No. 9 BYU falls at No. 3 Utah 28-20

SALT LAKE CITY – No. 9 BYU lost on the road to No. 3 Utah 28-20 on Saturday afternoon at Rice-Eccles Stadium in what was the first Top-10 matchup in series history.

Despite forcing two turnovers and scoring 20 consecutive points in the first half, the Cougars couldn’t execute in the second half to put the game away. BYU had four turnovers and a total of eight penalties for 45 yards in the game.

Bear Bachmeier was 21-of-35 for 272 yards through the air. He threw one touchdown and a career-high four interceptions. The sophomore also led the team in rushing yards, earning 59 on eight rushes. Legend Glasker led the receiving room with 118 yards, his longest reception being on a 75-yard touchdown. Walker Lyons added 97 yards on seven catches, averaging 13.9 yards per catch. 

The Cougar defense recorded 11 tackles for loss, forced two fumbles and held Utah to a missed field goal. However, back-to-back touchdown drives in the third and fourth quarters would ultimately seal the game for Utah. Cade Uluave led the defense with seven tackles – two solo and one for loss – and a sack. Faletau Satuala and Bodie Schoonover were just behind him as the pair combined for 12 tackles, three of which were for loss, two sacks and one forced fumble.

BYU had 391 yards of offense in the game. Utah had 328. 

First Quarter

BYU won the coin toss and elected to defer, which brought out the Utah offense to start. The Utes then powered a quick three-play, 75-yard touchdown drive. Running back Wayshawn Parker opened with a six-yard carry, and then quarterback Devon Dampier found an open Noah Bennee, who combined for a 47-yard gain. Dampier capped the drive with a 22-yard rush up the middle into the endzone. With Dillon Curtis’ extra point, the Utes went up 7-0 that spanned just 1:15.

Prior to the Cougar offense’s first snap, a false start penalty was enforced, resulting in a first-and-15 from the Cougar 20. Three short pickups would not be enough for BYU to move the chains, which brought out Fuller Shurtz and crew on fourth-and-three. Shurtz’s punt went 36 yards and out of bounds at the Utah 32. An illegal formation penalty was called on the Cougars on the punt, which gave the Utes the ball at their own 37.

Raider Damuni and Keanu Tanuvasa stopped Parker one yard behind the line of scrimmage on the opening snap, and then an incompletion on second-and-11 brought up a long third down. Wide receiver Ricky Johnson moved the chains with an 18-yard catch and run, which advanced Utah to the BYU 46. Dampier shot downfield to wide receiver Braden Pegan on the next play, and Pegan marched into the endzone to advance Utah’s lead. Curtis’ successful extra point put the Utes up 14-0 with 10:31 left in the first quarter for Utah’s first double-digit lead over BYU in seven years.

Starting from the BYU 25, Sione Moa opened with a six-yard rush up the middle before Glasker added one yard but was immediately met by Utah defenders. On third-and-two, Bachmeier connected with Lyons, who picked up 16 yards to give the Cougars another set of downs. The Bachmeier-Lyons duo continued its momentum on the next snap with a reverse flea flicker that gained 35 yards. An incomplete pass and two Bachmeier carries for a combined nine yards brought up fourth-and-one at the Utah 8. The offense initially stayed on the field and appeared to get a first down, but a delay of game penalty forced the Cougars to send out the field goal unit. Matthias Dunn's 31-yard field goal was good, trimming Utah's lead to 14-3 with just over six minutes remaining in the quarter.

Brody Laga's kickoff resulted in a touchback. Kelly Poppinga's defense then forced its first three-and-out of the game, as Faletau Satuala and Anisi Purcell stopped Parker for a one-yard loss. Dampier then tried a pass over the middle, but Pegan dropped it, which brought up third-and-nine. Uluave downed Dampier on a sack for a loss of eight, forcing the Ute punting unit to come out for the first time.

A 39-yard punt put the Cougars at their own 43. Back-to-back offensive penalties then plagued BYU, pushing the offense back 15 yards for first-and-25. Bachmeier and Glasker then connected on two-straight plays to pick up 27 yards and move the chains. After two short gains, on third-and-three, Bachmeier scrambled for 12 yards to advance to Utah’s 26. LJ Martin added six yards on second down before first quarter time would expire.

