Utah, BYU football: Utes celebrate block party, beat Cougars 17-16 in rivalry thriller

BYU vs. Utah boxscore

Live game blog: BYU 16, Utah 17 — Final

SALT LAKE CITY — Make room for another mantra in the BYU-Utah football rivalry

Add "The Block" to recent additions like "Harline is still open," "Fourth-and-18," and "George is still running."

This time, however, it was Utah and not BYU celebrating a dramatic victory in the hotly contested series.

With time expiring, Utah's Brandon Burton blocked a 42-yard field goal attempt by BYU's Mitch Payne as the Utes held on for a 17-16 victory over the Cougars at chilly Rice-Eccles Stadium.

"When I felt something sting my hand, I didn't know if it was the cold air or the ball," Burton said. "But then I looked up and the ball was rolling and I said 'We got the win.' "

The victory, he added, was worth the pain he endured.

"My (left) hand hurts real bad but it never felt so good," Burton said as Utah fans stormed the field to celebrate the outcome. "... I take pride in special teams play. So when my number was called to make the play, I did it."

The block capped a wild sequence down the stretch that allowed Utah to take its first and only lead and hold onto it.

Trailing 16-10 and forced to punt with 6:24 left to play, the Utes got a break when the ball bounced off the leg of BYU's B.J. Peterson and was recovered by Greg Bird near midfield.

The Cougars experienced even more misfortune two plays later when cornerback Brandon Bradley intercepted a pass by Utah's Jordan Wynn and headed up field. Tight end Kendrick Moeai, the target of the throw, caught Bradley and forced a fumble. Moeai then recovered it on the BYU 38.

The Utes eventually cashed in on the exchange and took the lead when Joe Phillips added a PAT to a 3-yard touchdown run by Matt Asiata with 4:24 remaining.

More drama — much more drama — followed on the ensuing possession by the Cougars.

After covering 54 yards on 11 plays, BYU moved into position for what would have been a game-winning field goal. Following a timeout with four seconds left to play, the teams lined up, the ball was snapped and Burton's heroics followed.