BYU offense wakes up late, pulls out memorable 2OT victory at Tennessee
For nearly 60 minutes, BYU’s offense sputtered against Tennessee. But the Cougars sprang to life in the closing seconds of regulation, putting together a memorable drive.
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Brigham Young Cougars quarterback Zach Wilson (1) celebrates as the team exits the stadium as BYU defeats Tennessee in Knoxville on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. BYU won 29-26 in double overtime. Scott G Winterton
KNOXVILLE, Tennessee — For nearly 60 minutes, BYU’s offense sputtered and lurched against Tennessee.
But the Cougars sprang to life in the closing seconds of regulation, putting together a memorable drive to set the stage for an even more memorable ending.
Trailing by three and backed up deep in its own territory with less than a minute remaining in the game, things looked dire for a BYU offense that had been punchless most of the night.
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That led to a game-tying field goal by Jake Oldroyd to force overtime with five seconds remaining — and an eventual 29-26 victory in double overtime Saturday night in Southeastern Conference country before a crowd of 92,475.
“I wish we just could have figured it out earlier. We had a lot of stalled drives, stuff like that. A win’s a win. I’m happy we got that done,” said Wilson. “We were fighting through adversity and we weren’t going to quit. Heading into that final drive, guys were smiling on the sideline and I was smiling. Why be nervous? We have nothing to lose. Let’s go figure it out. I’m so happy those guys had that fight down to the last second.”
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Brigham Young Cougars running back Ty'Son Williams (5) is pushed into the end zone by teammates as BYU and Tennessee play a game in Knoxville on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. BYU won 29-26 in double overtime. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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BYU players celebrate their win over Tennessee in Knoxville on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. BYU won 29-26 in double overtime. | Scott G Winterton
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Brigham Young Cougars wide receiver Micah Simon (13) looks to make a long catch setting up the game tying field goal as BYU and Tennessee play a game in Knoxville on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. BYU won 29-26 in double overtime. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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BYU's Head Coach Kalani Sitake celebrates a cougar defensive play on fourth down as BYU and Tennessee prepare to play a game in Knoxville on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. | Scott G Winterton
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Brigham Young Cougars running back Ty'Son Williams (5) runs into the end zone as BYU and Tennessee play a game in Knoxville on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. BYU won 29-26 in double overtime. | Scott G Winterton
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Brigham Young Cougars running back Ty'Son Williams (5) breaks into the secondary as BYU and Tennessee play a game in Knoxville on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. BYU won 29-26 in double overtime. | Scott G Winterton
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Brigham Young Cougars running back Emmanuel Esukpa (33) breaks a run into the secondary as BYU and Tennessee play a game in Knoxville on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. BYU won 29-26 in double overtime. | Scott G Winterton
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Brigham Young Cougars linebacker Isaiah Kaufusi (53) hits the ball as Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Jarrett Guarantano (2) tries to pass as BYU and Tennessee play a game in Knoxville on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. BYU won 29-26 in double overtime. | Scott G Winterton
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Brigham Young Cougars linebacker Isaiah Kaufusi (53) tries to tackle Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Josh Palmer (5) as BYU and Tennessee play a game in Knoxville on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. BYU won 29-26 in double overtime. | Scott G Winterton
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Brigham Young Cougars quarterback Zach Wilson (1) celebrates as the team exits the stadium as BYU defeats Tennessee in Knoxville on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. BYU won 29-26 in double overtime. | Scott G Winterton
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Brigham Young Cougars quarterback Zach Wilson (1) celebrates as the team exits the stadium as BYU defeats Tennessee in Knoxville on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. BYU won 29-26 in double overtime. | Scott G Winterton
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Head coach Kalani Sitake and his players sing to the fans high up in the upper deck as they celebrate their win over Tennessee in Knoxville on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. BYU won 29-26 in double overtime. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Head coach Kalani Sitake and his players celebrate their win over Tennessee in Knoxville on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. BYU won 29-26 in double overtime. | Scott G Winterton
