- Oct 20, 2012 - #17 BYU(6-1) @ #9 ND (5-1) South Bend, IN NBC 3pm EST

Cougars Shock Irish in Tough, Physical and New Holy War

This is BYUs second-to-last chance to make a statement as they still cling to their BCS dreams. There were rumors that ESPNs GameDay would head to South Bend for the Holy Showdown but they have just released a statement that they will be heading to Norman next week when the Irish face the Sooners. One thing being underplayed before this game is where it is situated. BYU is coming off of 3 straight weeks at home against decent teams but all solid wins. NDs schedule is absolutely brutal this season and BYU finds itself nestled right into the heart of the Irishs most difficult stretch. After beating Navy in Ireland and Purdue and then splitting games against the two Michigan teams (Wolverines and Sparty) the Irish beat hapless Miami in a sloppy neutral game and then walloped the struggling Andrew Luck-less Cardinal at home. They are now ranked in the top-10 and the entire world seems to be buzzing about next weeks matchup with #2 OU, how ND will finally make a BCS game this year and how Kelly is finally off the hot seat. They are failing to talk about how, despite great defense the QB play has been spotty at best and that they were a barely-missed 49 yard FG away from unraveling and letting Michigan steal a game it was behind in all game long. ND could be distracted, and indeed they would prove to be.

Broncos D is giving Rees all kinds of problems from the beginning. ND opens the game by getting two first downs and then promptly throwing a pick to Sampson. Riley proceeds to drive us down into FG range and Sorenson connects from 35 yards out. With two tough, physical Ds the punting games get a lot of work and BYU goes into the half up 10-3 after Riley nails JD out of the slot for a 24 yard TD pass. Manti Teo is the best player on the field and is single-handedly keeping ND in this thing. He has 8 tackles, 2 sacks, forced 2 fumbles, recovered one and picked off Riley onceall in the FIRST half!!! NDs front seven is impressive and causing Riley to rush things and be uncomfortable, but if and when Riley has time our WRs have a distinct advantage against the young, inexperienced Irish secondary. Every play seems to be either a loss, sack or turnover for NDs D or a pretty sizable gain for BYUhardly anything in between.

BYU opens the 2nd half by extending their lead on a couple huge 3rd down conversions (that have ND players and coaches visibly frustrated) and a diving TD scramble by Riley from 8 yards out. 17-3 BYU and the boo-birds come out. ND finally gets in the end zone to make it a one-score game but BYU adds one more TD early in the 4th on a great screen call to Hine and walk out of South Bend with a 24-10 win that never felt as close as the score might indicate. BYU played its most complete game of the season and was sharp on both sides of the ball and Bronco led BYU to its first ever win against a top-10 team in that opponents home stadium. Probably most impressive was our D stifling Brian Kellys offense, forcing 4 turnovers and resulting in a pretty heated post-game presser for his now 2-loss team. (ND would go on to get waxed 38-14 by #2 OU and even worse, 41-13 @ #1 USC to end the year and finish 8-4 and ranked #22)

Player of Game: Sampson 1 INT, 2 sacks, 8 tackles, 3 pass break ups.