No. 14 Utah Utes turn up pressure in second half, race past BYU Cougars 30-12 for ninth straight win in series

PROVO — There was an eight-month buildup ahead of Thursday night’s Utah-BYU game at LaVell Edwards Stadium — it marked the first time the two rivals had ever met in a season opener — as the Cougars were looking to end an eight-game losing streak to the Utes.

But No. 14 Utah extended its winning streak against BYU to nine in a game that was, in many ways, remarkably similar to the previous eight with a resounding 30-12 victory.

In a bizarre twist, midway through the fourth quarter, a torrential downpour fell from the sky and the game was suspended due to a lightning delay with 9:01 remaining. After the 54-minute delay, the game resumed at 12:05 a.m. in front of about 15,000 fans. 

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BYU’s offense didn’t even touch the ball in the final nine minutes as Utah relied on its run game to run out the clock. As the final seconds slipped away — the Utes mercifully took a knee instead of pouring it on — Utah fans chanted, “Nine in a row! Nine in a row!”

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And the Cougars’ decade-long frustration will continue for at least another year. 

Utah’s ninth consecutive victory over BYU ties the longest streak for either team in the rivalry. 

Similar to previous Utah wins in this nine-game streak, on this night, the Utes scored 20 points off three BYU turnovers. 

Cougar quarterback Zach Wilson completed 21 of 33 passes for 208 yards, but he also threw a pair of pick-sixes — which has become a fixture in the rivalry. Since 2010, Utah has recorded nine interception returns for touchdowns against BYU.

Former Cougar Francis Bernard scored one pick-six in the first half for the Utes.

Utah running back Zack Moss rushed 29 times for 181 yards and a touchdown.

To open the second half, with Utah leading 9-6, the Utes took the kickoff and promptly steamrolled over BYU’s defense, marching 75 yards for a touchdown capped by a 2-yard run by Jaylen Dixon. Utah seized a 16-6 advantage with 9:47 left in the third quarter. 

At that point, the crowd of 61,626 went quiet, as Cougar fans resigned themselves to the fact that this game, once again, belonged to the Utes. 

The Cougars committed several ill-timed penalties. For example, late in the third quarter, the Utes faced third-and-27 but picked up a first down due to a face mask penalty that gave Utah new life. 

At the end of the drive, Ute placekicker Andrew Strauch’s 25-yard field goal attempt sailed wide right. But two plays later, a bad exchange between Wilson and Ty’Son Williams resulted in a fumble recovered by the Utes’ Mika Tafua. 

Utah capitalized on a four-yard touchdown run by Moss to give the Utes a commanding 23-6 lead. 

Then came Utah’s second pick-six of the night, as Julian Blackmon returned a tipped pass 39 yards for a touchdown. Utah 30, BYU 6. 

Williams scored on a 10-yard run to make it 30-12 before the lightning delay. 

On the game’s opening possession, BYU’s offense stalled at the Utah 41 after failing to convert on a fourth-and-4. Utah took advantage of the favorable field position and struck first with a 41-yard field goal by Strauch to put the Utes up 3-0.

The Cougar offense was forced to punt on its next drive, Provo native Britain Covey bobbed and weaved 40 yards on the Utes took over on the BYU 33. The Utes were stopped on fourth-and-3 when Dayan Ghanwoloku leveled Tyler Huntley.

At the end of the first quarter, BYU had outgained Utah in total offense, 91-44. 

The Cougars fed off that momentum and marched 59 yards to tie the score on a 32-yard field goal by Jake Oldroyd with 14:15 remaining in the second quarter. 

Four minutes later, Utah’s preseason All-America defensive lineman, Bradlee Anae, pulled down Wilson, who threw an ill-advised pass that was picked off by Bernard, who raced 58 yards for a touchdown. The PAT failed to make the score 9-3 for the Utes. 

BYU responded with a 55-yard drive that resulted in a 37-yard field goal by Oldroyd. 

At that point, the Cougars had outgained the Utes in total offense, 174-54, but trailed by a field goal.