The Rivalry Game Prediction

Week 13: Utah (8-3) at BYU (8-2)

Pregame: Utah coach Kyle Whittingham stirs the pot a day before the big game. "We've already booked our tickets to Las Vegas," he says. "And thank you in advance for the Deseret Duel trophy." When reminded that the game has not been played yet, and that his comments could be used as locker room material, Whittingham continues. "What is Bronco going to do about it, read the scriptures and say a prayer? I guarantee a Utah victory this week."

As the players take the field, the Utes stomp on the Y and act offended at the Haka dance performed by BYU players. One Utah player--safety Steve Tate--needs to be restrained by teammates during the tribal ceremony. "It's so non-PC, man," Tate remarks after the game. "If there's one thing I can't stand, it's a group of people taking upon themselves the name or actions of an underrepresented nation."

Utah wins the coin toss, and they elect to defer to the second half!

1st Quarter:

The kickoff is kicked into the end zone for a touchback. On the first play from scrimmage, BYU quarterback Max Hall completes a pass up the middle to Harvey Unga for nine yards. On the next play, running back Fui Vakapuna runs for two yards for the America First first first down of the game.

BYU chews time off the clock driving down the field, highlighted by a 23-yard pass to Dennis Pitta. With 10:17 remaining in the quarter, Manase Tonga plows into the end zone. The extra point by Mitch Payne is good, and BYU takes the early 7-0 lead.

Utah gains some momentum on the ensuing kickoff when Elijah Wesson returns the kick past midfield to the 43-yard line. On the Utes' first play from scrimmage, Johnson hands off to Mack, who pitches it back to Marquis Wilson, who then hands it off to Freddie Brown, who lofts a pass to a seemingly wide open Brian Johnson streaking down the sideline. The pass is too lofty, though, and just as soon as Johnson catches it he is rocked by linebacker Kelly Poppinga, and Johnson has to leave the game with a concussion.

Enter Tommy Grady, with Utah at the BYU four-yard line. It goes without explaining that Utah has to settle for a field goal to cut the lead to 7-3.

BYU's next drive stalls at midfield, and they punt it away, pinning Utah inside the five-yard line. On Utah's next play from scrimmage, Tommy Grady throws an interception to Brian Kehl, who returns it for a touchdown. BYU 14, Utah 3.

Utah's defense stays firm, while Grady proves extremely crusty, and the score remains 14-3 after one quarter.


2nd Quarter:

On the first play of the second quarter, Max Hall drops back to pass from his own 35-yard line, and is nailed from the blind side by Martail Burnett. Hall fumbles, and Robert Johnson scoops it up and rumbles in for a touchdown. Not only does it cut the Ute deficit to four points, but also sends Hall to the locker room.

The momentum swings completely to the Utes' favor when on the next drive, BYU backup quarterback Brendan Gaskins is intercepted at midfield by Steve Tate, who returns it to the 25-yard line. Enter third-string quarterback Corbin Louks, who ultimately puts Utah ahead on a 14-yard quarterback run. 17-14 Utah.

Both offenses stall for the remainder of the half, but Utah gets a huge break with under a minute to go when a controversial pass interference call gives Utah kicker Louie Sakoda a 51-yard field goal as time expires.

Halftime score: Utah 20, BYU 14.

Halftime: Utah's band joins forces with the Cougar marching band in a heartwarming display of brotherhood. After performing their patriotic medley in honor of the troops, the two teams' cheerleaders unravel a big American flag that get everyone's hearts beating a little more quickly.

Third Quarter:

Utah gets the ball back to start the second half, and take only four plays to score when Louks completes a 58-yard bomb to Wilson for a score. Utah increases their lead to 27-14.

When BYU punter CJ Santiago shanks a punt three plays later, BYU looks to be in trouble as Utah gets the ball at their own 48-yard line. However, BYU safety Kellen Fowler completes the game-changing play by intercepting a Louks pass at the Cougar one-yard line. BYU's offense drives the length of the field, led by a pair of 25-yard receptions by Unga, and they cap the time-consuming drive with a 3-yard touchdown pass from Gaskins to Pitta. 27-21 Utah with the lead.

After a Utah punt, BYU starts marching down the field again, and they take the lead with less 1:11 to go in the quarter on a 25-yard reception by Unga. 28-27 BYU.


4th Quarter:

This quarter features huge defensive plays on both sides of the ball, and neither offense is really able to generate a drive past the opponent's 45-yard line. BYU catches the first break, however, when Louks is intercepted by Corby Hodgkiss at the Utah 31-yard line with only 2:01 left in the game. After getting a first down on a 13-yard run by Unga, the offense stalls, and they settle for a Mitch Payne field goal with 1:17 left. BYU leads 31-27.

After the kickoff, the Utes enter the field while their fans chant "34, 31! 34, 31!" Starting from their own 33-yard line, Louks drives the Utes down the field, including a clutch 15-yard run on 4th and 10 at midfield. After completing a pass to Wilson down the sideline, Utah calls a timeout with only :03 remaining, with the ball at the 13-yard line, needing a touchdown to win.

The fans can't stand it as the teams line up for the last snap of the game. We let Greg Wrubell take it from here:

"Snap to Louks.....plenty of time, plenty of time, plenty of time. Looking, looking, looking. Stepping to his left, he has all kinds of time, still looking.....now the heat comes, Louks is on the run. He sprints to his right, the pressure comes, he turns, he throws, and it iiiiiisssssss....caught for the interception! Caught for the interception! Caught for the interception! Caught for the interception!"

Blaine Fowler: "He had all day, and he threw it into the far side of the end zone, and it was intercepted by Kellen Fowler, all by himself, on his knees! Nobody else was even close to the ball!! I love my son!!"

BYU students storm the field for yet another outright conference championship, chanting "Fowler is STILL open!" as they hoist the third-string safety onto their shoulders.

Final Score: BYU 31, Utah 27
Conference Championship: BYU
National Recognition: None

Postgame aftermath:
BYU is invited to the Las Vegas Bowl during the championship ceremony.

Utah, meanwhile, accepts a bid to play in the Poinsettia Bowl.