PROVO, Utah (AP) -- T.D. Croshaw threw for two second-half touchdowns and Andre Dyson ended a late BYU rally attempt with his second interception as Utah beat the No. 19 Cougars 20-17 Saturday.
Croshaw threw a 70-yard scoring pass to Cliff Russell and a 4-yard TD pass to Donny Utu as the Utes (8-3, 5-2 Mountain West) extended a 10-6 halftime lead and denied BYU (8-3, 5-2) the outright conference title.Utah beat archrival BYU for the fifth time in seven years and the fourth straight time in Provo. The Utes also secured a first-place tie for the Mountain West championship.
The Cougars rallied late, with Kevin Feterik throwing a 6-yard TD pass to Ben Horton with 2:20 to play, pulling BYU to 20-17.
The BYU defense forced a punt, and Feterik had the Cougars moving again when he tried to throw to Jonathan Pittman. Dyson sealed the victory with 1:09 to play, diving for the interception.
The play started a celebration on the Utah sideline as the crowd of 65,942, mostly BYU fans, went silent. After the final gun, the jubilant Utes lifted coach Ron McBride on their shoulders and paraded him around the field.
Colorado State and Wyoming have 4-2 records in conference play entering their final games next week, when the Rams play at UNLV and Wyoming travels to San Diego State.
The Liberty Bowl can invite whichever Mountain West team it wants if at least two teams share the title. Representative John Barzizza said officials will await the outcome of next week's games before deciding which school to invite.
The Cougars were flat in a 31-17 loss last week at Wyoming, and until the last five minutes on Saturday they didn't look like they had improved in time for the Utes.
Feterik completed 22-of-52 attempts for 309 yards two TDs with three interceptions. But he was often off the mark, his receivers dropped at least a dozen passes and the Utah defensive scheme allowed few deep routes.
Kicker Owen Pochman had one field goal try blocked and he was wide right on a 38-yard attempt with 8:02 remaining, which would have pulled the Cougars within 20-13.
Utah led 6-3 after a conservative first half that was dominated by defense. Pochman opened the scoring with a 26-yard field goal and Cletus Truhe connected from 30 and 38 yards for the Utes.
Both teams took more chances after the break. BYU struck first, with Feterik throwing a 77-yard touchdown pass to Margin Hooks on the Cougars' fourth play of the third quarter, giving BYU a 10-6 lead.
Utah answered on the ensuing series when Croshaw found Russell on the 70-yard TD play. Russell didn't have a defender within 15 yards, and he bobbled the ball at the 30 before taking it to the end zone.
Croshaw, starting for the second straight week in place of the injured Darnell Arceneaux, completed 15-of-33 for 228 yards with two interceptions. Mike Anderson, held to 14 rushing yards in the first half, finished with 81 yards.
Feterik's second interception, by linebacker Kautai Olevao late in the third quarter, set up Croshaw's scoring pass to Utu.