The 4th Quarter began with a Max Hall fumble from a blide-side hit on the 36 yeard line.  A David Nixon sack drove the Wildcats back to the 44 yard line.  As the D held, Arizona lined up in field goal formation, but tried a weird pooch kick, that gave the cougars the ball back on the 24.

The next series included Hall to Collie for 9, followed by an Unga 1st down.  Harvey then picked up 6 more, before Hall over threw a wide open Andrew George.  With 3rd and 6, Hall found Dennis Pitta for a first down.  Brian Karyia ran for 17.  But on the next play, Arizona stopped the drive by intercepting  a Hall pass in the endzone.

Arizona then put together a drive that ended in a Tuitama scramble to the endzone. 31-14 : (

The Cougars drove down the field and ended in a Max Hall Sneak for 6.  Arizona 31-BYU 21

O’Neil Chambers recovered an onside kick on the 48 yard line.  Collie caught a pass for 14, followed by another pass to Collie for 12 more.  A holding call brought the ball back to the 31.  A pass to Reed put then set up a 3rd and 9.  Mitch Payne then doinked one off the goal post, and missed the chance to close the gap to 7.

Arizona then ran out the clock.

Impressions:

Turnovers, once again, cost the Cougars a victory.  BYU’s defense actually played just well enough to give them a chance, (which is about all we can hope for).  Also the 3 missed field goal opportunities, helped keep us out of the game.  The officiating, was inconsistent, and helped kill a couple of opportunities for the Cougars (the whistled play, missed pi on a long Collie pass, and a botched call against Chambers.) In the world of coulda, woulda, shoulda, BYU missed a great chance.  Also, a healthy Dennis Pitta & Fui Vakapuna may have also made a difference in this one.

On the Plus Side:

The Cougar program is now regularly competing against out of conference teams. (Historically, that is about as good as it has ever been). Congrats on a 3rd straight season of 10 or more wins.  Let’s develop and recruit a little help here and there, and be ready to make a run at a great season next year.

Dec 20th by Jim