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Head coach Kalani Sitake and his players celebrate their win over Tennessee in Knoxville on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. BYU won 29-26 in double overtime. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Head coach Kalani Sitake and his players celebrate their win over Tennessee in Knoxville on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. BYU won 29-26 in double overtime. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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BYU players celebrate their win over Tennessee with fans in Knoxville on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. BYU won 29-26 in double overtime. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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BYU players celebrate their win over Tennessee in Knoxville on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. BYU won 29-26 in double overtime. | Scott G Winterton
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BYU fans cheer as Tennessee fans leave after BYU defeated Tennessee in Knoxville on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019, 29-26 in double overtime. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars running back Ty'Son Williams (5) celebrates the win with teammates as BYU and Tennessee play a game in Knoxville on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. BYU won 29-26 in double overtime. | Scott G Winterton
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A Tennessee student can't believe what he is seeing as BYU and Tennessee prepare to play a game in Knoxville on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. BYU won 29-26 in double overtime. | Scott G Winterton
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Brigham Young Cougars linebacker Chaz Ah You (3) isn't able to bring in an interception as Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Jauan Jennings (15) out-battles him for the ball in the end zone as BYU and Tennessee play a game in Knoxville on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. BYU won 29-26 in double overtime. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Tennessee Volunteers tight end Austin Pope (81) is brought down by Brigham Young Cougars linebacker Isaiah Kaufusi (53) as BYU and Tennessee play a game in Knoxville on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. BYU won 29-26 in double overtime. | Scott G Winterton
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Tennessee fans are stunned as BYU and Tennessee play a game in Knoxville on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. BYU won 29-26 in double overtime. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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Brigham Young Cougars wide receiver Micah Simon (13) runs in the open field after making a catch, setting up the game-tying field goal, as BYU and Tennessee play a game in Knoxville on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. BYU won 29-26 in double overtime. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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BYU fans cheer as BYU and Tennessee prepare to play a game in Knoxville on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. BYU won 29-26 in double overtime. | Scott G Winterton
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BYU fans cheer as BYU and Tennessee prepare to play a game in Knoxville on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. BYU won 29-26 in double overtime. | Scott G Winterton
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BYU's (88) JJ Nwigwe tries to catch Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Jarrett Guarantano (2) as BYU and Tennessee prepare to play a game in Knoxville on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. | Scott G Winterton
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BYU's Yy'Son Williams tries to spin but is brought down by several Volunteers as BYU and Tennessee prepare to play a game in Knoxville on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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BYU quarterback Zach Wilson calls a play as BYU and Tennessee prepare to play a game in Knoxville on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. | Scott G Winterton
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BYU quarterback Zach Wilson tries to throw the ball down field as BYU and Tennessee prepare to play a game in Knoxville on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. | Scott G Winterton
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Tennessee Volunteers quarterback Jarrett Guarantano (2) hands the ball off to Tennessee Volunteers running back Ty Chandler (8) as BYU and Tennessee prepare to play a game in Knoxville on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. | Scott G Winterton
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BYU quarterback Zach Wilson is sacked by Tennessee Volunteers defensive lineman LaTrell Bumphus (88) as BYU and Tennessee prepare to play a game in Knoxville on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. | Scott G Winterton
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A young BYU fan watches from the second deck as the Couagars and Tennessee Volunteers play a game in Knoxville, Tennessee, on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. | Scott G Winterton
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A BYU gives a shaka sign as BYU and Tennessee play a game in Knoxville, Tennessee, on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. | Scott G Winterton
