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Utah falls short to BYU in rivalry football game

Utes fall to Cougars square in 103rd all-time meeting between the in-state rivals
Cole Forsman|
BYU Cougars quarterback Bear Bachmeier (47) runs against Utah Utes during the first quarter at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
BYU Cougars quarterback Bear Bachmeier (47) runs against Utah Utes during the first quarter at LaVell Edwards Stadium. | Rob Gray-Imagn Images

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The field at LaVell Edwards Stadium was covered in a sea of blue after BYU held off Utah in another close finish between the in-state rivals.

The Utes went out in front early in the fourth quarter but couldn't hang on down the stretch, allowing 14 consecutive points to the Cougars in a 24-21 loss for Kyle Whittingham and company on Saturday.

BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier etched his name into Holy War lore with an unforgettable scramble that put his team up by double-digits with under 10 minutes left in regulation. Faced with third-and-11 from the Utes' 22-yard line, the true freshman shook off a couple of would-be tacklers and received some help from his teammates at the end of an impressive run to extend BYU's lead to 24-14.

The Utes weren't able to respond until it was too late, dropping their third straight contest to their rival and falling to 5-2 on the season as a result.

Utah had opportunities to add points to the scoreboard, but instead got shut down on a couple of fourth-down tries in the red zone. The Utes also missed an opportunity to take the lead late in the first half while tied 7-7, as a muffed punt near midfield gave the ball back to the Cougars with a chance to seize momentum.

BYU, which improved to 7-0 on the season, sat next to Cincinnati atop the Big 12 standings as the league's only undefeated teams remaining.

Here is the live updates recap from LaVell Edwards Stadium.

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4TH QUARTER RECAP

Utah kicks unsuccessful onside try: Dillon Curtis' onside attempt didn't travel 10 yards before it hit JJ Buchanan, giving the Cougars the ball and a chance to end the game with a couple of kneel downs (24-21, 1:35).

Utes touchdown!: Larry Simmons hauled in a 2-yard touchdown reception to make it a 3-point lead following a successful extra point attempt (24-21, 1:24).

Utes in the red zone: Tayvion Beasley was flagged for grabbing JJ Buchanan near the end zone, putting the ball on BYU's 15-yard line (24-14, 1:54).

Utah on the move: After JJ Buchanan came down with a 31-yard reception on first down, Dallen Bentley broke a tackle and picked up 16 the ensuing play, advancing the Utes' drive to the Cougars' 30-yard line (24-14, 2:00).

Utah gets the ball back with one last chance: Blake Cotton broke up a deep pass on fourth-and-7, giving the Utes one last chance to pull off a miracle (24-14, 2:45).

BYU stops Utah on fourth down this time: Jack Kelly beat Spencer Fano off the edge to bring Devon Dampier down on fourth-and-15, giving the ball back to his offense on the Utes' 28-yard line (24-14, 3:04).

Utah converts must-have fourth down: Tobias Merriweather caught a pass right at the line to gain, and upon further review, the referees moved the chains (24-14, 3:15).

BYU extends lead: Bear Bachmeier broke a handful of tackles before getting some help from his teammates at the goal line, extending BYU's with a 22-yard scamper on third-and-11 (24-14, 4:22).

BYU moves the chains: For just the second time, BYU moved the chains on third down after Bear Bachmeier stood in the pocket and took a hit from John Henry Daley while finding Carsen Ryan for a 10-yard gain on third-and-6 (17-14, 9:24).

Dampier picked off: Utah's quarterback tried to find Nate Johnson down the field, but BYU's Tanner Hall high-pointed the pass and came down with the interception at his team's 36-yard line (17-14, 9:33).

BYU goes back in front: BYU took advantage of Barton's absence immediately, as Parker Kingston took a sweep to the left before cutting back upfield for a 12-yard score, putting the Cougars back out in front and capping off a 5-play, 81-yard drive. Levani Damuni, who subbed in for Barton, was late to diagnose the play (17-14, 11:19).

Lander Barton ejected: Utes stud linebacker and serviceable tight end was ejected after being called for targeting. Barton drilled Bear Bachmeier while leading with the crown of his helmet (14-10, 11:33).

Cougars on the move: Following a 17-yard reception from Parker Kingston, Carsen Ryan picked up 26 yards on a pass from Bear Bachmeier to advance BYU's drive to the Utes' 25-yard line (14-10, 12:17).

Utah touchdown!: Daniel Bray continued his big night with a game-changing rush on first down to put his team out in front for the first time tonight. The 5-foot-10 freshman picked up some big blocks and beat BYU's defense to the corner for a 49-yard touchdown, his first of the season and Utah's second of the night (14-10, 14:15).

