32. 10/4/02 – Largest comeback: BYU – 35, Utah St. - 34

             The BYU Cougars (2-2) went to Logan to play their in-state rivals, the Utah St. Aggies (1-4), in what would be their last meeting until 2006. The two teams had faced each other every season except for two (1995 & 1998; and of course during WWII when three seasons were canceled) since BYU’s first game (against Utah St.) in 1922. BYU owned a 39-33-3 record in the series, and hadn’t lost to the Aggies since 1993. However, the Cougars were reeling after losing two straight, and the Aggies had one of the best receivers in the nation, Kevin Curtis, who had finished with the second most receptions (100) in Division I the previous year.

            Things got off to a great start for the Cougars when Paul Walkenhorst intercepted Jose Fuentes on the Aggies’ initial series. The Cougars started their first drive at the Aggie 34, but a sack on first down put them in a hole they couldn’t break out of, turning the ball over on downs. On Utah State’s second possession, the Cougars intercepted the ball again - this time courtesy of Levi Madarieta. However, a couple of penalties pushed them back and they were forced to punt. A 53-yard reception by Curtis on the Aggies’ next possession put Utah State in FG range. The drive ended with a 21-yard FG. BYU finally started moving the ball on their third possession, but fumbled it around midfield. The Cougar D once again kept the Aggies out of the end zone, and this time the Aggies missed the FGA. The quarter ended with the Aggies up 3-0, but they were once again knocking on the door.

            On the first play of the second quarter, Richard Watson found a gap in the line and squeezed through on a one-yard TD rush. BYU gained 60 yards on their first drive of the quarter (more than their entire first quarter output), but ended up turning the ball over on downs when they didn’t convert on a fake FG play. To make matters worse, James Samuel caught the Cougar D napping, busting free with a 73-yard TD sprint. Luckily, the Cougar Offense was finally finding its rhythm. Using a combination of short passes and rushes from Curtis Brown and Reno Mahe, they marched 80 yards, with Brown diving into the end zone on a 2-yard TD rush to put BYU on the board. Unfortunately, the Aggies still had plenty of gas left in the tank. Fuentes directed another air attack to the Cougar 14, then handed off to Kevin Curtis who swept to the left, bounced off a Cougar defender and curved back toward the middle for a 14-yard TD scamper. BYU meanwhile continued to go for it on fourth down, and the Utah State D stopped them four times in six attempts during the first half. With 1:17 remaining in the half, the Aggies used quick passes to move 48 yards in 8 plays. With 26 seconds remaining, Dane Kidman booted a 39-yard FG. Desperate to put some more points on the board, the Cougar Offense tried to move the ball with quick passes to the sideline. On the last play of the half, QB Bret Engemann tried to launch a Hail Mary pass to the end zone. The pass was intercepted by Jerome Dennis at the Aggie 25. He then slashed his way across the field, cruising into the end zone to give USU a 27-point (34-7) halftime lead.

            Down, but not out, the Cougars opened with second half with a 30-yard kickoff return. They then commenced a 12-play drive that included a 29-yard reception by Reno Mahe on second-and-19. The drive ended with freshman RB Curtis Brown powering into the end zone from a yard out. Facing another fourth-and-short situation on their next drive, BYU once again went for it - even after a false start pushed them back another five yards. This time, Engemann completed a first down pass to TE Spencer Nead. A couple of plays later, Engemann handed off to Brown, who found a seam and raced 32 yards, holding off the defender just long enough to score his third TD of the day. After piling up loads of yards in the first half, USU’s offense was struggling in the second half. On their third possession, they finally managed to make their way into BYU territory, but their long FG attempt curved left.

As the fourth quarter opened, BYU was still down by two TDs. The Cougars pieced together a 14-play drive that ended with a spectacular scoring play: Engemann handed off to Reno Mahe, who pitched it to Toby Christensen on a reverse. Christensen pulled up in the pocket and scanned the field for an open receiver. He spotted Jason Kukahiko in the back of the end zone and threw a nice spiral, which Kukahiko caught for a 17-yard TD reception - the first of his career. The Cougar defense forced another punt, giving BYU the ball back at its own 18-yard line. A 33-yard pass to Mahe took the ball to midfield. Facing third-and -fifteen from their own 46-yard line, Engemann found Christensen with a 27-yard pass to keep the drive alive. Three plays later, Engemann faked a handoff, peeled off to the right and connected with Gabe Reid in the end zone for an 18-yard TD pass that tied the game. Matt Payne’s extra point gave the Cougars a 1-point lead. The Cougar Defense, meanwhile, continued to make great plays, holding USU scoreless for the half.  The Aggies got the ball back for one last gasp with 1:21 remaining. Brandon Heaney wrestled the ball away from Kevin Curtis for an interception with 0:25 to play to seal the victory - the largest comeback win in BYU history!

 Curtis Brown
Courtesy of BYU Photo

The comeback win was one of BYU’s few shining moments in an otherwise dreary year. After finishing 12-2 in 2001, BYU finished the 2002 campaign with a losing record (5-7) for the first time since 1973. But the future held some promise. In addition to the 3 TDs (T9th), freshman RB Curtis Brown ran for 217 yards (9th) en route to a record breaking career in which he would become the first Cougar to rush for more than 3,000 yards (3,193 yards) in a career.

 Game link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xy1z3X9246I