Week 9 - Sat, Oct 25, 2014 - #10 BYU (7-0) @ #21 BSU (6-1) - Boise, ID - 10:00 p.m. EST - ESPN

BSU lost to Ole Miss to start the season at the Georgia Dome but have strung together 6 straight wins and appear to be on their way up, despite the “weak” schedule they have enough clout to move back into the rankings, especially after their thrilling win last week vs Fresno State. Taysom has admitted to still being haunted by the 2012 loss and feels he could have won the game had he been given more time to try and catch up. BSU’s ego is a bit bruised from the beatdown the Cougars gave them in Provo last year...some local writers even speculating that game was the nail in the coffin for Peterson to leave, realizing he won’t be able to compete at a high level anymore. Despite the typical BSU theatrics, Harsin’s big strength is his stable of running backs, something BYU has traditionally stopped well. Tonight proves no different.

Hedrick is a tough, gritty competitor but is more like Riley Nelson than Taysom Hill. Remington Peck makes his presence felt early and often has he terrorizes the weak side and gets to BSU’s QB 2 different times in the first quarter, killing would-be drives. Hill leads BYU down the field and hits Ross Apo in the corner of the endzone for a TD. Sadly Apo leaves the game after this catch and does not return due to a shoulder injury. And, for the first time all year, BYU attempts, and makes a FG (from 29 yards out). A holding penalty on Kearsley negated a would-be touchdown throw by Hill to Blackmon. BYU had attempted 3 other FG’s (34, 31 and 40) and missed on all of them.

Bills is called with a questionable “targeting” penalty and forced to leave the game. This ignites the crowd and BSU and they proceed to score two touchdowns before halftime. BYU adds one more on a quick, 1:48 second drive to close the half. Anae runs his patent, delay draw handoff to Lasike who rumbles over the BSU safety and into the endzone for a TD.

Not having Bills back their at KAT calling out the D proves challenging for back up and ND transfer Badger. On several plays BYU is not lined up correctly and on one, Badger himself rotates to the edge WR when he should have stayed middle, leaving a hole wide open for their TE to catch a 45 yard TD pass. BYU can’t seem to get out of it’s own way as Hill throws an INT and Brown fumbles the ball, the latter of which happened on the BSU 11 yard line when BYU looked like they were primed to score. The 4th quarter starts with BYU down 21-17, however Hill and Co have the ball on the BSU 47 and to open the 4th they roll Taysom out and he hits Blackmon on a double move for a 47 yard TD pass.

Later on in the 4th Hedrick extends a drive with two key first down scrambles and nearly gets a third when Hinds extends out and grabs Hedrick’s shoe, causing him to fall awkwardly. Daniel nails him in the air before he hits the ground and the ball pops loose. BYU recovers, replay review fails to overturn call made on the field. Hill extends the clock out and eventually scrambles into the end zone with 1:41 left. BYU pulls off a tough, somewhat sloppy, 31-21 road win on the smurf turf in Boise.

Co-Players of the Game - Blackmon - 6 rec, 121 yards, 1 TD, R. Daniel - 10 tackles, 1 FF, 3 PBU’s