Second Quarter

Bachmeier tried to hit Kyler Kasper on third-and-four, but the pass was deflected and fell incomplete, resulting in another field goal attempt. Dunn’s kick, this time from 38, was good, making it a closer game at 14-6.

Following a touchback, the Cougar defense would force a three-and-out over the Utes again. On first down, Dampier gained two yards before Braxton Lindsey and Schoonover downed him. Schoonover then paired with Uluave to take down running back Daniel Bray after he gained six. On third-and-two from the Utah 33, Dampier passed to Parker but his pass fell incomplete, courtesy of a booming hit from Jayven Williams to knock the ball out. Orion Phillips’ punt went 45 yards to the BYU 22, and Cannon DeVries carried it three yards to set the offense up at its own 25.

On first down, Bachmeier went deep to Glasker, who caught it at the Utah 24 and marched into the end zone from there. The 75-yard touchdown catch matched Glasker’s career-long reception. With Dunn’s extra point, the Cougars cut the Utah lead to 14-13.

Laga's kickoff resulted in a touchback, setting Utah up at its 25. After an incomplete pass on first down, Dampier scrambled for a nine-yard gain before keeping the ball for two yards to move the chains. Johnson dropped a pass on the next play, and on second-and-10, Pegan hauled in a 13-yard completion. However, Tommy Prassas punched the ball out of Pegan’s hands, and Therrian Alexander III recovered the fumble at the Utah 49, giving the Cougar offense a short field with 11:43 remaining in the half.

Bachmeier picked up eight yards on the ground, and on second-and-short, Moa rushed right for four yards to reach the Utah 37. Moa and Martin then combined for seven yards to set up a short third down. Bachmeier connected with Lyons for a three-yard gain before the junior added 12 yards on the ground to move the chains. After another Bachmeier-Lyons connection for eight yards, Martin picked up the first down, advancing to the Utah 4. On the ensuing snap, Martin took the hand off, faked a reverse and marched into the end zone for his fourth touchdown of the season. With Dunn's extra point, the Cougars took their first lead of the game at 20-14, scoring 20 consecutive points after going down early.

Starting from the Utah 25, Dampier opened the drive with a four-yard carry. The quarterback was then downed seven yards back by Schoonover, dragging Dampier down by the sleeve for the sack. Prior to the next snap, a delay of game penalty was called, setting up third-and-18. Dampier tried to go downfield to wide receiver Larry Simmons, but his pass was broken up by Williams, forcing fourth down. Phillips’ punt was fair caught by DeVries at the BYU 40 with 5:53 left in the half.

After two short gains, Bachmeier shot up the field to Lyons for 14 yards to move the chains. Back-to-back false start penalties would then plague BYU’s drive, but Shurtz and company would pin the Utes deep, as Kasper downed the ball at the Utah 7.

After BYU’s defense forced two-straight Dampier incompletions, the Utah quarterback found Simmons for a 12-yard gain to move the chains. Poppinga’s defense refused to let the Utes to advance further. On third-and-10, Schoonover sacked Dampier for a one-yard loss and forced a fumble that Nusi Taumoepeau recovered at the Utah 20.

On second-and-eight from the Utah 18, Bachmeier’s short pass was intercepted by cornerback James Chenault Jr., and it was returned 15 yards to the Ute 30.

Seventy yards from the endzone, with 45 seconds left, Dampier’s incompletions would not move the ball, as on third-and-eight, Satuala broke up his pass to close the late first half hope. Phillips’ punt was fair caught with 12 seconds left, and the BYU offense would kneel it out.

Outsourcing the Utes 17-0 in the second quarter, BYU would hold the six-point lead going into the locker room.

Third Quarter

After a touchback, a false start penalty put BYU behind the chains at first-and-15. Glasker and Bachmeier combined for 12 yards on the ground over the next two plays, setting up third-and-three. Bachmeier then connected with Kasper on a deep pass and diving catch for 27 yards to reach the Utah 41. However, on the next snap, Bachmeier's pass was intercepted by defensive end Lance Holtzclaw, who returned it 17 yards before being tackled by Paki Finau just short of midfield.

