting 20 yards out, Marc Wilson took the snap and found Dan Plater for a 20-yard TD strike.

Starting in Cougar territory, the Aggies made their way into the red zone, where K David Hardy kicked a 37-yard FG to boost their lead back to seven midway through the fourth. On the first play of the next drive, Wilson threw his third interception of the game, giving the ball back to A&M near midfield. On the next set of downs, BYU’s Pulusila Filiaga recovered a fumble at the Cougar 47. Unfortunately, BYU was forced to punt. Fortunately, the punt was nearly perfect, and Texas A&M had to start their possession at their own 4-yard line. They only advanced 3 yards before being obligated to punt themselves. Tim Halverson raced in and blocked the punt, which was recovered at the Aggie 19. Two penalties and a completed pass later, BYU was at the Aggie 3-yard line with a minute remaining. With the clock counting down, Wilson found Clay Brown in the end zone with a short pass to pull the Cougars within one. *Rather than go for the tie, BYU went for the 2-point conversion. Wilson took the snap, faked a handoff, then looked left and tossed a short pass to Mike Lacey. Lacey dived for the ball and cradled it in his arms just before he belly-flopped in the end zone, giving BYU a one-point lead (#43). With 45 seconds, left, the Aggies went into hurry-up mode, driving to the BYU 32. They lost two yards on the next play. With 4 ticks left, they attempted a 51-yard FG, but it missed, wide left, sealing the Cougar win.

Clay Brown
Courtesy of BYU Photo

Mike Lacey
Courtesy of BYU Photo

            Not only was the win BYU's first victory over a ranked opponent on the road, the Aggies were the highest ranked opponent the Cougars had ever defeated. The confidence the team gained with such a huge road win served the Cougars well throughout the season, allowing them to run the table for the first time in team history, finishing the regular season with an 11-0 record and a #9 ranking - their highest ranking up to that time. Although they ultimately lost their bowl game to Indiana (38-37 on a missed field goal of their own), it was easily their best season showing ever to that point. The Aggies, on the other had, didn’t live up to their preseason billing, finishing a disappointing 6-5 on the year.

Final scoring drive: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2ieIEP0Qu0

*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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