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SALT LAKE CITY — In the 91st meeting between the Cougars and the Utes it was exactly what we thought it would be, a physical fight that came down to the last play of the game. To say the game was bizarre would be an understatement. Between turnovers, ejections, last minute drives, and mentor and mentee going head to head I don’t think anyone could have predicted what happened in Salt Lake City. On the very first play of the game BYU fans everywhere felt a very familiar pit in their stomach as the turnover woes from last year’s Las Vegas Bowl made another unwelcome appearance.
Very timely...Taysom's first pass is a pick 6 for Utah. Ugh 😡😤😵😷👿 https://t.co/krX4fcqogD — #BeatUCLA (@seanhoward1985) September 10, 2016
> What a start! Pick 6 for [@Utah\_Football](https://twitter.com/Utah_Football)! [\#BYUvsUTAH](https://twitter.com/hashtag/BYUvsUTAH?src=hash)
> Utah just got a pick 6 on the opening play.. And I can't even get a text back [pic.twitter.com/H8dDSMaj2o](https://t.co/H8dDSMaj2o) > > — Cody Ford (@2ExplosiveFord) [September 10, 2016](https://twitter.com/2ExplosiveFord/status/774754364107984897)
Ultimately this would be the deciding factor in the game, but we wouldn’t know that for quite a while. In the last few meetings Utah has forced turnover after turnover against BYU, but this year the script was flipped and it was Utah that handed the ball over to BYU six times.
First fumble recovery for BYU #BYUvsUtahpic.twitter.com/6wLQIVsoVV — Brandon Judd (@brandonljudd) September 11, 2016
> That's BYU's first forced turnover against Utah since 2012. > > — Mitch Harper (@Mitch\_Harper) [September 10, 2016](https://twitter.com/Mitch_Harper/status/774756162231074816)
Three of the those turnovers had BYU’s defensive juggernaut Kai Nacua involved. Nacua recovered the first fumble forced by Francis Bernard, and then came up with two interceptions.
Interception Machine! @BYUfootball's Kai Nacua is amazing. #BYUvsUTAHhttps://t.co/zLawdL1vkG — FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 11, 2016
> KAI NACUA > > INTERCEPTION > > RINSE > > WASH > > REPEAT > > — All Blue Everything (@BYUAllBlue) [September 11, 2016](https://twitter.com/BYUAllBlue/status/774767165337501696)
> 10th career interception for Kai Nacua!!
Nacua had a stellar game, but didn’t get to finish. We’ll cover that in a minute. Even though BYU forced six turnovers the offense could not capitalize and the Utah defense stopped Taysom Hill and company time and time again.
BYU squanders the Nacua interception; Williams would have picked up first down there, but Hill kept it, got caught. — Jay Drew (@drewjay) September 11, 2016
That was the downfall for the Cougars, amazing defense and a stalled offense. Just before halftime Utah scored a TD to go up 14-13 and that’s where it stayed for most of the game. Then as Utah was driving yet again Nacua was ejected for targeting on what was nearly universally considered a bad call.
Feel terrible for Nacua! It was the wrong call...hate the ejection attached to Targeting...better ways to protect players #BYUvsUtah — Joel Klatt (@joelklatt) September 11, 2016
> Thus why the ejection is bogus. Tough to think Nacua play was reviewed and upheld. Only intent was to make a play.
