BYU football: Promising season ends in bitter disappointment
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Arizona struck first when it drove 96 yards highlighted by a 71-yard catch-and-run by wide receiver Terrell Turner, who was chased down from behind by BYU cornerback Brandon Bradley at the Wildcat 1-yard line. One play later, Nic Grisby barrelled into the end zone to give Arizona a 7-0 lead.
Meanwhile, the Cougar offense sputtered during the first quarter. Things got worse early in the second when Hall fumbled the ball at the Wildcat 24. Arizona capitalized on the miscue as Jason Bondzio booted a 31-yard field goal to make it 10-zip.
BYU quarterback Max Hall answered with a couple of long passing
plays a 35-yarder to Reed and a 36-yarder to Collie, setting up a
one-yard run by Harvey Unga to cut the deficit to 10-7.
BYU's defense followed that up by forcing Arizona's first punt of the night, though Reed White fumbled the punt and Scott Johnson recovered. The Cougars started moving the ball once again and, thanks to a pair of catches by Reed, had second-and-1 at the Wildcats' 18. But BYU squandered that opportunity.
To open the second half, BYU got a huge break as Tuitama dropped a bad snap, fumbled and Cougar linebacker Coleby Clawson recovered at the Wildcat 27. BYU took advantage as Hall connected with tight end Andrew George for a one-yard touchdown pass to give the Cougars their first lead of the game, 14-10.
But that lead didn't last long. A couple of series later, Arizona jumped back out on top 17-14 on a 37-yard touchdown pass from Tuitama
to Delashawn Dean.
The Wildcats maintained that advantage as a 53-yard field goal
attempt by freshman Justin Sorensen late in the third quarter fell short.
Arizona answered by driving 65 yards on a five-play touchdown drive in 1:48 capped by a 24-yard TD pass from Tuitama to Chris Gronkowski.
Suddenly, the Wildcats had seized another 10-point advantage at 24-14.
BYU coughed up the ball again as Hall fumbled again when he was hit in the pocket, but the Cougar defense prevented any damage from being done by forcing a punt. On BYU's next series, Wildcat cornerback Marquis Hundley picked off Hall in the end zone to halt yet another Cougar drive.
Following a one-yard touchdown run by Hall with 3:38 remaining in the game, BYU successfully executed an on-side kick that was recovered by O'Neill Chambers. The Cougars drove deep into Arizona territory, but a pass play to Dennis Pitta was negated by a holding penalty. Then came Payne's field goal attempt that hit the upright, which was emblematic of the kind of night it was for BYU.
E-mail: jeffc@desnews.com
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