Quarterback Jaren Hall threw three touchdowns and running back Tyler Allgeier rushed for 102 yards as BYU earned its first win over rival Utah in 10 tries, 26-17 on Saturday night in Provo, Utah.
The Cougars controlled most of the game, striking early and taking a 23-7 lead into the fourth quarter. But the No. 21 Utes scored 10 straight points to pull within six midway through the final stanza.
BYU snapped its nine-game losing streak to Utah.
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BYU salted this win when kicker Jake Oldroyd booted his second field goal of the game from 21 yards out with 3:17 remaining. The Cougars then forced Utah into a turnover on downs as Baylor transfer Charlie Brewer overthrew his intended receiver on fourth down.
Brewer threw for 147 yards with one touchdown and one interception on 15-of-26 passing in his first taste of the fierce BYU-Utah rivalry game. His Utes suffered their first loss in the series since the Cougars won at home in 2009.
Micah Bernard had a huge game rushing for Utah, finishing with 146 yards on 12 carries. His 22-yard touchdown with 9:31 remaining cut BYU’s lead to 23-17 after a 47-yard field goal by Jadon Redding turned momentum in the visitor’s direction early in the fourth quarter.
The win was especially sweet for Samson Nacua, who transferred to BYU from Utah last year. He joined his brother Puka in Provo, who left Washington to play with him. Samson Nacua was one of three receivers to haul in a touchdown pass from Hall.
It was also BYU coach Kalani Sitake’s first win over the team he used to coach and his mentor, Utes coach Kyle Whittingham.
This was BYU’s second win over a Pac-12 team to start the 2021 season; the Cougars opened with a win over Arizona last Saturday.
The win came a day after the Big 12 Conference officially announced that it had accepted the program as a member. Fans driving to the game saw multiple new billboards welcoming them to Big 12 country and congratulating BYU on joining a Power 5 conference after playing as an independent in football for the past decade.
–Field Level Media