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PROVO — Waiting to board a flight from Los Angeles to Utah two BYU football fans were lamenting the close loss to UCLA the Cougars suffered a night earlier in the Rose Bowl.
The middle-aged female was disheartened yet encouraged at the prospects over the next nine games. The 35ish man was more aligned with frustration, realizing his favorite team had let the double-digit favored Bruins escape from a game they deserved to lose.
"You've got to play to win," he said, standing in the back line of the A group of passengers.
Amen, brother.
For good reason he was miffed at BYU's conservative play-calling at crucial times in the fourth quarter. Specifically, the diehard pointed to the play the Cougars ran when they faced a third-and-5 at the UCLA 16-yard line.
Instead of taking a shot at the end zone for what probably would have been the game-clinching touchdown, BYU's run into the UCLA line netted only 2 yards. Trevor Samson's subsequent field goal on fourth down padded BYU's lead to six points, a margin UCLA needed only six plays to erase with the go-ahead touchdown and extra point.
In the thrilling wins over Nebraska and Boise State, BYU put the ball into the hands of quarterback Tanner Mangum. This time, the freshman sensation, who had successfully converted four consecutive third-down plays on the drive, watched helplessly as UCLA stuffed running back Adam Hine.
Adding fuel to the "play to win" philosophy was BYU's inability to stop UCLA's running game. By halftime, with freshman quarterback Josh Rosen having thrown three interceptions, UCLA coach Jim Mora went almost exclusively to the ground. And in the process, Paul Perkins and Nate Starks ran right through the Cougars.
The Bruins scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, needing a total of 12 plays to turn a 20-10 deficit into a 24-23 lead. Only three of those plays were passes, including a 19-yard touchdown toss from Rosen to Jordan Payton. The game-winning drive covered 71 yards on six consecutive rushing plays.
With their team nursing a 20-17 lead, the BYU coaches should have been able to figure out that a field goal wasn't enough. The offense, particularly Mangum, deserved a chance to win the game and not simply extend the lead by three points.
After UCLA took the lead, the Cougars got the ball for one last gasp. But after reaching the UCLA 45-yard line they were done in by two incomplete passes, Nate Carter's 3-yard run and an interception.
The point here isn't to direct the blame at any one coach or individual player. The Cougars, with a quarterback making his second career start barely three months removed from being on a church mission, deserve credit for playing a top-10 team down to the wire on the road.
As typical in these situations, there was no need to point blame because the coaches and players were more than willing to hold themselves accountable for any individual shortcomings. The defense wasn't hearing the offense lost the game.
"Offensively, we played good enough to win that game," said linebackers and special teams coach Kelly Poppinga. "It was the defense and special teams that lost it."
Offensively, we played good enough to win that game. It was the defense and special teams that lost it.
–Linebackers and special teams coach Kelly Poppinga
Good point.
BYU's special teams allowed UCLA to gain field position through multiple long kick returns. While other teams routinely put kickoffs deep into the end zone for touchbacks, BYU apparently doesn't have a kicker able to reach the goal line on kickoffs.
There also was the issue of tackling. To put it mildly, BYU's defense had a hard time wrapping up UCLA's running backs.
"I was embarrassed," Poppinga said. "That was an embarrassing performance as a program. I think our guys felt embarrassed. As coaches, we were embarrassed."
The good thing is the Cougars will have a shot at a quick redemption with a trip to play Michigan awaiting. In only a few days, those same fans will go through another round of emotions.
