41. 11/21/98 – BYU holds off Utah comeback to clinch the Pacific Division: BYU – 26, Utah - 24

            In their final regular season game, the BYU Cougars (8-3) travelled north to face their rivals - the Utah Utes (7-3) with more on the line than just pride. With a win, the Cougars would clinch the WAC Pacific Division with a 7-1 record. A loss might be costly enough to leave them without a bowl game invitation. Although the Cougars had dominated the rivalry during the LaVell Edwards’ era, the Utes had won 4 of their 5 previous contests - ratcheting up the intensity of the rivalry.

            Utah received the ball to start the game, and returned it all the way to the Cougar 45. Nevertheless, they were forced to punt with a three-and-out. On the Cougars’ initial drive, they advanced 57 yards to the Ute 23, including a spectacular catch by Ben Horton, who caught the ball while lying on the ground after it bounced off him 3 times; all while the defender who’d been covering him was already celebrating. The Cougars eventually scored on a 41-yard FG by Owen Pochman. The Cougar D forced another Utah punt, but this time, the Cougars couldn’t handle the punt cleanly and the Utes recovered at the BYU 12. Fortunately, the Cougar D came through again, and the Utes had to settle for a 24-yard game-tying FG. The Cougars struck back, retaking the lead with a pinpoint 23-yard TD pass from QB Kevin Feterik to Carlos Nuno. As the first quarter drew to a close, BYU’s Heshimu Robertson intercepted a tipped pass, demonstrating great concentration to adjust to the new trajectory. After one quarter, BYU seemed totally in control of the game despite only leading by 7.

            Unfortunately, BYU’s next two possessions ended in a punt and a fumble that Utah recovered at the Cougar 45 after a bone-jarring hit to RB Ronney Jenkins knocked the ball loose. The turnover resulted in another Ute score - this one a 10-yard TD pass from Crosswhite to RB Mike Anderson. With the game tied up again, BYU orchestrated a 57-yard drive that resulted in a 43-yard FG with 0:20 remaining in the half. Utah ran one play, fumbling away the ball. On the last play of the quarter, the Cougars tried to extend their lead with another FG, but this one came up short, and the two teams broke for intermission with the Cougars up 13-10.

            BYU got the ball to start the second half, but went three-and-out. Although the Utes started their first possession near midfield, Chris Ellison intercepted the Utes’ long ball attempt at the Cougar 8-yard line. Feterik led his crew on a 92-yard march that consisted mainly of short passes to a variety of receivers, and culminated with Ronney Jenkins taking the handoff while heading right, then cutting back, juking passed the faked out defenders and racing into the end zone with a 10-yard TD romp that put the Cougs up 20-10. The Utes then organized their longest drive of the game, an 80-yard drive that ended with a 7-yard TD catch by Daniel Jones right before the end of quarter three: BYU - 20, Utah - 17.

Early in the fourth quarter, BYU doubled their lead with 43-yard FG that hooked just inside the pole. A Utah punt that took a perfect Utah bounce placed the ball inside the Cougar 1-yard line to start their next drive. With their backs against the wall (or rather the goal line), the Cougars only gained two yards before punting it away. The Utes started their next possession at their own 49. They attempted a trick play that was designed to go for broke, but the Cougar D continued to shine with tight coverage and broke up the play. Going to the ground attack on their next possession, the Cougars got within FG range again and Pochman booted another FG, this one a 47-yarder to take a 26-17 lead with 3 minutes remaining. On the ensuing kickoff, Utah’s Daniel Jones returned the kick 95 yards up the right sideline for a TD. On their next possession, the Cougars failed to make a first down, punting the ball back to Utah with 1:26 remaining. The Utes drove to the BYU 15-yard line, setting up the game-winning FG, while eating up what remained of the clock. The Utah fans were already celebrating their impending victory when the FG attempt bounced off the goalpost, eliciting an loud cheer from the Cougar faithful in attendance. The Cougars needed to run one play to secure their divisional championship.

Owen Pochman
Courtesy of BYU Photo

The Cougar victory can in big measure be attributed to K Owen Pochman, who nailed 4 field goals of 40+ yards, including two in the 4th quarter. Unfortunately, the Cougars lost the WAC championship game to the #17 ranked Air Force Falcons. Still the Cougs were invited to play #10 Tulane in the Liberty Bowl. Although they lost that game too, they finished with a respectable 9-5 record.

Game recap: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHknjEyo6LQ

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