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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
PROVO, Utah (AP) -- Two weeks ago, Utah was struggling with a
two-game losing skid. T.D. Croshaw and Andre Dyson made sure the
Utes ended their regular season in the best way possible.
Croshaw threw for two second-half touchdowns and Dyson ended a late BYU comeback attempt with his second interception as the Utes beat the No. 19 Cougars 20-17 Saturday in the "Holy War."
It was a sweet victory for Utah (8-3, 5-2 Mountain West), which
won its fourth straight on BYU's field. The Utes also earned a
share of the Mountain West title and returned to the postseason
picture.
"It says a lot about our team," Utah coach Ron McBride said.
"We refused to quit. We refused to let people dictate what our
team should be like or what we should play like."
Croshaw threw a 70-yard scoring pass to Cliff Russell and a
4-yard TD pass to Donny Utu as the Utes extended a 10-6 halftime
lead and denied BYU (8-3, 5-2) the outright conference title.
After the Utes lost to Colorado State and Wyoming in consecutive weeks, many fans openly criticized McBride. Utah finished the
season with a 52-7 victory over New Mexico and the emotional win at
BYU.
"We have a piece of the championship while a couple of weeks
ago people thought we were out of it," McBride said. "We fought
our way back."
The Cougars rallied late, with Kevin Feterik throwing a 6-yard
TD pass to Ben Horton with 2:20 to play, pulling BYU to 20-17.
The BYU defense forced a punt, and Feterik had the Cougars
moving again when he tried to throw to Jonathan Pittman. Dyson
sealed the victory with 1:09 to play, diving for the interception.
The play started a celebration on the Utah sideline as the crowd
of 65,942, mostly BYU fans, went silent.
"There's no better way to end it than to let them suffer,"
said Utah cornerback Jay Hill. "We just had to run out the clock
and we used that minute and a half to celebrate."
After the final gun, the jubilant Utes lifted McBride on their
shoulders and paraded him around the field.
Colorado State and Wyoming have 4-2 records in Mountain West
play entering their final games next week, when the Rams play at
UNLV and Wyoming travels to San Diego State.
The Liberty Bowl can invite whichever Mountain West team it
wants if at least two teams share the title. Representative John
Barzizza said officials will await the outcome of next week's games
before deciding which school to invite.
The Cougars were flat in a 31-17 loss last week at Wyoming, a
game where they could have secured the Mountain West title. Until
the last five minutes Saturday, they didn't look like they had
improved in time for the Utes.
"We're extremely disappointed. We had two weeks to win a
championship and we didn't do it," Feterik said in the somber BYU
interview room.
With standout freshman running back Luke Staley sidelined by a
knee injury, the Cougars rushed for 50 yards. BYU didn't have a
first down and had 5 rushing yards in the second quarter.
"It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that when you
don't have a rushing attack, you can't get it done," said BYU
coach LaVell Edwards. "We've beaten these guys in the past when
we've been able to run the ball."
Feterik completed 22 of 52 attempts for 309 yards two TDs with
three interceptions. He was often off the mark, his receivers
dropped at least a dozen passes and the Utah defensive scheme
allowed few deep routes.
Owen Pochman had one field goal try blocked and he was wide
right on a 38-yard attempt with 8:02 remaining, which would have
pulled the Cougars within 20-13.
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ALSO SEE
College Football Scoreboard
Utah Clubhouse
BYU Clubhouse
College football Top 25 overview
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