LJ Martin carried BYU to victory this week in college football in Utah (Photo by BYU Athletics)
Big wins across the state of Utah, especially in the FBS, in Week 13 of college football in the Beehive State.
BYU 10-1 (7-1 in the Big 12)
The Cougars won a close-quarters battle against the Bearcats. Kalani Sitake’s guys went to Cincinnati, Ohio, and left with a 26-14 win. BYU’s passing game was kept relatively grounded, so it was on the Cougars’ ground game to carry the offense. With an assist from Bear Bachmeier, LJ Martin carried BYU on his back to victory. Martin would total 266 yards in the win. BYU controls their own destiny and can make the Big 12 title game with a win over UCF at home this Saturday.
Utah 9-2 (6-2 in the Big 12)
While BYU was winning a fight in a phone booth, Utah was back in Salt Lake City, shooting it out with Kansas State. The Wildcats and the Utes would combine for over 1,000 yards of offense and 98 total points. Kansas State took a 47-35 lead with 7:00 to go. On the K-State attempt to make the lead 14 points, Utah intercepted it and took it the other way for two of their own. That made the lead, 47-37, and the Utes had the ball. They would score and pull within three with 2:47 to go, and take the final lead with 0:56 left. The 51-47 score would be the final for Utah’s victory.
Utah State 6-5 (4-3 in the Mountain West)
Bronco Mendenhall’s squad got an important win on the road against Fresno State. The Aggies got bowl-eligible with their win over the Bulldogs. Behind Bryson Barnes’ 150 yards passing and 113 yards rushing, Utah State would get the win in the rain, 28-17. Utah State has a chance to improve their bowl standing when they host Boise State on Saturday in their home finale.
Weber State 4-8 (2-6) in the Big Sky)
The Wildcats ended a rough season on a very positive note. They won on Senior Day in Stewart Stadium and snapped their four-game losing streak. They also beat a conference rival, who was ranked, in the 48-28 defeat of #23 Northern Arizona. The win eliminated NAU from the FCS Playoffs, too. Next year, with whoever their new head coach is, he’ll have a team fresh off a win over a ranked opponent.
Utah Tech 2-10 (1-7 in the United Athletic Conference)
Utah Tech’s season, mercifully, comes to an end. Their defeat at home against Eastern Kentucky was their 10th of the season. EKU beat the Trailblazers 33-10. Amazingly, Tech didn’t finish in the basement of the UAC. North Alabama, the lone conference opponent the Trail Blazers beat, earned that dubious distinction.
Southern Utah 7-5 (6-2 in the United Athletic Conference)
The Thunderbirds were robbed. Not in their 34-28 overtime victory over North Alabama, but by the FCS Playoff Selection Committee. Southern Utah capped off the season with a six-game winning streak, including a win over two ranked teams and eventual conference champion Abilene Christian (who finished with a similar record of 8-4 (7-1). ACU got the conference’s automatic berth, but SUU was snubbed. The Thunderbirds had just as strong a case for an at-large berth as other teams that went 7-5 or 8-4. It’s a shame they were left out for teams that lost three of their last four.
It’s also a shame that this could be the last game for star running back Joshua Dye for Southern Utah. Dye’s fantastic season could propel the sophomore to the FBS level of college football. Dye had 23 carries for 108 yards and three touchdowns in the finale. Dye finished the season with 295 carries for 1,831 yards and 28 touchdowns.
Steve Young Award Player of the Week
Joshua Dye had another great week for SUU, as did Bryson Barnes for USU. Devon Dampier of Utah and LJ Martin for BYU had the biggest games, keeping their teams alive for the College Football Playoff. I went with LJ Martin for the magnitude of the win, it being a road victory, and for the level of difficulty for him to do what he did. Dampier and Utah’s entire offense was on fire against a reeling Kansas State defense. BYU had almost no offense other than LJ Martin. The win was on the road in a very hostile environment, and it keeps BYU alive and in control of their own destiny for the Big 12 title and making the College Football Playoff.
Writer’s Note: All FBS team rankings referenced are from the College Football Power Rankings here at TheForkball.com. All FCS rankings are from the FCS STATS poll.