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BYU fans prepare for the game with Tennessee in Knoxville on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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BYU players take the field before the game as BYU and Tennessee prepare to play a game in Knoxville on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. | Scott G Winterton
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A BYU player fives fans as they come onto the field as BYU and Tennessee prepare to play a game in Knoxville on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. | Scott G Winterton
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BYU Head Coach Kalani Sitake greets fans as BYU and Tennessee prepare to play a game in Knoxville on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. | Scott G Winterton
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BYU players gather at the tunnel as BYU and Tennessee prepare to play a game in Knoxville on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. | Scott G Winterton
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A young fan watches as players come onto the field as BYU and Tennessee prepare to play a game in Knoxville on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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BYU fans prepare for the game with Tennessee in Knoxville on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. | Scott G Winterton, Deseret News
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BYU fans smile and talk as they watch the kickers warm up as BYU and Tennessee prepare to play a game in Knoxville on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. | Scott G Winterton
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Players take the field as BYU and Tennessee prepare to play a game in Knoxville, Tennessee, on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. | Scott G Winterton
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Chris Clement with his son Adam take int the pregame action as BYU and Tennessee prepare to play a game in Knoxville on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. | Scott G Winterton
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Cosmo greet fans as BYU and Tennessee prepare to play a game in Knoxville on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. | Scott G Winterton
“These are things you dream of as a kid, wanting to play in great stadiums like this, playing against great teams,” Simon said. “That’s one thing I love about us being independent and being able to travel all across the country and play great teams. It means a lot and I’m excited for this opportunity and we took advantage of it.”
Simon made the biggest play of his career when his team needed it most.
“I thought I was fast enough to score, but they have great athletes that tracked me down,” Simon said. “While I was running, I peeked up (at the scoreboard) to see the time. Then I looked behind me and there was a guy behind me. I wanted to secure the ball and give Jake the Make a chance to tie it up and take us into overtime.”
“He’s been in that situation before,” coach Kalani Sitake said of Oldroyd’s 33-yard field goal with one second left in regulation. “He’s so mentally strong. We trusted him to be able to do it.”
Fittingly, grad transfer Ty’Son Williams, who previously played at South Carolina of the Southeastern Conference, scored the game-winning touchdown in the second overtime period. He took a handoff and pushed through the pile, following his offensive linemen, into the orange checkerboard end zone.
“It was a great way to end the game. He’s come from the SEC,” Sitake said of Williams. “He’s been here before. It was a big old scrum play.”
Williams is now 3-0 in his career against Tennessee.
“It was a power play, we call it. I just got in there and got dirty,” said Williams, who finished with 17 rushes for 92 yards and two touchdowns, of the final play. “I kept my feet moving and was able to get into the goal line and score a touchdown.”
“It was huge. I was like, ‘We’ve got momentum on our side, this dude’s running the ball hard and the O-line is creating a good push,’” Wilson said of Williams’ game-winner. “Let’s give it to him and see what he can do. He had a good push. He stayed on his feet and the O-line was keeping him up. I was so happy to see that.”
BYU (1-1) didn’t take its first lead of the game until the first overtime, when Wilson threw a 14-yard touchdown strike to Talon Shumway to give the Cougars a 23-16 lead.
But the Volunteers responded by scoring on a 13-yard TD pass. Then Tennessee jumped ahead 26-23 at the start of the second OT on a 40-yard field goal.
Three plays later, Williams scored the decisive TD and the BYU sideline — and the estimated 10,000 Cougar fans in attendance — erupted and celebrated.
No doubt, Saturday’s game featured two teams desperate for a win.
BYU was trying to shrug off a demoralizing ninth-straight loss to its archrival. Tennessee was trying to forget a humiliating loss at home to Georgia State.
In the end, the Cougars were standing on top of Rocky Top, leaving the Volunteers winless. Tennessee is 0-2 for the first time since 1988.
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“We had a lot of guys that fought, that played really, really hard,” said Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt. “But bottom line, there were a couple errors we made that you can’t do. That you just don’t do.”
For BYU, the offense didn’t play as cleanly or efficiently or productively as it had wanted. But the Cougars got the result they wanted. And needed.
“It just happened at the right time for us,” Simon said.
BYU hosts USC next Saturday.
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