It's a Byrd!: Utah's backup quarterback with some inspiring running picked up 15 yards to move the chains (14:47).

3RD QUARTER RECAP

Make up call moves chains for Utes: BYU's Evan Johnson was called for pass interference while defending a pass intended for JJ Buchanan, moving the chains for Utah on third down (10-7, 1:46).

Missed call on BYU: Wayshawn Parker was stuffed on second down and then shoved to the ground after the whistle by BYU's John Taumoepeau. The referees huddled to discuss the play but no flag was thrown (10-7, 2:24).

Smith Snowden breaks up pass, BYU punts: Utes defensive back got his hands on a pass intended for Chase Roberts, making it third-and-7 for the Cougars from the Utes' 47-yard line. Bear Bachmeier couldn't find Roberts on the ensuing play, bringing up fourth down for BYU. Utah started its next drive from its own 10-yard line (10-7, 3:27).

Utah's interception called back: Jackson Bennee jumped a pass from Bear Bachmeier, but the play was called back after the referees called a holding penalty against Tao Johnson (10-7, 4:40).

Another empty possession for Utah: After Dallen Bentley made it fourth-and-3 with a 6-yard reception, Utah's decision to go for it on fourth down wound up unsuccessful again. That was the Utes' third failed attempt of the night and their second in the red zone (10-7, 8:47).

Craziness on third down!: Dallen Bentley had a big third down catch ripped out of his hands by a BYU player, but Tobias Merriweather was right there to recover the loose ball out of the air and run for another 20 yards to the BYU 25-yard line. The net gain of 57 yards moved the chains on third-and-15 (10-7, 12:22).

Another three-and-out: After Kingston's drop on first down, BYU couldn't move the chains on second and third down, resulting in the second punt to start the third quarter (10-7, 13:08).

BYU misses big play opportunity: Bear Bachmeier should've had a big completion to Parker Kingston on first down, but the pass went right through Kingston's hands (10-7, 13:55).

Utah opens with three-and-out: Despite averaging over 6 yards per carry, Utah dropped back on consecutive plays following a first down run and came away empty on both attempts through the air from Dampier, resulting in a three-and-out from the Utes to start the second half. BYU started its first drive of the half at its own 41-yard line following a 32-yard punt from Orion Phillips (10-7, 14:09).

1ST HALF RECAP

  • Utah miscues: In addition to committing six penalties for 29 yards (BYU didn't have a flag thrown against it), the Utes missed an opportunity to put more points on the board after Mana Carvalho muffed a punt that would've given his team the ball back with 2 minutes remaining in the half. Instead, the Utes had to keep the Cougars out of the end zone before the half expired. Utah also had a chance to put up points on its opening drive but wound up getting stopped on fourth down instead of kicking a field goal from the BYU 13-yard line.
  • Poor clock management: The muffed punt didn't hurt the Utes as badly as it could've because the Cougars managed the final 2 minutes of the half poorly upon reaching the red zone. Bear Bachmeier set up BYU near the 10-yard line with a fourth down conversion, but then the Cougars ran back-to-back unsuccessful run plays without any timeouts to use, allowing the clock to run all the way down to 3 seconds and forcing Bachmeier to stop it with a spike on third down.
  • Utes remain stout on third down: Utah didn't allow BYU to move the chains on third down once in the first half, holding the Cougars to 0-for-6 on money downs. The Utes let opponents convert 32.9% of their third down attempts through their first six games of the season.

2ND QUARTER RECAP

Cougars have to settle for 3: BYU had to settle for a field goal after burning roughly 40 seconds on two plays inside the Utes' 10-yard line. Bear Bachmeier had to spike it on third down with 3 seconds left to set up a 26-yard field goal for Will Ferrin, putting BYU up 10-7 at the end of the half.

BYU moves the chains: Bear Bachmeier kept it on a speed option play for a 2-yard gain on fourth-and-1, setting the Cougars up on the Utes' 11-yard line.

Decision for BYU: Utah's Levani Damuni and Lander Barton combined to stop LJ Martin on third down, bringing up fourth-and-1 for the Cougars from the Utes' 13-yard line. Utah called its second timeout before BYU's decision (7-7, 1:08).

Utah muffs punt: It looked like Utah was getting the ball back after picking up its fourth third down stop of the night, but Mana Carvalho muffed the ensuing punt in traffic and couldn't recover before BYU fell on it at the Utes' 40-yard line (7-7, 2:16).

Utah touchdown!: BYU left Ryan Davis uncovered once again, leaving Utah's leading pass catcher wide open for Devon Dampier to find for an 11-yard touchdown. Davis' third touchdown of the season tied it up at 7 apiece (7-7, 3:29).

