Inside BYU’s game-winning drive against Utah that saved an undefeated season

With 1:48 remaining in the fourth quarter, no. 9 BYU needed a field goal to keep its perfect season alive. Trailing 21-19, Jake Retzlaff and the offense took the field for a drive that began at BYU’s own nine-yard line. And it didn’t get off to a good start.

After three straight incompletions, BYU faced 4th and 10. ESPN’s win probability showed BYU had less than a 1% chance of winning the game at that point. Jake Retzlaff was sacked on fourth down and the game was presumably over — until a flag was thrown in the defensive secondary. A defensive holding penalty gave BYU life and a first down from its own 19-yard line.

Even after the penalty against Utah, the BYU offense had to cover at least 50 yards with less than two minutes left and no timeouts.

On the next play, Retzlaff was almost intercepted on a pass intended for Darius Lassiter. The ball eventually fell harmlessly onto the turf and the Cougars avoided defeat again.

Then BYU’s offense found some rhythm.

82 seconds left

On 2nd-and-10, Retzlaff dropped back to pass and found an open Chase Roberts 30 yards downfield. Roberts makes an extraordinary catch, getting his hands under a low throw and securing it for the big gain. The play was reviewed and the on-field call was confirmed.

73 seconds left

BYU was still 15 yards from field goal range after Chase Roberts’ catch. On the next play, Jake Retzlaff threw a perfectly thrown ball to Darius Lassiter on the perimeter for a 12-yard lead. Lassiter ran a great route and Retzlaff made one of his best throws of the night. The Retzlaff-Lassiter connection gave BYU a first down and put the Cougars on the edge of the field goal. It also stopped the clock and allowed BYU to reset its offense.

67 seconds left

Contrary to popular belief, BYU offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick called a running play that worked perfectly. Hinckley Ropati took a speed option pitch from Jake Retzlaff to the Utah 25-yard line. At this point, BYU was comfortably within Will Ferrin field goal range.

60 seconds left

After the Ropati first down, BYU was cited for an illegal procedure penalty that pushed them back to the Utah 30-yard line.

Despite losing five yards, BYU was content to run the ball and score a potential game-winning field goal.

The Cougars ran the ball on both first down and second down, forcing Utah to use the last of their two timeouts.

55 seconds left

On third down, a run by LJ Martin set up BYU for a field goal attempt from distance. BYU had no timeouts left, so the field goal unit ran onto the field as the clock expired. The ball was snapped with eight seconds left and Will Ferrin scored the game-winning field goal from 44 yards out.

Chase Roberts’ catch and Will Ferrin’s kick will go down in the history of the BYU-Utah rivalry. With the win, BYU improves to 9-0 overall and 6-0 in conference play. The Cougars must go 2-1 in their last three games to have a chance at playing in the Big 12 Championship Game.