BYU Cougars vs Utah Utes Match Player Stats On Dec 19, 2015

The Sports Xchange
Dec 19, 2015

LAS VEGAS -- Senior safety Tevin Carter intercepted two passes, including one he returned 28 yards for a touchdown, and junior running back Joe Williams rushed for two touchdowns as 22nd-ranked Utah held off Brigham Young 35-28 in the Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl on Saturday afternoon at Sam Boyd Stadium.

Williams rushed for a game-high 91 yards on 25 carries for Utah (10-3), including 26 yards on five carries that produced two first downs on a game-clinching final drive that ran out the clock after BYU (9-4) had scored 28 staraight points after falling behind 35-0 in the first 10 1/2 minutes.

The Utes won for the 12th time in their last 13 bowl games, including three in a row. It was also Utah's fifth straight win in its "Holy War" rivalry with the in-state rival Cougars.

BYU freshman quarterback Tanner Mangum completed 25 of 56 passes for 315 yards and two touchdowns but also was intercepted three times, including two that were returned for touchdowns, as the Cougars lost despite finishing with huge edges in total yards (386-197) and first downs (21-14).

The Utes (10-3) had 69 yards in total offense and 5 yards rushing in the first quarter but forced five turnovers in the first 10 minutes, including interception returns of 28 yards by Carter and 46 yards by junior cornerback Dominique Hatfield for touchdowns, to build the 35-0 lead.

BYU got on the board just before halftime on a 3-yard pass from Mangum to senior tight end Remington Peck and cut the deficit to 35-14 on a 10-yard touchdown run by freshman tailback Francis Bernard early in the third quarter, capping a 12-play, 72-yard drive.

The Cougars then made things interesting when Mangum hit junior wide Nick Kurtz with a 5-yard touchdown pass with 10:33 remaining. Mangum then added a 4-yard touchdown run to draw BYU within 35-28 with 3:23 to go.

But the Cougars never got the ball back as the Utes ran out the clock on the ensuing possession behind the running of Williams.

NOTES: Utah's 35 first-quarter points were a Las Vegas Bowl record for a quarter. ... BYU QB Tanner Mangum's three first-quarter interceptions broke for the bowl record for most interceptions in a game (two) held by eight other quarterbacks. ... Utah improved to 58-34-4 all time against BYU, including the last five in a row. ... The 35 first-quarter points were a Las Vegas Bowl record for points in a quarter. ... According to ESPN Stats & Info, BYU is just the second FBS team in the last 10 years to commit turnovers on each of its first five drives. Pittsburgh did it in a 56-28 home loss to Georgia Tech in 2014. ... According to multiple media reports, Oregon State defensive coordinator and assistant head coach Kalani Sitake will be named new head coach at BYU, replacing Virginia-bound Bronco Mendenhall.