The Big BYU Game(s) Today
First, the BYU men’s basketball team scored 110 points in their victory over Nevada today. Jimmer dropped 33 on the Wolfpack alone. The only problem is the Cougs gave up 104 points in the victory. But a win is a win and Nevada is a solid program. BYU is now 11-1 and plays Nebraska tomorrow. If they win that one don’t be surprised if the Cougs crack the top 25 this week.
Ok, on to the other BYU game. At halftime of the Las Vegas Bowl BYU leads Oregon State 23-7.
Things looked ugly at first. With the wind howling at 40 mph in the face of BYU the offense was getting no where and then OSU scored a touchdown that looked way too easy. But BYU suddenly gathered themselves and marched 80 yards down the field directly into the head wind to score a tying touchdown. Right after that the wheels started coming off for The Beavers. First a backwards pass was dropped and BYU scooped it up for a TD. In the second quarter OSU was facing the wind and had two punts go all of 6 yards. Plus OSU got several penalties that helped BYU. The result was another BYU touchdown and field goal. I’m pleasantly surprised at how well things are going at the half. I’ll live blog the rest of the game:
3rd Quarter
– OSU starts with the ball facing the wind. BYU defense is playing great. Three and out. Fake punt! FAIL. BYU gets the ball at the OSU 32.
– The fans and players looks miserably cold out there in that howling winter wind.
– BYU methodically marching down the field. Harvey looks good. The line is winning in the trenches.
– Dennis Pitta is now the most prolific pass catching tight end in NCAA history I believe.
– 1st and goal. Couple of penalties and third and goal at the 17. Touchdown Hall to Pitta!
– 30-7 BYU
– OSU is marching down the field pretty well this time. Getting open receivers in the middle of the field. Wind seems to have died down a little. But BYU shutting down the running game. OSU goes for it on 4th and gets a generous spot.
– 4th down again. BYU holds this time — BYU ball.
4th quarter
– BYU eats quite a bit of clock then gets a good punt to start OSU at their 8.
– FUMBLE! BYU ball in the red zone.
– Touchown BYU! Hall to Tonga on first down. 37-7 BYU.
– Touchdown OSU after a long drive. 37-13 OSU (missed PAT)
– BYU marching. Harvey fumbles at the 12.
– OSU ball. BYU gets a double personal foul — 30 yard penalty.
– Scott Johnson (the penalized Cougar) intercepts the ball and returns to the OSU 35. Personal foul on OSU puts BYU back to the red zone.
– Manase Tonga barrels his way into the endzone. Touchdown BYU! 44-13 BYU.
– Touchdown OSU (35 yard pass). Then OSU gets the onside kick back.
– Final score: BYU 44, OSU 20
Great win for BYU and for the Mountain West Conference.
Go BYU!
Comment by Mark D. — December 22, 2009 @ 11:44 pm
Nice wins, Cougars!
Comment by Ben Pratt — December 23, 2009 @ 12:41 am
Huge win. After the first quarter it wasn’t even competitive. I think BYU ends up ranked at #10 for the year.
Comment by Kent (MC) — December 23, 2009 @ 9:46 am
I love how Lou Holtz said that watching BYU’s offense is like watching paint dry. Kinda true. But I guess I’ll take Anae’s boring efficiency over Crowton’s innovative impotence. When it was clicking, though, Crowton’s offense was so much more fun to watch.
This bowl season could be good for MWC. Even though I hate everything about those classless heathen Utes, I’ll be rooting for the them against Cal. Too bad TCU doesn’t have a chance to stick it to a team from a BCS conference. I’m stoked for the matchup against Boise St.–it should be a good game–but it’s a lost opportunity for the conference.
Comment by Tom — December 23, 2009 @ 10:17 am
Just a point I will add – it was COLD and WINDY. Gusts of 50 mph. Easily the coldest game I have attended in the last 4 Vegas Bowls I have attended. The wind was a huge factor, and the single biggest contributor to OSU’s 1st quarter score. It was so windy they couldn’t get the nets up for the FG.
