From: jsnow@moons.sim.es.com (John Snow)
Subject: BYU Report: BYU vs. Utah State
Keywords: BYU football
Organization: Evans & Sutherland Computer Corporation
Date: Sun, 4 Oct 1992 17:43:32 GMT

BYU hosted the Aggies of Utah State on Friday night in Provo. The game
was on Friday night due to LDS Church conference on Saturday. BYU was
looking to heal some wounds after losing the last three games by
narrow margins. USU was coming off its first win of the season.

Ryan Hancock made his first starting appearance as the Cougar QB of
the week after looking quite impressive last week at Hawaii were he
replaced the injured Steve Clements (out for the season with surgery
on his dislocated shoulder).

BYU won the toss and deferred the choice to the second half. USU took
the opening kick but had to punt as BYU's defense held them to three
downs and a punt.

BYU had good field position at mid-field following the punt to begin
their first drive. BYU drove to the 25 yard line where Hancock hit
Otis Sterling in the end zone for the first TD of the game.

USU then took over and went on an impressive drive which eventually
stalled at the BYU 8 yard line. USU settled for a field goal to make
the score 7-3.

BYU's next drive was gaining ground but came to an abrupt halt as the
turnover bug-a-boo seems to continue to haunt them with full back Hema
Hemuli fumbling the ball at the USU 35 yard line.

USU capitalized on the turnover, driving down to the BYU 7 yard line,
but again the BYU defense held them short of the end zone and the
Aggies settled for another three points to close the score to 7-6.

On BYU's next possession, USU's defense went heavily to the blitz to
put pressure on Hancock. Hancock handled the pressure quite well,
picking out the quick release receivers and firing the ball just
before being hit. Hancock looked more like a seasoned QB than a
sophomore playing in only his second game and starting his first.
BYU's possession stalled at the USU 15 where a missed field goal left
the score at 7-6 with the first quarter gone.

USU's next possession was a short 3 downs and punt. Hancock took the
snap on first down from the BYU 33 yard line, dropped deep, and then
hit running back Kalin Hall on a screen pass that was executed
perfectly. Hall had at least 5 Cougars around him to block for him and
went 70 yards to pay dirt to make the score 14-6.

USU's next drive ended abruptly when, on 3rd down and 16, BYU's Brad
Clark leveled the Aggie receiver just after he caught the ball,
leaving him 5 yards short of the first down and seeing stars. This was
the hardest hit of year for BYU and got the crowd roaring.

BYU then drove deep into USU territory as Hancock hit Drage on a long
pass to the USU 12 yard line. Unfortunately, on the next play, Hancock
tried to float a pass into the end zone but under threw it and it was
picked off at the 2 yard line to stop the drive.

USU moved to ball out from the 2 to the 17 then a fumbled snap from
the center to QB gave the ball right back to the Cougars. BYU backed
up 5 yards on a motion penalty to get a little more working room then
went to the razzle-dazzle. Hancock took the snap and pitched the ball
to Jamal Willis who appeared to be trying to go around the end.
Instead, he handed off to Tyler Anderson on a reverse that completely
faked the Aggie defense out of its socks. Tyler streaked around the
end and into the end zone to make the score 21-6.

After the kickoff, USU was driving with what appeared to be a first
down out to their own 45 yard line, but a holding penalty brought the
ball back. A USU lineman took exception to the call and an
unsportsmanlike penalty was tacked on to give the Aggies a 1st and 44
at their own 9 yard line. On the next play, Calvillo, the Aggie QB,
dropped deep into the end zone and was sacked there when he couldn't
find an open receiver. BYU's defense scores 2 points to make the score
23-6.

The rest of the half saw USU scoring one more field goal to bring the
score to 23-9. On the last play of the half, Ryan Hancock showed us
his arm strength when he threw the ball 70 yards in the air.
Unfortunately, he should have thrown it 69 yards as it was just over
Bryce Doman's outstretched arms in the back of the end zone.

It was refreshing to have BYU score some points in the first half and
even more refreshing to have a lead at half time. The crowd seemed
much more relaxed than in the previous two home games and started to
enjoy the evening when the band started playing "Popcorn Popping on
the Apricot Tree".

BYU received the ball to start the second half, but a nice drive was
thwarted when Kalin Hall juggled a pass over the middle 3 times before
being bumped off the ball which ended up in Aggie hands. The turnover
curse was alive and well. However, BYU's defense was up to the task
and held the Aggies without a first down.

BYU moved the ball to the Aggie 40 then punted. USU move the ball back
out to their own 40 and then came the most intersting play of the
game. Calvillo took the snap and pitched to running back Abu Wilson.
BYU's Randy Brock was waiting for Wilson in the backfield and grabbed
him around the ankle. Wilson attempt to pull free, but Brock had him
in a death grip. As Wilson was struggling to get free he turned around
and spotted someone in white pants standing 5 yard behind him. He
threw a lateral right into the hands of a very surprised referee. The
referee caught the ball then realized he shouldn't have and dropped
it. BYU dove on the free ball and should have had the turn over, but
the somewhat red-faced referee decided that Wilson was down before he
threw the ball. 

USU then punted the ball back to the Cougars who took over on their
own 35 yard line. On 3rd and 10 from the 35, Hancock took the snap
from the shotgun formation and threw long to Eric Drage who was
streaking down the sidelines. Drage caught the ball at the 30 with a
two step advantage on the defender and out ran him to the end zone for
the last score of the game. The score stood at 30-9 midway through the
third quarter.

The rest of the game degenerated as both offenses hurt themselves with
penalties and missed field goals. Steve Young's little brother Tom was
sent in to play the last series of the game and connected on his one
and only pass of the game.

BYU had 392 passing yards, with all but 7 coming from Hancock's arm.
Hancock was 20 out of 40 with 3 TDs and 2 INTs. BYU had 88 yards on
the ground. USU had 266 yards passing and 29 yards on the ground.

BYU's leading receivers were Drage with 8 catches for 196 yards,
Sterling with 3 for 59, and Hall with 1 catch (the screen pass) for 67
yards. BYU's leading rushers were Jamal Willis with 18 rushes for 80
yards, Hall with 8 for 19, and wide receiver Tyler Anderson with 1
(the reverse) for 22 yards.

BYU certainly needed to play the Aggies at this point to settle down
and get a win under their belts. Hancock looked impressive again and
really made only a few mistakes despite being faced with an all out
blitz for much of the game. BYU needs to continue to work on cutting
down on the turnovers - they had 4 against the Aggies. The defense
played well, not allowing the Aggies into the end zone. The DBs, who
were a big question mark coming into the season, seem to be playing
well. We've seen very few, if any, long passes this year were the
receiver was wide open. BYU's DBs have been right with the receivers,
knocking down their share of passes.

However, USU was not a real test for the Cougars, that will come again
and again throughout the month of October. The Cougars will face new
WAC opponent Fresno State in BYU's homecoming game. The rest of the
month goes like this: at Wyoming, at Notre Dame, and finally, at home
against Penn State.

PS: BYU's foul mouthed tight end, Byron Rex, did not play against the
Aggies as a result of his over exuberance in the end zone in Hawaii.
He should be back next week against Fresno.

--John




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John F. Snow                         INET:           jsnow@moons.sim.es.com
Evans & Sutherland Computer Corp.    
Salt Lake City, Utah                 America Online: JohnSnow  GEnie: J.SNOW2
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.college