Highlights, key plays and photos from No. 15 BYU’s thrilling win over No. 23 Utah

The Deseret News is providing live coverage of Saturday’s game between No. 15 BYU and No. 23 Utah. Check back for updates throughout the game.

Final score

No. 15 BYU 24, No. 23 Utah 21

Make that three straight wins in the BYU-Utah rivalry for the Cougars.

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Bear Bachmeier gave BYU a 10-point lead with 4:22 to play, taking a QB draw up the middle and fighting his way for a 22-yard touchdown run.

That ended up being the game-clincher, as the No. 15 Cougars topped the No. 23 Utes in only the fourth matchup in the rivalry

That came after Utah briefly took the lead in the first minute of the fourth quarter on a 49-yard Daniel Bray touchdown run to go up 14-10.

The Cougars responded with a scoring drive of their own, retaking the lead at 17-14 on a Parker Kingston 12-yard run.

Then, after a critical Tanner Wall interception on the ensuing drive, Bachmeier scored the momentum-building touchdown to finally make it a double-digit game.

Utah added a late touchdown to make it interesting.

The Utes lost despite outgaining BYU in total yards, 470 to 370.

Utah lost the turnover battle, 2-0, and was 1 of 5 on fourth down plays, which included coming up short twice in the red zone.

Fourth quarter

BYU 24, Utah 21

1:24 — Utah still has life, thanks to a 71-yard touchdown drive that finished with Larry Simmons catching a 2-yard touchdown. BYU 24, Utah 21.

JJ Buchanan made an incredible 31-yard catch to start the possession, and the Utes were aided by a few BYU penalties to extend the drive.

4:22 — Bear Bachmeier put BYU on his back — as well as a handful of Utah defenders — to give the Cougars their first double-digit lead of the night.

Facing a third-and-10 Bachmeier took a QB drew up the middle and muscled his way for a 22-yard touchdown, as the Cougars again capitalized on a Utah turnover. BYU 24, Utah 14.

9:24 — The Cougars forced their second turnover of the game, this time courtesy of the defense.

Tanner Wall went high over the intended receiver, Daniel Bray, to pick off a deep Devon Dampier pass, giving BYU the ball at its own 36 and with a three-point lead.

11:19 — BYU had an answer for Utah’s touchdown, scoring its first touchdown since the second quarter.

Parker Kingston put the Cougars back ahead with a 12-yard touchdown run, capping an 81-yard drive that was aided by a targeting penalty on Utah linebacker Lander Barton. BYU 17, Utah 14.

Barton was ejected for the targeting call. That’s a big loss for the Utes’ defense, and on the next play was when Kingston scored.

14:11 — Utah is in front for the first time tonight, thanks to one of its freshman sensations.

The speedy Daniel Bray broke free for a 49-yard touchdown run, capping a 90-yard, nine-play drive for Utah’s second touchdown of the night. Utah 14, BYU 10.

Third quarter

BYU 10, Utah 7

8:47 — BYU came up with another fourth-down stop inside the red zone.

Utah marched the ball down inside the 20 and opted to go for it on a fourth-and-8 from the Cougars 8. Devon Dampier gained 2 yards on the QB draw, but it came up short and cost the Utes another scoring opportunity.

Halftime

BYU 10, Utah 7

The predictions that this one would be close are proving true.

Both teams have a long touchdown drive, and BYU capitalized on a Utah turnover to score three points in the first half’s final seconds to go back ahead.

The Utes have 238 yards of total offense to 184 for BYU, with Utah owning a 142-86 edge in rushing yards.

The defenses have played well on both sides — BYU and Utah have both been stopped on fourth-down attempts — but the Utes been a bit more sloppy. Utah has the game’s only turnover and has six penalties for 29 yards, while the Cougars haven’t been flagged for a penalty yet.

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Second quarter

BYU 10, Utah 7

0:03 — BYU is back on top, after Will Ferrin hit a 26-yard field goal. BYU 10, Utah 7.

The Cougars drove 33 yards after a Utah turnover and needed a fourth-down conversion inside the 15, but BYU is back in the lead.

2:21 — We have the first turnover of the game, and BYU is the benefactor.

Mana Carvalho muffed a punt and BYU recovered at the Utah 40, setting the Cougars up in prime position. Talan Alfrey came up with the recovery for BYU.

3:24 — Utah has tied it up with an impressive nine-play, 85-yard drive, capping it with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Davis. BYU 7, Utah 7.

Devon Dampier hit Larry Simmons on the sideline for a 24-yard gain to the BYU 34 on third-and-9 to keep the drive alive.

9:11 — BYU got another fourth-down stop. This time, Devon Dampier threw incomplete to the outside with the Utes facing a fourth-and-7 at the BYU 28.

Originally, Utah sent out the kicking unit but BYU took a timeout before the snap. Then the Utes changed tactics and brought out the offense.

13:37 — The Cougars are on the board first.

BYU capped an impressive six-play, 81-yard drive with a 17-yard touchdown pass to Chase Roberts. BYU 7, Utah 0.

Bear Bachmeier completed two passes for 43 yards and ran for another 14 yards — a play that included a highlight-worthy hurdle — on the scoring drive.

First quarter

BYU 0, Utah 0

2:38 — Now Utah has a fourth-down stop of its own.

After Bear Bachmeier picked up 13 yards on third-and-14 to set up a fourth-and-short at the Utah 32, LJ Martin was stopped for no gain, leading to a turnover on downs.

6:50 — BYU came up with a big stop inside the red zone, as Mory Bamba dropped Daniel Bray for a 1-yard loss on fourth-and-1 from the Cougars’ 12.

Utah drove 84 yards on its opening possession but came up empty.

BYU now gets the ball back after its first drive ended on its side of the field.

How to watch the game

The rivalry game between No. 15 BYU and No. 23 Utah will be televised on Fox and will be livestreamed on foxsports.com/live. The game kicks off at 6 p.m. MDT.

Pregame prep

Here are a few stories to get you ready for the rivalry game between the Utes and Cougars.