... FENCE-STRADLIN' COUGARS SICK OF BOTH WINNING, LOSING
BYU bested its own record today, playing to its second tie of the ECFA season -this time against hapless Ohio State, 21-21. The Cougars (1-0-2, 0-0-2 Western Conference) blew a 14-0 lead, then rallied late to tie the game. However, their result, such as it was, almost wasn't to be as on an Ohio State incompletion with 4 seconds left, the Cougars were called for unsportsmanlike conduct. The 15-yard penalty moved the ball to the BYU 40, and set up a last-play field goal. But Ohio State missed the 57-yard attempt, and the game ended in a draw.
After a scoreless first quarter, BYU manhandled Ohio State throughout the second quarter, scoring first on an 8-play, 86-yard drive that featured nothing but runs. Tailback Kariya had a 26-yard scamper to start it, and quarterback Nelson ran for 20 to put it to the OSU 26, then carried the mail the last 17 yards on 2 plays to reach the end zone and make it 7-0. After a Buckeyes punt, the Cougars doubled their lead, this time going 71 yards on 12 plays (10 run, 2 pass), culminated when Nelson faked a handoff to Kariya on a play action, and found tight end Edwards wide open in the middle of the end zone for a 3-yard score. BYU led, 14-0, at halftime, after missing a 56-yard field goal at the buzzer.
The third quarter, however, was a completely different story. Getting the ball to start the second half, Ohio State (0-2-1, 0-1-1 Western Conference) quickly moved down field thanks to a 52-yard completion from Pryor to Posey. This nearly quadrupled the Buckeyes' production for the WHOLE first half, where Ohio State gained just 14 total yards. Pryor made the play pay, hitting Sanzenbacher for an 11-yard score to make it 14-7.
BYU continued to use a power running attack (201 yards on 33 carries), with 8 straight carries by Nelson and Kariya gaining 43 yards to the OSU 24. Nelson missed a pass, then the BYU kicker missed from 41 yards, leaving the margin at 7. That stayed that way for just 6 plays, as Pryor's 41-yard scramble was the critical play in a 69-yard touchdown drive that ended when Sanzenbacher caught another score, this time from 12 yards out, and it was 14-14.
The fourth quarter started with a quick 3-and-out for BYU, and Ohio State was on the march again. Running back Saine caught back-to-back-to-back passes totaling 32 yards, while Sanzenbacher and Posey combined to pick up 22 yards on 3 quick slant passes from Pryor. Pryor then found Stoneburner to the right on a quick out, but the BYU defense couldn't bring him down, and it resulted in 24 yards and the go-ahead score.
Twice on its next drive, BYU converted 3rd-and-long to stay alive. On the first from the 28, Nelson hit Ashworth for 13. On 3rd-and-10 from the 41, Nelson spotted Matthews on a deep post route, who caught it in stride and screamed into the end zone to tie the game.
Ohio State marched from its 17 to the BYU 40 in the final 4:40, but the last field goal was missed, and this one is a tie.
Ed
