I've got to give credit to everyone who was blocking tonight. This record is for the whole team – Jamaal Williams
PROVO — In a wild, back-and-forth game featuring a ton of offensive fireworks, including a school-record 286 yards and five touchdowns by running back Jamaal Williams, BYU outscored and outlasted Toledo Friday night at LaVell Edwards Stadium, 55-53.
"Another nail-biter," said BYU coach Kalani Sitake. "It's good to get on the winning side this time."
Cougar placekicker Rhett Almond booted the game-winning 19-yard field goal as time expired to snap BYU’s three-game losing streak.
"I'm glad he made the kick," Sitake said. "I'm proud of him."
The Cougars (2-3) finally figured out how to win a close game after dropping their previous three by a total of seven points.
BYU won its first game of the season with a field goal by Jake Oldroyd with four seconds left against Arizona in the season-opener.
Williams eclipsed the school record held by Eldon Fortie, who ran for 272 yards against George Washington on Sept. 29, 1962, almost exactly 54 years to the day. Williams gained 287 yards on 30 carries.
"I've got to give credit to everyone who was blocking tonight," Williams said. "This record is for the whole team."
Video: Jamaal Williams' 5 touchdown runs accounted for 127 of his record-breaking 286 rushing yards vs. Toledo @jswaggdaddy @BYUfootball pic.twitter.com/yXAjocX54j
— Brandon Judd (@brandonljudd) October 1, 2016
Rocket quarterback Logan Woodside completed 30 of 38 passes for 505 yards, two interceptions and five touchdowns, including a go-ahead TD drive with 1:11 remaining.
"We ran into a great offense," Sitake said. "Their quarterback made some big-time plays."
Toledo opted to go for the two-point conversion and Woodside fumbled the shotgun snap. But he picked it up and completed a pass in the end zone to give the Rockets a 53-52 lead.
But BYU responded with an eight-play, 71-yard drive in the final 1:06 for the victory.
Cougar quarterback Taysom Hill completed 11 of 21 passes for 248 yards and one touchdown.
Toledo (3-1) rolled up 692 yards of total offense.
BYU safety Kai Nacua’s interception with 4:29 in Toledo set up Williams’ fifth touchdown that gave the Cougars a 52-45 lead. It was a timely takeaway for a defense that struggled most of the night.
"That interception was amazing," said linebacker Adam Pulsipher. "It gave Taysom and the offense one more chance."
With a little less than six minutes remaining, Williams’ would-be fifth touchdown run was called back due to a holding penalty. BYU ended up booting a field goal to tie the game, 45-45.
Toledo battled back from a 21-7 first-quarter deficit to tie the game at halftime. The Rockets seized their first lead of the night on their opening drive of the second half, going 83 yards in 3:50 to go ahead 28-21.
BYU ended Toledo’s run of 21 unanswered points on a 48-yard touchdown run by Williams, knotting the game at 28.
After a Rocket field goal, the Cougars grabbed the lead again, 35-31, on a 62-yard TD sprint by Williams.
Toledo led 38-35 after another Woodside touchdown pass near the end of the third quarter.
The Cougars and Rockets traded touchdowns to start the fourth quarter.
BYU jumped out of the gate quickly, as Hill threw a 75-yard touchdown pass to Jonah Trinnaman on the first play from scrimmage, 11 seconds into the game, to put the Cougars up 7-0.
Couple @BYUfootball firsts in the first half: Here, Jonah Trinnaman scores his first TD for the Cougars on a 75-yard pass to open game pic.twitter.com/RuJ5jrJzhe
— Brandon Judd (@brandonljudd) October 1, 2016
Toledo answered on its ensuing drive, scoring a touchdown in a little more than two minutes to tie the game.
BYU retook the lead on a one-yard Williams touchdown run and went up by two touchdowns after cornerback Dayan Lake picked off a Woodside pass that was tipped by defensive lineman Harvey Langi and returned it 49 yards to put the Cougars at the Rocket 13-yard line. Another Williams TD made it 21-7 for BYU.
Here, Dayan Lake (@Lake_Era5) records his first career interception for @BYUfootball, setting up a Jamaal Williams TD run pic.twitter.com/XMf2NpHy7m
— Brandon Judd (@brandonljudd) October 1, 2016
On the next play, Woodside hit Jon’Vea Johnson for 79 yards for a touchdown.
The Cougars led at the end of the first quarter, 21-14, and midway through the second quarter, Toledo tied the game at 21 on 26-yard touchdown pass from Woodside to Corey Jones.
It was an ugly second quarter for the BYU offense — zero points and five total yards.
The Cougars’ Tomasi Laulile blocked a 40-yard field goal attempt near the end of the first half.
Hill competed 3 of 11 passes for 97 yards by halftime, and the Rockets rolled up 304 yards of total offense in the first half.
EMAIL: jeffc@deseretnews.com