Dampier on the move: Utah's signal-caller picked up 26 yards on the ground, setting the Utes up in the red zone after the big gain from Simmons the play prior (7-0, 4:34).

Utes move the chains: Devon Dampier dropped a dime into Larry Simmons' bread basket for a gain of 24 yards on third down. That was Simmons' first catch since the West Virginia game (7-0, 4:54).

Lander Barton picks up a first: Utah's two-way standout bailed out Dampier with a pick up of 17 yards after BYU linebacker Siale Esera couldn't bring down the 240 pound senior (7-0, 6:09).

Utah forces three-and-out: BYU couldn't take advantage of the fourth down stop on Utah's last drive, as the Cougars punted the ball back to the Utes after Aliki Vimahi picked up his first sack of the season on a takedown of Bear Bachmeier on third down. Utah started its next drive on its own 15-yard line following a holding call on Kana'i Lopes. (7-0, 7:23).

Utah stopped on fourth down again: Devon Dampier couldn't connect with Tobias Merriweather on fourth down, giving BYU the ball back on its own 18-yard line (7-0, 9:14).

Dampier gets drilled on scramble: Utah's dual-threat quarterback rushed for the ninth time of the first half and picked up 10 on fourth-and-17 after getting drilled by two BYU defenders (7-0, 9:52).

A defensive tackle catch?: Utah got crafty and put defensive tackle Semi Taulanga in at tight end. BYU probably didn't think the 317 pound freshman would catch a pass for a first down, but that's exactly what happened as the Utes moved the chains following a 10 yard pickup from Taulanga (7-0, 13:17).

BYU on the board first: After setting up the Cougars in the red zone with a 27-yard catch-and-run, 6-foot-4 receiver Chase Roberts snagged a fade route over 6-foot-tall Elijah Davis for the game's first touchdown. That capped off a 6-play, 81-yard scoring drive from the Cougars (7-0, 13:41).

1ST QUARTER RECAP

Bachmeier hurdles for a first down: BYU's true freshman quarterback cleared Utah's Jackson Bennee for a gain of 14 yards, moving the Cougars to their own 33-yard line. LJ Martin picked up 13 on the ensuing play with some hard running to end the first quarter (0-0).

Utah forced to punt: Devon Dampier had his pass batted down at the line of scrimmage by former Utah defensive lineman Keanu Tanuvasa on third-and-8, sending the Utes offense to the sideline and bringing on their punt team for the first time. The loss of 10 yards and a down on the intentional grounding penalty certainly played a role in Utah's first three-and-out of the ballgame (0-0, 1:57).

Another penalty to start a drive: Devon Dampier was called for intentional grounding on first down, moving the Utes back to their own 22-yard line to start their second drive of the game (0-0, 2:37).

BYU stopped on fourth down: LJ Martin fell short of the line to gain after tripping behind the line of scrimmage, giving Utah the ball back following the second fourth down stop of the first quarter. The Utes stopped Bear Bachmeier on a quarterback scramble on third-and-14 the previous play (0-0, 2:44).

Cougars on the move: Bear Bachmeier patiently sat in the pocket before finding Preston Rex for a 32-yard gain on some solid run-after-catch skills from the running back (0-0, 5:13).

BYU gets big stop: After stuffing Devon Dampier on third down, BYU shut down Utah's opening drive following a big-time tackle from Mory Bamba, who sprinted across the formation to bring down Daniel Bray on another jet sweep play on fourth down. The Cougars started their ensuing drive from their own 13-yard line (0-0, 6:53).

Big play Bray: Daniel Bray took a jet sweep handoff 29 yards for another Utah first down, setting the Utes up on the Cougars' 21-yard line. A reminder: Utah started its drive on its own 6-yard line after a false start penalty on its first play from scrimmage (0-0, 9:20).

Dampier keeps the drive alive: Utah's opening drive stayed alive after Devon Dampier kept the rock and picked up 7 yards on third-and-1, advancing the ball to midfield while converting the Utes' second third down try of the drive.

Utes move the chains: BYU left Ryan Davis uncovered on third down and Devon Dampier made it pay as he delivered a quick strike to his trusted wide receiver for a 23-yard gain (0-0, 11:21).

John Henry Daley sack: The nation's leader in sacks added to his yearly total with a takedown of Bear Bachmeier, courtesy of some help from his teammate and former BYU edge rusher, Logan Fano. That shut down BYU's opening drive and forced the Cougars to punt (0-0, 13:11)

PREGAME

Coin toss: Utah won the toss, deferred to the second half and will kick the ball to BYU to start.

MORE UTAH NEWS & ANALYSIS

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Cole Forsman
COLE FORSMAN

Cole Forsman has been a contributor with On SI for the past three years, covering college athletics. He holds a degree in Journalism and Sports Management from Gonzaga University.

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