BYU running back Tyler Allgeier carries the ball during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Washington State, Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, in Pullman, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak) AP
Jay Drew
By Jay Drew
Jay has covered sports in Utah for more than 30 years and has been writing for the Deseret News since 2019.

PULLMAN, Washington — Tyler Allgeier has had some phenomenal touchdown runs and breakaways jaunts through the course of his BYU football career, but he will never forget the 9-yard gain Saturday that iced BYU’s 21-19 win over Washington State.

“It was pure joy,” he said.

It was the 32nd carry of the day for Allgeier at Martin Stadium and gave him 191 yards, the second-highest single game total of his career.

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“I knew we could do it, because we have done it for five, six games, just milking out the clock the last four, five minutes. And with James (Empey) going down and Connor (Pay) stepping up, it just showed that we can trust the guys that are second string, third string. It just shows the love on our team.” — BYU running back Tyler Allgeier.

He credited the offensive line, saying that when the call came in from the sidelines on third-and-8 with 1:48 left that nobody hesitated, perhaps thinking the Cougars should try throwing for the first down.

“Get the first down, just get the first down,” said Allgeier when asked what he was thinking when his number was called.

Even after the Cougars where hit with a false start penalty, only their second penalty of the game, Allgeier figured the offensive line would get it done. With Harris LaChance missing the game entirely and center James Empey leaving in the second quarter with an injury, freshmen Connor Pay and Campbell Barrington filled in admirably.

“I knew we could do it, because we have done it for five, six games, just milking out the clock the last four, five minutes,” Allgeier said. “And with James going down and Connor stepping up, it just showed that we can trust the guys that are second string, third string. It just shows the love on our team.”

Allgeier busted off a 30-yard run in the first quarter that put him over 2,000 rushing yards for his career. 

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BYU tight end Dallin Holker carries the ball during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Washington State, Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, in Pullman, Wash. BYU won 21-19. (AP Photo/Young Kwak) | Young Kwak, Associated Press
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BYU tight end Isaac Rex, right, catches a pass in front of Washington State defensive back Derrick Langford during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, in Pullman, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak) | Young Kwak, Associated Press
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Washington State wide receiver Travell Harris secures a pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against BYU, Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, in Pullman, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak) | Young Kwak, Associated Press
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BYU defensive back Malik Moore, right, runs the interception he caught on a pass intended for Washington State wide receiver Donovan Ollie (6) out of the end zone during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, in Pullman, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak) | Young Kwak, Associated Press
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BYU running back Lopini Katoa, center, runs for a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Washington State, Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, in Pullman, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak) | Young Kwak, Associated Press
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BYU quarterback Jaren Hall (3) throws a pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Washington State, Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, in Pullman, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak) | Young Kwak, Associated Press
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Washington State running back Max Borghi (21) carries the ball during the first half of an NCAA college football game against BYU, Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, in Pullman, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak) | Young Kwak, Associated Press
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Washington State quarterback Jayden de Laura throws a pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against BYU, Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, in Pullman, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak) | Young Kwak, Associated Press
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BYU running back Tyler Allgeier carries the ball during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Washington State, Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, in Pullman, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak) | Young Kwak, Associated Press
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BYU head coach Kalani Sitake watches during the first half of the team's NCAA college football game against Washington State, Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, in Pullman, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak) | Young Kwak, Associated Press
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Washington State defensive end Willie Taylor III (27) pressures and forces BYU quarterback Jaren Hall (3) to fumble the ball, which BYU recovered, during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, in Pullman, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak) | Young Kwak, Associated Press
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BYU running back Tyler Allgeier, top center, reaches for a touchdown during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Washington State, Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, in Pullman, Wash. BYU won 21-19. (AP Photo/Young Kwak) | Young Kwak, Associated Press
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Washington State linebacker Jahad Woods, right, tackles BYU running back Lopini Katoa during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, in Pullman, Wash. BYU won 21-19. (AP Photo/Young Kwak) | Young Kwak, Associated Press
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Washington State wide receiver Calvin Jackson Jr. carries the ball during the second half of an NCAA college football game against BYU, Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, in Pullman, Wash. BYU won 21-19. (AP Photo/Young Kwak) | Young Kwak, Associated Press
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BYU wide receiver Neil Pau'u, left, gets past Washington State defensive back Jaylen Watson during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, in Pullman, Wash. BYU won 21-19. (AP Photo/Young Kwak) | Young Kwak, Associated Press
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BYU quarterback Jaren Hall carries the ball during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Washington State, Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, in Pullman, Wash. BYU won 21-19. (AP Photo/Young Kwak) | Young Kwak, Associated Press
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Washington State quarterback Jayden de Laura, right, carries the ball while defended by BYU linebacker Ben Bywater during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, in Pullman, Wash. BYU won 21-19. (AP Photo/Young Kwak) | Young Kwak, Associated Press
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BYU defensive back Jacob Boren (20) disrupts a pass intended for Washington State wide receiver Calvin Jackson Jr. (8) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, in Pullman, Wash. BYU won 21-19. (AP Photo/Young Kwak) | Young Kwak, Associated Press
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Washington State interim head coach Jake Dickert, right, walks off the field with defensive back Armani Marsh (8) after an NCAA college football game against BYU, Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, in Pullman, Wash. BYU won 21-19. (AP Photo/Young Kwak) | Young Kwak, Associated Press
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Washington State interim head coach Jake Dickert, center, speaks with his players during the second half of an NCAA college football game against BYU, Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, in Pullman, Wash. BYU won 21-19. (AP Photo/Young Kwak) | Young Kwak, Associated Press
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Washington State wide receiver De'Zhaun Stribling (88) reacts as running back Max Borghi (21) scores a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against BYU, Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, in Pullman, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak) | Young Kwak, Associated Press
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Washington State running back Max Borghi carries the ball during the second half of an NCAA college football game against BYU, Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021, in Pullman, Wash. BYU won 21-19. (AP Photo/Young Kwak) | Young Kwak, Associated Press

No Cougar in program history has reached the 2,000-yard plateau faster. Allgeier did it in 316 carries. Luke Staley did it in 349 carries and Taysom Hill in 353.

“I thought he played really physical,” BYU coach Kalani Sitake said. “I thought he was punishing some people at the end of runs, saw him lower his shoulder a lot.”

Allgeier confirmed that he was more sore than usual, saying Washington State’s linemen and linebackers brought the wood. Jahad Woods led the red Cougars with 16 tackles.

Having been challenged by Sitake and offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick to run harder and punish would-be tacklers, Allgeier stepped up and delivered.

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Cougars give Kalani Sitake the physicality he wanted in win over Washington State

“As a team, just going through that adversity, we knew we had to step it up,” he said. “It literally shows what a team is like when you are going through that. It shows a lot from our team.”

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Allgeier’s 191 yards was the second-most by a BYU RB against a Power Five program ever; Quarterback Hill ran for 259 against Texas in 2013 to set the standard.

It was the third 100-yard performance of the season for Allgeier and ninth of his career.

“I would say this win brings the confidence back up,” he said. “We are acting like we are 0-0 right now, though. We gotta keep the momentum going forward.”

Just like on third-and-8.

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