Despite being sacked for a three-yard loss on the opening snap, Dampier took advantage of the short field. After gaining 12 yards over the next two plays, BYU's defense forced a fourth-and-one, but the Utes elected to keep their offense on the field. Wide receiver Creed Whittemore would take a pitch and end up throwing the ball down the sideline, completing a 29-yard pass to his quarterback Dampier. After a loss of one on first down, Dampier hit Pegan for a seven-yard gain. An incomplete pass on third-and-four would force a field goal attempt from 29 yards out. Curtis’ kick went wide right, keeping BYU ahead at 20-14 with 8:47 left in the quarter.

The Ute defense then forced a three-and-out over Aaron Roderick’s offense. Martin was unable to move the ball through two plays, and then an incomplete pass on third down forced a punt on fourth-and-10. His punt fell short, setting Utah up at its own 47-yard line.

For the first time since 10:31 in the opening frame, the Utes got back on the scoreboard, capitalizing on a nine-play, 53-yard touchdown drive that spanned just under five and a half minutes. Parker and Dampier totaled 29 rushing yards through four plays to start the drive. On third-and-seven from the BYU 21, Dampier appeared to be bottled up in the backfield but scrambled for a gain of nine to get the first down. Kevin Doe stuffed Parker two yards back on the ensuing play, but on second-and-12, Dampier hit Pegan on a fade in the back corner endzone, and with Curtis’ extra point, the Utes would regain their lead, 21-20 with 1:50 to go in the quarter.

Starting from the BYU 25, Utah forced three-straight Bachmeier incompletions, resulting in another BYU three-and-out. Shurtz’s punt went 46 yards and was returned three, pinning the Utes at their 32.

Dampier earned six yards on the opening play, and then a false start penalty on Utah set up second-and-nine. The senior quarterback scrambled up the middle for a gain of 30, and as he was running out of bounds, he was pushed by Satuala, resulting in an unnecessary roughness penalty, which moved the ball to the BYU 22 before third quarter time would expire.

Fourth Quarter

Parker started the final quarter with four yards, and then Dampier was downed by Satuala for a loss of one. Prior to third-and-seven, Utah head coach Morgan Scalley had to burn a timeout at 13:44. Dampier threw up the middle for Pegan, who was unable to make the catch, but a defensive pass interference penalty was enforced on Williams, which resulted in an automatic first down with the ball at the four. Parker earned three yards on the next play, and then Dampier was tackled two yards back by Tausili Akana and Keanu Tanuvasa to set up third-and-three. Dampier scrambled up the middle, into the endzone, and with the successful extra point, Utah extended its lead to 28-20 with 12:03 left.

On second down, Bachmeier hit Kasper for 14 yards, advancing to near midfield. After an incomplete pass, Moa added another 13 yards up the middle. Two short gains would bring up third-and-five, but before the snap, a delay of game was called on Utah, which made for a more manageable third-and-one. Utah’s defense forced another third down, but on third-and-six, Bachmeier rushed for a gain of 19, reaching the Utah 5. Two short gains would set up third-and-goal from two yards out, but Bachmeier’s pass was again picked off by linebacker Trey Reynolds, and it was returned to BYU’s 12. With 4:39 to go, the Utes earned the ball back.

An offside penalty was called on Tanuvasa prior to Dampier’s first snap, setting up a short first down. The Cougar defense forced a third-and-one, but Dampier found three yards to move the chains. Parker then gained nine yards on his next carry before the two-minute timeout. The running back earned the first down following the break, forcing a Cougar timeout. The defense forced a loss of four on Parker, which brought up third-and-14 with 1:50 to go. Parker got two yards on his next carry, which forced a Utah punt, the Cougars using all of their timeouts in the sequence to preserve time for the offense. Phillips’ punt was nearly blocked but still netted just 19 yards and was downed at the BYU 48 with the clock at 54 seconds.

Lyons moved the ball nine yards, but it ticked the clock down to 25 seconds. Moa got the first down on the next snap, and then Bachmeier spiked the ball to set up second-and-10. Bachmeier’s pass was intended for Kasper but picked off by safety Nate Ritchie. Devon Dampier kneeled out the remainder of the game, sealing the Utah win 28-20.

Up Next

BYU will return home to LaVell Edwards Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 14 for a matchup against Baylor. Game time and broadcast details will be announced tomorrow, but play-by-play will be provided by Greg Wrubell on BYUradio.