BYU football: Hanging on — Last-gasp TD gives Cougars a wild win

FORT COLLINS, Colo. — In a shootout, it's good to have the biggest guns — and that spelled the difference for No. 17 BYU against Colorado State.

The explosive combination of quarterback Max Hall, tight end Dennis Pitta, wide receiver Austin Collie and running back Harvey Unga proved to be too much for the Rams.

Hall connected with Pitta on a game-winning 17-yard touchdown strike with 22 seconds remaining as the Cougars edged CSU, 45-42, Saturday at Hughes Stadium.

"When the game's on the line, you go to guys who you can trust, guys you know can make plays," Pitta said. "Every team relies on those guys to step up in big situations. Austin, Max and myself, we were able to rise to the occasion and make plays for our team."

With 1:44 left in the contest, after an interception by Hall, the Rams scored to seize a 45-38 advantage as CSU quarterback Billy Farris hit Dion Morton for a 55-yard touchdown. But as it turned out, the Rams

gave the Cougars plenty of time to rally. And they did, orchestrating a six-play, 76-yard drive.

"It was intense," Collie said of BYU's final offensive possession.

"I felt pretty confident going out there," Hall said. "By that time in the game, late in the fourth quarter, I knew exactly what they were going to run, I knew exactly what coverages they were going to do, and that's what they did. We were able to take advantage of it."

Then came the final play, when Hall found Pitta.

"It was a great call by our offensive coordinator (Robert Anae)," Pitta said. "Max put it right where it had to be — high and away. The defender was there, but I was able to make a play on it and barrel into the end zone."

Collie torched the CSU secondary, catching nine passes for 156 yards and three first-half touchdowns. In the second half, though, the Rams focused on Collie and left Pitta open. In the second half alone, Pitta caught 10 passes for 156 yards and two TDs. He finished with 12 receptions for 175 yards.

"They made a halftime adjustment and left me open in the middle," Pitta said. "We had to take advantage of that in the second half. Pick your poison. If you take away the outside, we're going to get you up the middle."

"Austin's a stud," Hall said. "Even when they double-team him, he still finds a way to get open. He's a big-time playmaker and a go-to guy. Both he and Dennis had big-time games tonight. It's nice for me to have guys like that to play with."