Savoy's 92-yard run breaks Cougs' back

Published: Sunday, Nov. 21 2004 12:00 a.m. MST

Thanks to several big plays, Utah turned a tight game with BYU into a rout.

There was the fake punt late in the first half that turned into a 23-yard run by Bo Nagahi, setting up a key touchdown. There was Nagahi's 12-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown early in the third quarter and Eric Weddle's interception later quarter.

Perhaps the biggest, certainly the longest, was Steve Savoy's 92-yard run late in the third quarter right after Weddle's interception.

The remarkable run, the second-longest in Ute history, gave the Utes some breathing room after BYU had cut the lead to 10 at 31-21.

The Utes had first down at the 8-yard line and the Utes ran an option play with Savoy coming from the left end behind quarterback Alex Smith. Savoy took the pitchout on the option and looked like he was going to get about a 10-yard gain.

However, he broke a couple of tackles and all of a sudden found himself in the clear running up the right sideline. He nearly got run down by a BYU defender as he slowed down near the goal line, but got a late block by Paris Warren to get him in the end zone.

"Oh man, I about ran out of gas," said Savoy. "I just did what came naturally. My job was easy. The offensive line blocked their tails off and I just started to run. I had to make a couple of guys miss and I just took it down the sideline and tried to run for daylight."

Like he said, "tried." Savoy was slowing noticeably as he got to the 20 and Warren nearly passed him, but got in the way of one last BYU defender who was also catching Savoy.

"I run that play four or five times a game and that was the first time I busted it," Savoy said. "Thanks to Paris I got in the end zone."


E-mail: sor@desnews.com

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