The Rogers bros had some speed, which hurt BYU at first. And the D line gave up a little too much time to Canfield. But it was an excellent game.
Comment by Jay S — December 23, 2009 @ 10:19 am
Yeah that looked like a bone chilling wind. I imagine the wind chill took to temps well below freezing all night. I feel for you Jay S. Seems like the weather sucks every year at that bowl.
Comment by Geoff J — December 23, 2009 @ 10:32 am
It was a great game. Was it just me, or was there some terrible officiating? The official review at the end of the first half and they still said he didn’t get out-of-bounds with time on the clock?! Luckily, it wasn’t close so it didn’t matter.
I loved the 6 yard punt. Classic. In the second half the BYU punter barely got off a lame-duck punt but he got a 30 yard roll. OSU must have felt pretty unlucky last night, nothing bounced their way.
Comment by Jacob J — December 23, 2009 @ 11:21 am
Finally!!!!
I watched a Max Hall led Coug team play to their potential. OSU was 2nd in their conference? The PAc 10 must be way off this year.
Cougs end up 8-11 ranked for the season in January.
I agree that TCU should have drawn a team from a BCS conference. I really think that a victory by both BSU and TCU would have really shown up the BCS and that is why they are playing each other.
Comment by bbell — December 23, 2009 @ 1:38 pm
Hooray for the Cougs — both the defense and the offense were fantastic. And I liked how Max Hall was so energetic, wanting to go for it on those 4th downs. Awesome.
Regarding the officiating, I thought it wasn’t great, but was fairly even-sided. My brother was at the game and he told me that an Oregon State fan complained to him at length afterwards about how one-sided and unfair the officiating was against OSU. We both just chalked it up to sour grapes because that’s not the game we saw.
Now, go Utes — beat Cal. And go Boise State — beat TCU.
Comment by Hunter — December 23, 2009 @ 1:38 pm
The PAc 10 must be way off this year.
Nope. It’s just that the top three teams in the MWC are better than the top three teams in the Pac 10.
Comment by Geoff J — December 23, 2009 @ 1:45 pm
A big week for the MWC. Utah wins, BYU crushes OSU, beats EWU harshly in BBall and then takes Nebraska.
Comment by TrevorM — December 24, 2009 @ 3:25 am
The top three MWC teams could be better than the top three PAC-10 teams and the PAC-10 could be off this year. They are not mutually exclusive.
In our ward the men play basketball on Tuesday nights. Some of us showed up on Tuesday assuming the regulars with a chapel key would show up, but at 8:00 pm est it was just us ACC fans in the frigid parking lot and no key. I called a member of the Bishopric who reluctantly drove up to open the chapel. As we walked from our cars to the door he said with no small hint of frustration “Don’t you know the BYU bowl game is on?!?!?” I laughed and the Georgia Tech and Maryland fans played basketball for an hour or so. I guess the BYU fans and basketball players in our ward have not heard of TIVO or, more likely, are too cheap to pay for it.
Congrats to BYU. I bet they wish they could have the FSU game back. I’m still scratching my head over that one and wish I could have the money back I lost on that game. Last time I bet on the Cougs at home against an ACC team. Most Coug fans have to be happy with this season.
Comment by rbc — December 24, 2009 @ 6:50 am
rbc,
With Boise State and TCU both going undefeated BYU would surely have been in the Las Vegas bowl even if they beat FSU so that doesn’t sting so much now. BYU has a good chance of finishing in the top 10 as it is so yes this was a great season.
Comment by Geoff J — December 24, 2009 @ 8:54 am
I hope that TCU has the best game of their history, myself.
I was pleased to have caught a good part of the BYU game, and with the way Hall stepped up. Well done.
Comment by Stephen M (ethesis) — December 24, 2009 @ 11:14 am