BYU football: The five best moments of Cougars’ 2016 season

No. 5: The almost-comeback against Utah

I know that this game fulfills every requirement of a heart-breaker, but it’s still making the list. Why? Here’s why.

Firstly, everything about this edition of the Holy War felt different. Sitake brought a new level of respect and sportsmanship to the rivalry game, but he also made the game feel bigger than ever.

One of my biggest gripes about Bronco Mendenhall was that he downplayed the rivalry. To him, it was just another game. I believe that showed in his team’s play. Sitake didn’t shy away from the rivalry talk.

Considering the tempers that were flaring off the field the last time the Cougars and Utes met, it was nice to see the players hug it out after the game – and seeing Sitake at the center of it all was great.

Secondly, the final moments of the game were nothing less than stellar.

The Utes ripped off a 19 play, 76 yard drive that lasted more than 11 minutes to start the fourth quarter. Rice Eccles Stadium was rocking (it was the loudest I’ve heard a venue). The Cougars got the ball trailing 20-13.

Taysom Hill led the Cougars on a drive and silenced the deafening Ute crowd. Hill scrambled for a seven yard touchdown run, pulling the Cougars to one point. Sure, the two-point conversion failed and Utah won for the sixth-straight time. But, Hill silencing the crowd on his touchdown run was one of the best moments of 2016.