BYU football: Promising season ends in bitter disappointment

Published: Sunday, Dec. 21, 2008 12:12 a.m. MST
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around the country would like to have a record of 10-3. We lost as a team. No individual lost this game for us. Our opportunities were there, but we didn't capitalize on certain ones. When you don't capitalize, you don't win the game."

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.

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The Cougars were whistled for three straight dead-ball penalties — illegal substitution, delay of game and a false start — to push it back to the 32. Then Payne's 40-yard field goal attempt sailed wide left with 2:01 remaining. The score remained 10-7 at halftime.

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

Recent comments

Well at least there was one LDS QB who stepped up today-Willie...

Grady | Dec. 24, 2008 at 3:19 p.m.

look i dont care if youre a ute fan or byu fan im neither but lets be...

MWC | Dec. 24, 2008 at 1:46 p.m.

I'm a Ute fan, but I must defend BYU when I read comments like how...

Ute Fan in Seattle | Dec. 23, 2008 at 11:55 p.m.

Image

BYU quarterback Max Hall (15) loses his grip on the football as he is tackled by the Arizona defense as the Brigham Young University Cougars take on the University of Arizona Wildcats at the 2008 Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl at Sam Boyd Stadium.

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