Holy War: Utah's fourth-quarter surge halts BYU
Devon Dampier's four touchdowns and four interceptions by the Utes defense secured a 28-20 win, ending a three-game losing streak against the Cougars.
By Ibrahim Howard ·
The rivalry between Utah and BYU ended in a decisive shift of momentum during the final quarter in Salt Lake City on Saturday. The third-ranked Utes defeated the seventh-ranked Cougars 28-20, a result that broke Utah's three-game losing streak in the series. The victory keeps Utah's record at 9-0 and maintains its position as a top contender in the College Football Playoff. BYU, which improved to 7-2, has lost two of its last three games, a sequence that weakens its own playoff prospects.
Devon Dampier led the Utes offense with 264 total yards, combining arm strength and speed on the ground. He threw two touchdown passes to Braden Pegan and rushed for two more scores. His performance proved critical as Utah overcame a six-point halftime deficit. The Utes defense controlled the second half, holding BYU scoreless while forcing three turnovers.
Bear Bachmeier completed passes for 272 yards and ran for 59 yards for the Cougars. However, he threw four interceptions, two of which occurred in the end zone during the fourth quarter. Bachmeier had previously thrown only four interceptions across BYU's first eight games. These late mistakes allowed Utah to pull away and secure the win.
Utah took control in the third quarter when Pegan caught a 14-yard touchdown pass. The Utes defense limited BYU to 39 yards of total offense during that period and recorded an interception. Dampier then extended the lead with a five-yard rush, giving Utah a 28-20 advantage with 12:03 remaining on the clock.
The Cougars attempted a final drive but faltered near the goal line. Bachmeier marched BYU to the Utah two-yard line but threw an interception to Trey Reynolds with 4:39 left. Nate Ritchie picked off another Bachmeier pass in the end zone in the final seconds, capping the defensive effort. The Utes finished the game with a perfect 6-0 record in the Big 12 Conference.
Other major results on Saturday saw No. 5 UCLA defeat Minnesota 34-20, with Ty Dieffenbach throwing two long touchdowns to stay undefeated. No. 9 Alabama beat No. 15 LSU 31-13, while No. 10 Texas defeated No. 19 Missouri 34-20 to keep its playoff hopes alive. Oregon upset No. 11 Ohio State 41-28, marking the Buckeyes' second consecutive loss for the first time since 2011.
