BYU Football falls a few yards short against Arizona State
By Jake Olsen
Sometimes, you can't take advantage of the breaks. BYU was awarded an extra play after a review determined that Arizona State quarterback, Sam Leavitt's pass was incomplete with one second left on the clock. Retzlaff's ensuing Hail Mary would be ruled incomplete two yards short of the end zone.
BYU struggled initially, allowing a quick Arizona State touchdown after a failed fourth down conversion. BYU would throw an interception. BYU would take the ball back on an interception before punting and giving up another touchdown.
BYU lost an onside kick after the ball hit a BYU player before being recovered by ASU. This would lead to another Sun Devil touchdown. BYU would end the half with a field goal. At halftime, the score would be 21-3.
The second half would start with an Arizona State drive that would stall inside the 10-yard line with a failed fourth-down conversion. BYU would drive down the field and score with a 10-yard run by Keelan Marion. The ensuing two-point conversion would fail twice, even with a pass interference call negated the first attempt.
ASU would answer with a 61-yard touchdown pass to Xavier Guillory to make the score 28-3. BYU still hung around, scoring a 21-yard pass touchdown pass. This time the two-point conversion succeeded, with a pass to Darius Lassiter to make the score 28-11. Arizona State would punt the ball and BYU would score again and fail the two-point conversion. BYU was now within five.
This is where the chaos begins. Arizona State put together a 64-yard drive that would end in a turnover on downs at BYU's 11. BYU would drive down the field and look dangerous before throwing an interception that Sun Devil defender Javan Robinson returned to the BYU 7.
Arizona State would make some questionable decisions. On first and goal they would gain four yards before a BYU timeout. On second down the Sun Devils would run backward and lose 26 yards, bringing up third down. BYU would call their final timeout. On third down, ASU would lose ten yards and run the clock down inside seven seconds.
After a pair of delay of game penalties, the Sun Devils would throw the ball out of bounds and time seemed to have expired. The fans rushed the field and it seemed over. However, the play would be reviewed and one second would be put on the clock.
After a delay of over twenty minutes, the fans would be cleared and BYU would try a hail mary. The pass would be thrown two yards short and eventually ruled incomplete. BYU would not have time for a second play.
Takeaways From Today's Game.
-BYU had a slow start. This was ultimately what made it difficult for BYU in the second half, as they put themselves in an 18-point hole.
-BYU lost the turnover battle. The Cougars threw two costly interceptions and lost an onside kick. While the defense, who led the FBS in interceptions coming into the game, only forced one turnover that ended in a punt.
-BYU had trouble stopping Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo, allowing four touchdowns from him.
In the end, BYU found themselves in a hole that was too big to climb out of. The Cougars will need to have a hot start against Houston if they want to have a chance to play for a Big 12 Championship.
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