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Provo • Only when a Wyoming offensive lineman caught a deflected pass and was tackled for a 6-yard loss on the Cowboys' final play was BYU's bizarre defensive day complete.
The Cougars somehow found themselves needing to make a stand to finish a 25-20 victory Saturday at LaVell Edwards Stadium, after having dominated Wyoming's offense for most of the game.
"The pressure's on you," said cornerback Brian Logan. "For us to come out and get a stop, [there's] no better feeling."
Actually, the Cougars and their followers were having more fun in the first half, when the defense was on the field for only 17 plays and Wyoming netted minus-18 offensive yards. Part of that total was attributed to a 15-yard loss when a shotgun snap went over the quarterback's head, resulting in a safety, but BYU was stuffing everything the Cowboys tried.
"We were just feeding off the energy of each other," said defensive lineman Eathyn Manumaleuna.
Wyoming's 10 first-half points resulted from an interception returned for a touchdown and a field goal after a fumble recovery, even though Wyoming's offense went backward.
The picture changed just enough in the fourth quarter to make BYU uncomfortable, no matter how much Logan enjoyed the final sequence. Trailing 25-13 and having gained only 53 yards to that point, the Cowboys suddenly struck with a four-play, 80-yard touchdown drive.
Well, "I don't even consider it a drive," said Bronco Mendenhall, BYU's coach and defensive coordinator.
Wyoming caught BYU in a blitz, freeing Robert Herron for a 47-yard run. Then came a 16-yard touchdown pass, making it 25-20.
After BYU's offense failed to gain a first down, the defense was asked to make the lead stand, just as in a six-point, season-opening win over Washington.
Wyoming drove from its 14-yard line to the BYU 25, with the help of a personal-foul penalty and a fourth-down conversion, with plenty of time left.
But the Cougars steadied themselves as linebacker Shane Hunter, safety Andrew Rich and cornerback Brandon Bradley were credited with deflections. On fourth down, a four-man rush enabled linebacker Kyle Van Noy to bat down Austyn Carta-Samuels' pass. Wyoming lineman Nick Carlson caught the ball, but could not go anywhere, thanks to Brandon Ogletree's tackle.
In a similar situation against Washington, a fourth-down pass struck Manumaleuna's helmet and fell incomplete. Van Noy used his hand.
kkragthorpe@sltrib.com Twitter: @tribkurt —
Hit and miss
BYU's defense dominated intermittently Saturday. Wyoming's offensive results:
First 23 plays • 1 yard
Next 29 plays • 178 yards
Last four plays • minus-6 yards
Total for 56 plays • 173 yards