- Sept 15, 2012 - #20 BYU (2-0) @ #24 Utah (2-0) SLC, UT Pac12 Net 5pm EST

Riley Injured, but Lark Helps BYU Hang On in a Crazy one in Salt Lake

After destroying Northern Colorado, Utah almost got caught looking ahead to BYU when USU took them to the wire. As has been the case in Aggie-land, USU fell just short missing a would-be tying FG in the first OT to send Utah home with a 31-28 win. Somehow this game the last few years always seems to come in with BYU fans talking National Championship and Utah fans being disgruntled with their play. This year is no different as the Y fans have apparently already forgotten about the 54-10 debacle in Provo last year.

Utah, despite its annual fall asleep game, is always ready for the Cougars. This year is no exception. New OC Brian Johnson, who has been taking public heat already since Utah averaged just 29 points against USU and Northern Colorado, has publicly bashed BYU saying the BCS program here in SLC has been pulling away from the team down south for years now. BYU players and coaches openly talk about wanting to get even for the embarrassment of last season and many believe that this is the last time the Holy War will be played for some time. Riley states that, Ive been working all off-season for THIS game. If youve noticed Ive had 54-10 written on my arm the first two games this season. 9 months of blood, sweat and tears have gone into making sure we win this last Holy War.

The game opens with a calm and cool drive by Riley. Utahs D is scrambling trying to keep up with the squirrely BYU QB, they appear to be over-aggressive and Riley is taking advantage. He goes 4/5 on the opening drive and Iona punches it in from 2 yards out to take the lead, 7-0. BYUs D is causing headaches for Utah and forces them to kick FGs the entire first half. Riley hits Hoffman for another TD catch and BYU is about to enter the locker room up 14-6 when #13 starts jogging in there early. The play previous to the TD throw Riley ran a QB draw and Utahs safety came and popped him a good one before Riley was able to cross the first down line. Then on the TD pass he got hit while he threw and fell straight back nailing the back of his head so hard his helmet popped off. He laid on the field, appearing to be out of breath, but now many are worried it might be a concussion. Lark milks the clock away and Cougar Nation awaits the report.

Sure enough Riley suffered a concussion and will not be back. Lark is now the man and gets his first chance to lead BYU to victory. BYUs D plays beautifully all half but Lark throws an untimely INT that gives the Utes good field position and White runs one in from about 12 yards out to get Utah within one, 14-13. Now its crunch time. Utah is stacking the box and bringing the heat every down just daring Lark to beat them with a throw. Its like watching Heaps in the pocket all over again. Doman actually comes out of the box during the long break between the 3rd and 4th quarters to get eye-to-eye with Lark.

JD gives BYU great field position with a punt return all the way to midfield early in the 4th. Lark finally hits Hoffman over the middle and Wilson in the flat. A great run by Hine sets up a perfect play-action pass to Apo for the TD! Utah brought the house but Lark got it away just in time and Apo made a great play. BYU leads 21-13 with about 4 minutes left.

As a fitting end to the rivalry Utah marches down the field and makes a couple great runs by White and a few miracle plays to score with 10 seconds left! They have to go for 2 to tie. White has been running pretty well all day but BJ out-thinks himself and calls a roll outboth options are covered and Hays tries to run it in himself. Thank goodness KVN is so dang fasthe gets to Hays too quickly and stuffs him for no gain. Hays apparently drops the ball and a Ute lineman picks it up and rumbles into the end zone and Utah thinks they converted the XPT off the fumble. However the call on the field was the player was down first, the whistles already blew. The replay takes over 4 minutes and the crowd is getting hostile. The benches even clear in a brawl and the refs give each team off-setting personal foul penalties. Video evidence is not conclusivecall stands! Cougars walk off winners in what many presume to be the last Holy War for a while! Just before the news mob grabs him, a glossy-eyed Riley grabs a permanent marker and crosses out the 54-10 on his arm and writes 21-19!

Player of Game: KVN 11 tackles, 4 TFLs, 2 sacks, 1 INT, 2 pbus, game-saving tackle.