Utah Utes football: Johnson struggles, comes through when it really counts

With a little over two minutes left and the Utes trailing by eight points due in large part to two costly Brian Johnson turnovers, not many people believed that the Utes had a chance to win the game in regulation if at all.

It's a good thing Johnson did.

"I saw people leave and said, 'They're about to miss a show,' "Johnson said. "There's no way we're going to lose this game."

Johnson had thrown a first-half interception for an Oregon State touchdown and fumbled deep in Utah territory, leading to an OSU touchdown. He was responsible for two Beaver TDs, which was why the Utes were trailing by eight points.

"I couldn't have had it on my hands knowing that I was the reason we lost the ball game because I turned the ball over," he said. "I had my mind made up that I was going to try to bring us back and make sure we won this football game."

The Utes were trailing 28-20 with 2:18 left when Johnson led the Utes on a 4-play drive covering 60 yards.

Johnson immediately got to work with a pair of short passes and then back-to-back passes of 24 yards to Brent Casteel and 25 yards to Bradon Godfrey for the touchdown to make it 28-26.

"We ran four verticals and Bradon did a nice job and I put it on him and he was able to beat the defender to the post and he caught it in the end zone," Johnson said of the almost-tying TD.

"There was a great chance I was going to get the ball and BJ stepped up and I caught it and fell right in the end zone," Godfrey said.

On the two-point conversion, Johnson tried to hit David Reed in the back of the end, but OSU's Greg Laybourn was called pass interference, giving the Utes a second chance.

Another pass play was called on the second two-point try and when Johnson couldn't find a receiver, he sprinted for the corner of the end zone to tie the game at 28.

"They did a nice job covering the route and I decided to use my legs I was able to run it in," Johnson said.

While coach Kyle Whittingham wasn't happy with Johnson's early mistakes, he couldn't say enough about Johnson's heroics at the end.

"Nothing gets to Brian, he's like Louie (Sakoda) and doesn't get down on himself," Whittingham said. "He's a competitor, he's a battler, he's a winner and he proved that at the end. The way Brian Johnson handled himself on the last two drives was something to behold."

"This just goes to show the toughness of this team," Johnson added. "We were able to battle and persevere. To be down by eight points with two minutes left — this is the biggest victory of my career since I've been here."

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