6.11/25/06 – Beck to Harline: #21 BYU - 33, Utah - 31

             The #21 ranked BYU Cougars (9-2), led by MWC offensive player of the year QB John Beck, had already wrapped up the MWC title, but they still had some unfinished business to take care of. Their opponents were their instate rivals - the Utah Utes (7-4), led by MWC defensive player of the year DB Eric Weddle. The Cougars were hoping to go undefeated in MWC play; but more important, they hadn’t beaten the Utes since 2001. That was unacceptable to the Cougars and their fans. On the other side of the field, the Utes were hoping to bolster their bowl game resume with a big win over a ranked Cougar program.

            In a preview of what was to come, John Beck immediately went to his favorite target, TE Johnny Harline, who made a one-armed catch along the sideline for a first down. The drive continued with additional first down passes to Harline, WR McKay Jacobson and RB Curtis Brown, bringing the ball to the Ute 4-yard line. On third-and-inches, Manase Tonga pounded into the line, crossing the goal line for the first score of the day. Midway through the first quarter, the Cougars were driving again. A 26-yard completion to TE Daniel Coats advanced the ball into Utah territory. On the next play, Harline broke free of his defender and Beck led him with a perfectly placed pass that Harline caught in stride on his way to pay dirt for a 36-yard TD reception.

            On Utah’s first drive of the second quarter, the Utes invaded Cougar territory, but the Cougar D batted down a pass on third-and-six. Utah brought out the punting squad, but Ute punter, Louie Sakoda, received the hike, tucked the ball under his arm and ran it for a first down to the Cougar 30-yard line. On first-and-ten, at the Cougar 18-yard line, Utah’s All-American DB lined up at QB, after faking a hand-off to RB Brent Casteel, Weddle faked a run, then stepped back and threw it to Casteel who was now streaking up the sideline. Casteel took the ball into the end zone untouched for a TD. Late in the second quarter, Utah drove inside the Cougar 20 for a first down. A second down sack moved the ball back to the 24-yard line. After an incomplete pass near the end zone on third down, Utah went for the field goal, but it hooked wide left. After stopping the Cougars, Utah got the ball back with under two minutes to play in the half. The ball came loose on a QB sack, and a Cougar scooped it up and ran it into the end zone for an apparent TD, but on video review, the play was ruled an incomplete pass, nullifying the touchdown. Utah quickly moved down the field, converting a first down inside the 10-yard line. On third-and-goal, Brett Ratliff’s pass went through the hands of his receiver in the back of the end zone, stopping the clock with two seconds remaining. This time the FG was good, sending BYU to the locker room with a 14-10 halftime lead.

            On the opening drive of the third quarter, Ratliff connected with WR Brian Hernandez for a 47-yard gain that took the ball all the way to the Cougar 26-yard line. After converting another first down, the Utes were once again inside the Red Zone. On fourth-and-inches, at the Cougar 6-yard line, Cameron Jensen timed his leap over the line, tackling the Ute QB on the keeper, turning the ball over on downs. However the reprieve didn’t last long. After forcing the Cougars to punt, Utah struck back on the very first play of their next possession - a 57-yard TD catch and run to Marquis Wilson that gave Utah a 17-14 advantage. The home crowd at Rice-Eccles stadium erupted. The momentum was clearly still in Utah’s favor. After the Ute D forced BYU to punt for the fifth consecutive possession, Utah drove down the field again, capping the 66-yard drive with a 4-yard TD pass to Colt Sampson, extending their lead to ten. As the quarter drew to a close, the Cougars began their drive at their own 20-yard line. They needed to change the momentum, and do it quickly.

            As the fourth quarter began, the Cougars were on the march. Standing protected in the pocket, Beck calmly hit Zac Collie with a 20-yard pass that placed the ball at the Ute 5-yard line. *From there, Beck lobbed a toss to Johnny Harline, who was being guarded by the future NFL Pro-Bowler Eric Weddle. The pass was a little short, but the former basketball player leaped over Weddle, tipped the ball to himself and caught the rebound as he landed at the edge of the end zone for a touchdown (#27). The extra point attempt was blocked, leaving the Cougars down by four. After forcing the Utes to punt for the first time since the first quarter, BYU took over at their own 10-yard line with ten minutes remaining. The ensuing 90-yard drive mixed short passes with rushes by RB Curtis Brown. The 13 plays ate more than six minutes of clock and was punctuated by a 2-yard TD pass to Coats, giving the Cougars the lead. The Utes got the ball back with 3:23 remaining on their own 17-yard line. Facing fourth-and-two on their own 25-yard line, with two and a half minutes remaining, the Utes decided to go for it. After sitting in the pocket for a couple of seconds, Ratliff saw an opening on the left hand side and ran for the first down. On the ninth play of the drive, once again inside the BYU 20-yard line, Ratliff found Brent Casteel over the middle, and Casteel cut through the Cougar defense into the end zone for his second TD of the afternoon.

With a 1:09 remaining in the game, BYU had time for one final drive. Down by four, they needed a touchdown – and the end zone was 75 yards away. Beck immediately connected with Bryce Mahuika for a 15-yard gain. Three plays later, the Cougars faced fourth-and-four, with 35 seconds remaining. John Beck again connected with Jonny Harline, who snagged the ball and carried it to the Ute 37-yard line. Catches by Harline and Jacobson brought them to the Utah 11-yard line with 9 seconds remaining. After two unsuccessful plays, the Cougars faced third-and-ten, with only 3.2 seconds remaining. During the timeout, BYU called a play named “59,” with Harline as the first option on the right side of the end zone. Unfortunately, when the ball was snapped, Utah dropped eight defenders into the end zone. Here's the call by Greg Wrubell of KSL sports radio: *“Snap to John. John backpedals. Plenty of time. Plenty of time. Plenty of time. He's moving to his left. Shuffling, shuffling, shuffling. All kinds of time. Now the heat's on. He's got to run to his right. John Beck is on the run. He throws behind him and it is...caught for the touchdown! Caught for the touchdown! Caught for the touchdown! Jonny Harline caught it for the score! Jonny Harline all by himself in the end zone! The Cougars win it on the final play of the game!” Harline had started on the right, but ran across to the left side because of the tight coverage. Meanwhile, the coverage and other receivers migrated over there with him. When nothing opened up, everyone shifted back to the right hand side – everyone but Harline. With two Ute defenders closing in on him, Beck threw off balance across his body, and Harline, alone on the left side, dropped to his knees to cradle the fluttering ball in his arms (#2). Game over, no extra point necessary: Cougars – 33, Utes – 31.

Johnny Harline's game-winning catch
Courtesy of BYU Photo

Celebration!
Courtesy of BYU Photo

            Utah’s streak of 4 straight wins over the Cougars was over. BYU would go on to win the Las Vegas Bowl and finish the season ranked #16 with an 11-2 record. Utah’s strong performance on the season earned them an invitation to the Armed Forces Bowl, where they beat Tulsa 25-13.

Game highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HErGg2pm4l8

*BYU Tv's Top 100 plays in BYU Football TV history (updated 12/12/20 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYzgPw-bQ_c)