23. 9/14/19 - Overtime thriller over ranked USC: BYU - 30, #24 USC - 27

            The BYU Cougars (1-1) hosted the #24 ranked USC Trojans (2-0) in Provo in the third-ever match-up between the two college football powerhouses. USC had won the two previous match-ups, and the experts were predicting another Trojan victory.

USC immediately went to work, quickly marching upfield to the Cougar 8 with a series of short passes and an occasional rush. Kedon Slovis then connected with his favorite target, Michael Pittman, in the front of the end zone with a bullet that gave USC the early lead. After punting on their first possession, the Cougars got the ball back in prime real estate when Payton Wilgar dove in front of the receiver to intercept a pass at the USC 28. Ty’Son Williams swept right on a fake reversal to escort the ball all the way to the Trojan 2 1/2. Williams pounded into the Trojan line on consecutive plays only to come up just short. On the next play, Dayan Ghanwoloku got a running start and burst through the line to tie the game at 7-7. USC went to the air again, and this time Slovis was picked off by Isaiah Kaufusi, who snatched it in his fingertips, then ran it back 10 yards to the USC 27. The flea-flicker play, from backup QB Jaren Hall to QB Zach Wilson produced a 19-yard gain for first-and-goal. A few plays later, Jake Oldroyd booted a 23-yard FG to give BYU the lead. Despite the two interceptions, USC stuck with the passing game, advancing 60 yards on a sideline route by TE Krommenhoek. Performing their own goal line stand, the Cougars almost snagged a third straight reception, but the ball fell incomplete after passing through three sets of hands as the first quarter drew to a close.

As the second quarter got underway, USC knotted the score at 10 with a 27-yard FG. Now it was the Cougars turn to go on the prowl. On third-and-14, Wilson hit Ty’Son Williams with a sideways pass that Williams was able to convert into a first down. On third-and-five, Zach Wilson faked a handoff, then turned and lofted a perfect strike to Dax Milne, who caught the ball as he fell into the end zone, wrestling it away from the defender for a 30-yard TD reception. Trojan ball. In homage to the Cougar pass coverage, USC switched to a running attack, marching down the field to tie the score at 17-all with a 5-yard TD rush. The Cougars almost coughed up an interception at midfield, but the instant replay determined that it was an incomplete pass. Talon Shumway made a spectacular one-armed pretzel catch, despite being mugged by his defender, to keep the drive alive, but the eventual FGA flew wide to keep the scored tied at intermission.

The score remained tied throughout the third quarter when BYU failed to convert a fourth-and-one rush that came up a pair of inches short near the Trojan 8-yard line. USC took an early fourth quarter lead when Slovis connected with Pittman on a 30-yard touchdown pass in the back corner of the end zone to wrap up a 13-play 92-yard drive that included a fourth down conversion. Undaunted, BYU drove 61 yards to set up a 32-yard FG. After forcing a three-and-out punt, the Cougars struck again. A 35-yard pass to Gunner Romney put them in the “Blue Zone.” On second down, Wilson took the snap from the shotgun. After coming set, he tucked the ball and sprinted up a hole in the middle of the field, powering his way into the end zone, despite being sandwiched at the two, for a 16-yard QB sneak. A risky fourth down conversion deep in their own territory allowed USC to drive 44 yards to the Cougar 34. With less than two minutes remaining, USC tied the score at 27-a-piece with a 52-yard FG, sending the game into OT.

Zach Wilson
Courtesy of BYU Photo

BYU got the ball first, and Oldroyd booted a 43-yard FG to give the Cougars a 30-27 lead. It was USC’s turn. *On third-and-six, Slovis tried to hit a receiver over the middle for a first down; but the ball bounced off the receiver and Dayan Ghanwoloku made a diving interception to seal the victory (#57). Cougar fans stormed the field and had to be removed as replay officials reviewed the catch. When the official announced, “The call stands,” the fans stormed the field again.

Dayan Ghanwoloku
Courtesy of BYU Photo

USC dropped out of the polls following the loss, but flirted with the Top 25 for the rest of the season, making two more entrances before being dropped for good with a bowl loss that left them with an 8-5 record. BYU finished the season with a 7-6 record, losing the Hawai’i Bowl to the University of Hawai’i.

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

*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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