22. 8/24/96 – Pigskin Classic: BYU – 41, #13 Texas A&M – 37
Prior to the first game of the 1996 college football season, the BYU Cougars were treated to a video montage of Cougar highlights throughout the years. The video ended with a pep talk from Ty Detmer, dressed in his Philadelphia Eagles uniform and exhorting them to beat the #13 Texas A&M Aggies. The two teams were meeting in college football’s annual Pigskin Classic - a season-opening game that ran from 1990-2002 and allowed western schools to add an extra game to their schedule. The Cougars (7-4 in ‘95) were 10-point underdogs to Texas A&M (9-3 in ‘95), whose Defense had been labeled “The Wrecking Crew”.
It was the BYU D that made the initial difference, forcing the Aggies to punt after a three-and-out on their first possession. Starting at their own 35, the Cougar Offense went right to work. After converting a first down on third-and-short, QB Steve Sarkesian hit TE Itula Mili with a pass toward the left sideline, and Mili broke a tackle and sprinted all the way to the A&M 5-yard line for a 48-yard gain. On the very next play, Sarkesian spotted his other tight end, Chad Lewis, in the end zone. Lewis’s diving catch gave BYU a six-point lead due to the blocked extra-point attempt. A&M came back, driving 53 yards on their next possession to kick a 45-yard field goal. They followed that with a 67-yard drive that ended with a 19-yard TD rush by Parker Sirr. The Aggies led 10-6 after one.
A&M’s next drive ended in another field goal, this one a 43-yarder to open the second quarter. Texas A&M kept the pedal to the metal, orchestrating an 87-yard drive on their next possession. On the seventh play of the drive, QB Brandon Stewart found Aaron Oliver over the middle, who beat the tired Cougar D in a 57-yard catch and sprint all the way to the end zone to put the Aggies up 20-6. When the Cougar Offense went three-and-out for the fourth straight time, it appeared as if The Wrecking Crew had the struggling Cougs prepped for demolition. However, the punt was fumbled by the return man and recovered by the Cougars on the A&M 22-yard line. On second-and-8, from the Aggie 9, Sarkesian took the snap, faked a handoff and peeled left. Just shy of the 20, Sarkesian came set and threw a bullet to the end zone. The ball sped by the stretched-out hands of the defender and bounced off the chest of Mili, who quickly corralled it for a 9-yard TD reception. The revitalized Cougar D forced a punt on the ensuing Aggie drive giving the Offense one more shot to score before the half. With 3:37 remaining, Sarkesian and his cadre of tight ends and receivers drove 64 yards to the Aggie 10. On third-and-five, Sarkesian led Kaipo McGuire with a pass, which Kaipo secured as he fell to the turf in the back of the end zone. Ethan Pochman’s extra point tied the game up at 20 with 45 seconds remaining in the half.
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| BYU beats Texas A&M in season opener Courtesy of BYU Photo |
After their strong finish in the first half, the Cougars coughed up the momentum by fumbling the ball on the opening possession of the second half. The Aggies immediately capitalized, with Eric Bernard breaking free for a 40-yard TD run on their third play from scrimmage. The Cougars came right back, though, quickly moving to midfield. From there, Sarkesian threw a sharp pass to McGuire in the flat. McGuire dodged the defender, then relied on a block to race untouched into the end zone for a 51-yard TD reception. Yet, once again, Pochman failed to make the extra point, leaving the Cougars down by one. The Aggies drove 53 yards on their next possession, but ultimately had to punt. The Cougars then drove deep into Aggie territory, but Sarkesian was picked off by Rich Coady, who returned the ball to the BYU 22. As the third quarter drew to a close, Stewart hit D’Andr Hardeman on a short slant pattern that put A&M up 34-26.
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| Ben Cahoon Courtesy of BYU Photo |
The Cougars’ first drive of the fourth quarter began on their own 20. *After crossing over midfield, Sarkesian took the snap and, protected by his offensive line, let loose a missile. WR Ben Cahoon leaped, extending his 5’9” body to its full extent to make the 33-yard diving catch at the Aggie 10 (#58). On third down, after suffering a two yard loss, Sarkesian fell back in the pocket, looked right, found James Dye open in the end zone, and hit him cleanly for a 12-yard TD reception. Down by two, the Cougs went for the two-point conversion. Sarkesian threw a sidelong pass to Dustin Johnson, who barreled into the end zone, just barely crossing the plane to tie the score at 34. On their next possession, the Cougars drove to the A&M 11, but the A&M Defense sacked Sarkesian at the 20 on third and long, prompting the Cougars to attempt a FG. Unfortunately, the FGA went wide right. With the game clock showing 1:27, A&M’s Kyle Bryant nailed a 52-yard FG, his third of the day, to put the Aggies up by three. James Dye brought the kick-off out to the 22-yard line. Sarkesian and company then went to work. On the first play, Sarkesian hit McGuire at the right sideline just past the first down marker. On the next play, Sarkesian hit K.O. Kealaluhi over the middle for another first down at the Aggie 46-yard line. *The next play called for a short pass to Chad Lewis over the middle, but Steve Sarkisian elected to throw the ball to the streaking Kealaluhi. K.O. caught the ball over his shoulder and slid into the end zone to KO the Aggies on Sarkisian’s 6th TD pass (T4th) of the day (#14). The Aggies still had a minute to work with, and drove 46 yards to the Cougar 34, but on the next play, with 13 ticks remaining, he inexplicably fumbled the ball and the Cougars recovered for the final knockout punch.
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| K.O. Kealaluhi Courtesy of BYU Photo |
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| Steve Sarkisian Courtesy of BYU Photo |
Following the victory, BYU vaulted into the polls at #19, and SI came to Provo to do a feature story on Sark and the Cougars. The win was just the first step in what would become one of the greatest football seasons in BYU history. By season’s end, the Cougars would rack up an NCAA Division 1 record 14 wins, their first New Year’s Day Bowl game, and a #5 ranking - their second highest finish ever. Texas A&M, meanwhile would finish a the season a disappointing 6-6.
*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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