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PROVO — The No. 20 ranked Boise State Broncos headed to LaVell Edwards stadium Saturday night to take on the BYU Cougars.
Fans on both sides of the ball were curious how freshman Tanner Mangum was going to play after his last-second Hail Mary against Nebraska last week in his first collegiate start.
Many thought that question was answered early when Mangum threw an 84-yard bomb on 3rd and 19 to Mitchell Juergens for six.
Riding off last week's wave, BYU's Tanner Mangum throws an 84-yard touchdown right away against Boise. — Brian Christopherson (@HuskerExtraBC) September 13, 2015
#BYUFootball haters see @tannermangum 's 84-yd TD and be like ... pic.twitter.com/Jz11lFsN9L — Alex Kirry (@AlexKirryKSL) September 13, 2015
Mangum's 84-yarder is the longest pass play since Steve Sarkisian hit Dustin Johnson for a TD against Rice in 1996 #BYUFootball — BYU Game Notes (@BYUGameNotes) September 13, 2015
While the pass and the catch were phenomenal, it's all BYU fans really had to cheer for in the first half from the offense.
BYU scored its only points on the 84 yard TD from Mangum to Juergens. The rest of the half yielded 71 yards. #BYUSN — Jarom Jordan (@jaromjordan) September 13, 2015
BYU's run game could not get going throughout the first half. The Cougars had negative rush yards at half time.
The BYU defense started out a little slow, but they ended up making solid stops throughout the first half, but the third quarter proved difficult as they gave up 14 points. One of the TD drives was kept alive by a roughing the passer call after the Cougars stopped the Broncos on 3rd down.
Roughing the passer on 3rd and 16 should be grounds for getting kicked off the team #BYU defense really challenged. — Ben (@bWeeZy64) September 13, 2015
BYU bailed out Boise State with a roughing-the-passer penalty on 3rd-and-16. #BOISEvsBYU — John Coon (@johncoonsports) September 13, 2015
The BYU defense came back and made big plays after giving up 14 points in the third, but the damage was done. BYU went into the fourth quarter trailing Boise 24-14.
BYU would have gone into the fourth quarter trailing 24-7 if it weren't for another deep ball on a third and 19 from Mangum to Devon Blackmon that went for 70 yards. From there the running game decided to get going, or at least Adam Hine did.
Hine started gaining yards and then eventually knocked guys over on his way to the end zone.
Adam Hine sheds the tackle and scores a 21YD TOUCHDOWN. BYU trails 17-14 w/ 2:45 left in the 3Q. #GoCougs#BOISEvsBYUpic.twitter.com/UevB2a0dHr — #GoCougs (@BYUCougars) September 13, 2015
Hine would continue to run lights out and ended up with just under 100 yards for the night.
Hard to believe the final line for Adam Hine. 19 carries for 93 yards. — Яyan Teeples (@SportsGuyRyan) September 13, 2015
Things were dire for BYU in the fourth as they trailed 24-24, but some good mojo from BYU super fan Jason Shepherd and some great playing from Kai Nacua BYU was back in it.
Pick-6??? — Jason Shepherd (@jsnshep) September 13, 2015
That tweet was literally sent moments before Nacua picked off Boise QB Ryan Finley and returned it inside the red zone. Following the pick one of the strangest BYU offensive series took place.
Following a phenomenal catch by Blackmon that was called back for offensive passer interference, and then several Boise penalties Mangum finally punched it into the end zone from the half-yard line.
2nd try at the sneak = Tanner Mangum TD. BYU now down just 3, 24 - 20. Lets Go Defense! #BYUSN#BYU — BYU Sports Nation (@BYUSportsNation) September 13, 2015
The defense did come up big with some solid stops, including a big sack from Harvey Langi on a crucial third down.
BSU QB sacked by Harvey Langi >> LIVE GALLERY >> http://t.co/RbIL9QrMTG#BYUvsBSU#BYUFOOTBALL#THISisYpic.twitter.com/R6TvU3VCLF — BYU Photo (@BYUphoto) September 13, 2015
Then Mangum decided to give all BYU fans a massive heart attack once again.
The Cougars were moving the ball and were then faced with fourth and 7 with about 50 seconds left. What did Mangum do? He did what he does best; he hit Mitch in the end zone for six points. No, not that Mitch, the other Mitch; Mitch Juergens.
BYU QB Tanner Mangum heaves go-ahead 35-yd TD to Mitchell Juergens 45 seconds left in win over Boise ST — CFB Nation (@UofCFB) September 13, 2015
[ESPN Video] T. Mangum pass,to M. Juergens for 35 yds for a TD: Tanner Mangum pass complete to Mitchell ... http://t.co/4cHJ7WF95i#BYU — BYU Cougars (@BR_BYUCougars) September 13, 2015
Unreal: BYU's Tanner Mangum has to be 1st QB in FBS history w/game-winning TD passes in last minute of 1st 2 games of career — Brett McMurphy (@McMurphyESPN) September 13, 2015
The pass from Mangum to Juergens was amazing, but Boise is a good team and had 45 seconds and three timeouts on the clock, but Nacua decided to take care of that on the very first play.
BALL'N!!!! RT @coach_kaps: Kai Nacua with 3rd pick with the TD!!! Chee Hoo!!! pic.twitter.com/GJZ5KseJVs — J. 'Ālapa Clark (@Mr96743) September 13, 2015
THAT. JUST. HAPPENED. @IMGAudio of the final minute from @BYUfootball's comeback win against Boise State ---> http://t.co/UzyZFMjw3B! — Greg Wrubell (@gregwrubell) September 13, 2015
Nacua ended the night with three interceptions, tying a school record.
That sealed the deal and BYU walked away with a 35-24 win over the ranked Broncos and improved to 2-0 on the season.
Next up for the Cougars is a very good UCLA team in Los Angeles.
John has been writing about movies, news, sports and pretty much anything awesome for more than five years. John is the co-host of the Flix Junkies podcast and will always entertain you with his stories.
