- Sept 22, 2012 - #17 BYU (3-0) @ #23BSU (2-1) Boise, ID NBC Sports 3pm EST

Broncos Pound Riley-less Cougars on Blue Turf

Riley was a game-time decision all week long and unfortunately did not pass protocol to get on the field. Fans are up in arms about this decision claiming that Broncos cautiousness is going to cost BYU an undefeated season. Bronco maintains that the health and safety of his players will always take precedent over our W-L record. Somehow fans spin this as a negative.

Lark is prepared and ready and thankfully got some PT in the win over Weber State, and obviously the Utah game. However, its apparent early on that being a starter is a little bit different. BSU has always had a physical and tough front 7 and is stopping the run which BYU is trying to depend on. Hine and Alisa have been splitting reps most of the first 3 games, but an ankle injury to Alisa forces the coachs hand and Hine becomes the primary back with Q getting occasional touches. A few early punts and BSU is already up 7-0 after the first quarter. As has become habit, Stephenson impeccably times a shanked punt setting BSU up in good field position again and they capitalize on it to jump out to a 14-0 lead. Lark looks uncomfortable and rushed, as he did in the Utah game. Thankfully he hits Apo on a great throw to set up a FG right before the half. Sorenson, after missing his first chip-shot from 30, doinks this one of the upright and it goes in to keep us close at 14-3.

While Lark finally looks a little more comfortable in the 2nd half the comeback falls a little short. After BSU adds a FG to make it 17-3, Lark throws a TD pass to Hoffman to close the gap to 17-10, but Sorensen gets caught on a proto-typical BSU trick play early in the 4th and the Broncos go up 24-10, never to look back. Hine breaks a big run late in the 4th but BYU cant punch it in the endzone Larks pass to Hoffman on 4th and 12 from the BSU 23 falls incomplete and the game is essentially over. BYUs D holds BSU to their lowest point total at home in nearly 5 years but the O just never could get it going. The Cougars fall 24-10.

I guess the benefit of this is that it was on NBC Sports Network so almost no one saw it. In fact, on the brief ESPN highlights the main storyline was Rileys absence and giving BYU props for protecting their players from head injuries. Losing in Boise proves to be recover-able as BYU only falls 7 spots and stays in the polls, one spot behind the now ranked #23 Broncos.

Player of Game: Ogletree 13 tackles, 3 TFL, 2 sacks, 2 PBUs.