Cowboys’ rally attempt falls short
POINSETTIA BOWL: BYU 24, WYOMING 21
san diego» Wyoming’s furious fourth-quarter rally ended in an interception as Brigham Young defeated its once longtime conference rival 24-21 at a soggy Qualcomm Stadium on Wednesday night.
Trailing 24-7 early in the fourth quarter, the Cowboys scored two touchdowns and had the ball close to field-goal range in the final minute before quarterback Josh Allen was intercepted by Kai Nacua at the BYU 11.
Jamaal Williams rushed for 210 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries for the Cougars (9-5) in the first game between the schools since 2010, when BYU left the Mountain West to go independent.
It their first bowl appearance since 2011, the Cowboys (8-6) fell behind early after a bobbled punt attempt deep in their own territory. BYU capitalized with Tanner Mangum’s 3-yard touchdown run with 0:38 left in the opening quarter and added a field goal in the second quarter for a 10-0 halftime lead.
Wyoming finally got on the scoreboard after Brian Hill’s 4-yard touchdown run with 6:35 left in the third quarter.
The Cougars answered with a 73yard drive, capped by Mangum’s 5yard TD pass to Tanner Balderree. Williams’ 36-yard touchdown run made it 24-7 early in the fourth quarter. Allen hit Tanner Gentry for a 9yard touchdown to make it 24-14 with 7:35 left. The two connected again, this time for 23 yards, to make it 24-21 with 2:11 left.
Wyoming tried an onside kick that BYU recovered, but the Cowboys still had their full allotment of three timeouts, and forced the Cougars to put after they failed to get a first down.
The Cowboys then moved to the BYU 32 on a 19-yard pass from Allen to Hill.
But on the next play, Allen scrambled out of the pocket and tried to throw back across his body near the middle of the field. Nacua snagged the easy pick, and the game was over.
Allen finished the game with 207 passing yards, two touchdown passes and two interceptions. Gentry caught seven passes for 113 yards and the two touchdowns.
Hill rushed for 93 yards and the touchdown.