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Arizona Tops BYU With Late Field Goal Despite out-gaining Arizona 60 total yards and holding a halftime lead, BYU dropped a heartbreaker, 16-13, to the Wildcats at Arizona Stadium.
Sept. 3, 2006
TUCSON, Ariz.--Despite out-gaining Arizona 60 total yards and holding a halftime lead, BYU dropped a heartbreaker, 16-13, to the Wildcats at Arizona Stadium. Arizona's Nick Folk hit three field goals, including a decisive 48-yarder with six seconds remaining to seal the victory for the Wildcats. BYU had a third-quarter touchdown negated by a controversial offensive pass interference and missed another opportunity with a special teams miscue in the third quarter. "Don't take anything away from Arizona," BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall said. "Please, give them credit. Arizona just made one more play than we did." The offense needed to shake off some rust in the early going as Jonny Harline took a swing pass for a 12-yard gain before the ball was knocked out of his hands and recovered by Arizona at the 32-yard line. After giving up two completions for a first down to start the drive, the Cougars defense held strong forcing a 32-yard Folk field goal. After four combined consecutive three-and-outs, BYU turned field position its way. Punter Derek McLaughlin pinned Arizona inside its own 10 yard line twice, once with a career-best 66-yard boot. The Cougars got the ball back at the 34 yard line with 4:49 left in the first quarter. BYU marched 34 yards in the five plays scoring on a five yard pass from John Beck to Daniel Coats. The big play on the drive was a 20-yard completion to Michael Reed as he caught a short slant, broke a pair of tackles and nearly took it the distance. The Wildcats came back, putting together their longest drive of the first half. Arizona quarterback Willie Tuitiama hooked up with Syndric Steptoe on a 48-yard touchdown pass to get the ball in Wildcats territory. BYU's defense kept Arizona out of the end zone, forcing the Wildcats to settle for a 22-yard Folk field goal while clinging to a 7-6 lead. The offense began to assert itself on for both teams in the second half. Cameron Jensen picked off a Tuitama pass of the Wildcats opening drive of the third quarter to give the Cougars the ball in their own territory.
BYU's offense began the half firing on all cylinders. Beck completed a 25-yard pass to Coats and drove the ball down to two yard line. Beck then hooked up with Matt Allen on what appeared to be a two-yard touchdown pass. The play was negated due to a controversial offensive pass interference call. BYU settled for a 20-yard field goal off the foot Jared McLaughlin to extend its lead to 10-6. Arizona answered with a nine-play, 80-yard drive. The Wildcats' big play on the drive was a 54-yard rush by Chris Henry. Tuitama hooked up with Anthony Johnson on third down for the touchdown. The Cougars again got the ball and had little trouble moving it. BYU marched 68 yards on 11 plays before getting stopped on third down inside the five yard line. A special teams miscue kept the Cougars behind by three at 13-10. BYU's defense held strong, forcing consecutive three-and-outs and giving the offense another shot. The Cougars put together a fourth quarter drive, tying the game on a Jared McLaughlin 31-yard field goal with 5:23 remaining in the game. The Wildcats were able to get just enough on their final drive, getting in Folk's field goal range. Folk drove home the 48-yard attempt and time expired on the kickoff. Beck had an efficient day throwing the ball, going 28-for-37 for 289 yards and one touchdown. Curtis Brown hauled in a team-best six catches while Jonny Harline led the Cougars' in receiving yards with 71. |
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