The BYU Cougars needed every second of regulation to pull out the win against Big 12 opponent Oklahoma State. In a game that was back-and-forth throughout, with each team throwing and taking punches. There was plenty of strong defense and big playmaking offense to satisfy football fans everywhere. With over 62,000 fans in attendance at Lavell Edwards Stadium, the stadium was rocking from start to finish. This is a game that will surely help Coach Kalani Sitake’s Coach of the Year bid.
These are the kinds of games we expect from college football. These are the kinds of games we envisioned with the new Big 12. The games where each side competes and you don’t know who’s going to win until the last second (and even then it might change). The games where, no matter what part of the season it is it feels like a championship game. The games where everyone comes out a bit bloody and with just enough sportsmanship and… unsportsmanship to keep things interesting.
BYU Cougars Strike First
The Cougars started the game with the ball. The biggest play of the drive was a 50-yarder from Jake Retzlaff to Darius Lassiter that brought them to the 25-yard line. That’s been a beautiful connection all season and continued to be throughout this match. Retzlaff finished off the drive with a designed QB run for a touchdown. In response to the quick-strike by BYU, Oklahoma State made a big play of their own. Ollie Gordon broke through the Cougars’ defense for a 50-yard touchdown.
The rest of the quarter and into the second was dominated by defense. The Cowboys’ second drive was a quick three an out, a win for BYU. The Cougars tried to by fancy to end the first quarter with running back Hinckley Ropati tossing the ball- right into the arms of a Cowboy. Not to be outdone, BYU’s defense went right back onto the field and started the second quarter off with a bang when Tanner Wall pulled an overthrown ball out of the air and returned it to the 1-yard line. On the next play, LJ Martin punched the ball in to give BYU a 14-7 lead.
Oklahoma State’s then went 75 yards in 10 plays and ended in another Gordon touchdown, tying the game at 14. BYU’s offense got back to work, driving the ball back into the 25-yard line before Oklahoma State’s defense took the ball away with another interception.
To close out the half, the Cowboys marched down the field for another score, the third Gordon touchdown of the day. The drive was powered by a 54-yard run by the quarterback. The play, however, came at a great cost. Quarterback Garret Rangel went down awkwardly, landing on his left shoulder and his helmet hitting the field violently. He left the game and was replaced by Alan Bowman for the remainder.
The BYU Cougars’ “Spiritual”, Game-Winning Drive
BYU and Oklahoma went blow-for-blow, with each team picking up another interception and Oklahoma State tying the game at 28 at the start of the fourth quarter. BYU mustered a field goal to take the lead back, but their lead didn’t last long. Oklahoma State wrenched the lead back with a clock-killing drive that resulted in a touchdown, a four-point lead, and only 1:13 left on the clock.
It was time for the two-minute drill. Some teams are made for the two-minute drill. After the game, Jake Retzlaff even said, “Two minutes left is my thing. Every time we did it in spring ball, I would get so excited. It was really cool to finish it like that.” He proved it.
After a key Retzlaff pass to Chase Roberts to convert on fourth down, with 10 seconds left in the game, Retzlaff threw a dime to Darius Lassiter who made a two men miss before scampering into the end zone for the game-winning touchdown. The crowd, in stunned silence just moments prior, erupted. Their 13th ranked Cougars just outlasted Oklahoma State to improve to 7-0.
Retzlaff said of the drive, “It’s magical. It’s spiritual,” Retzlaff said. “How can you not be romantic about this game?” It’s fair to say that BYU’s season as a whole has been magical, and maybe even a little spiritual.
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