Then on the next play Francis Bernard picked off Utah’s Troy Williams, but another BYU player was ejected for what else? Targeting. While both calls were rough on BYU, it riled up new coach Kalani Sitake to the point he received an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
Kalani was ready to throw hands after that lame Nacua ejection. Recruits will want him as their leader. #BYUpic.twitter.com/J7puJK5ivY — Geoff Johnston (@geoffjBYU) September 11, 2016
> I'm a big fan of [\#BYU](https://twitter.com/hashtag/BYU?src=hash)'s Kalani Sitaki. Tough to get that fired up without swearing...I've never been able to do it!! [pic.twitter.com/vrQlqN26QW](https://t.co/vrQlqN26QW) > > — GREG SWAIM (@GSwaim) [September 11, 2016](https://twitter.com/GSwaim/status/774796442812768256)
> Love the passion by Sitake going to battle for Kai Naucua (2 INT's) after that horrible targeting call by refs resulting in an ejection. > > — Total Blue Sports (@TotalBlueSports) [September 11, 2016](https://twitter.com/TotalBlueSports/status/774804854183112704)
> Sitake's reaction to Nacua's ejection is my favorite part of this game so far. > > — Spencer Meredith (@Superman\_04) [September 11, 2016](https://twitter.com/Superman_04/status/774800042376900608)
> BYU just got jobbed on a targeting ejection and Sitake is going nuts. He just got an unsportsmanlike conduct and is close to ejection. > > — Matt Burnell (@mdburnell) [September 11, 2016](https://twitter.com/mdburnell/status/774794125585416192)
After all this mayhem Utah ended up marching down the field and hitting a FG to go up seven. With just over two minutes left the Cougars marched down the field and hit pay dirt with almost no time left on the clock.
Touchdown BYU! Taysom Hill scrambles for the score and the Cougars just need the extra point to tie Utah with 18 seconds left — SI College Football (@si_ncaafb) September 11, 2016
Now the question was, will BYU tie it up with a PAT or go for the win with a two-point-conversion. When Kalani Sitake is your head coach I think the answer is simple: you go for the win. The Cougars lined up for the win, but the Utah defense came up big once again.
My view of BYU's failed 2-point conversion. Kalani Sitake said he would go for it again if he had to make the call. pic.twitter.com/bPkYycSK8G — Aaron Falk (@aaronfalk) September 11, 2016
> BYU tried a QB draw to beat Utah. Cool idea, unless Utah brought the house. And Utah brought the house
> BYU Head Coach Kalani Sitake on the failed 2 point conversion: "I'd do it again." [\#BYUvsUtah](https://twitter.com/hashtag/BYUvsUtah?src=hash) [pic.twitter.com/4QdIbbwrBW](https://t.co/4QdIbbwrBW) > > — RickAaron (@G4URickAaron) [September 11, 2016](https://twitter.com/G4URickAaron/status/774815181230645248)
While losing by one point after that fantastic drive is tough for Cougar fans it was the right decision to go for the win. Running back Jamaal Williams was out of the game, the defense was tired, and you were missing Kai Nacua and Austin McChesney on defense thanks to the ejections. Overtime would have been a rough go.
The rivalry game ended up being another entertaining and strange night ending with yet another Utah victory. While BYU fans hate to lose that game they stay true to their Cougars.
I'm glad byu went for 2. you're on the road in a hostile environment and you need to get a W. #respect — Cody Hoffman™ (@Cody_Hoffman2) September 11, 2016
> Love our boys and wouldn't trade being a BYU Cougar for anything. [\#GoCougs](https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoCougs?src=hash) > > — The Roar Of Cougars (@byuROC) [September 11, 2016](https://twitter.com/byuROC/status/774819500948541441)
> I love my Cougs no matter what. Great game BYU. I know you gave it your all. 💙🏈💙 > > — James The Mormon (@jamesthemormon) [September 11, 2016](https://twitter.com/jamesthemormon/status/774813261619273728)
> Love that they went for 2! Man [@kalanifsitake](https://twitter.com/kalanifsitake) is a positive coach! Nothing but good body language and confidence in the BYU football coaches > > — Kyle Collinsworth (@bigrussia5) [September 11, 2016](https://twitter.com/bigrussia5/status/774812877039349761)
Next up for the Cougars is their first home game against yet another Pac-12 South team. BYU will take on the UCLA Bruins in LaVell Edwards Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. MDT on ESPN 2.
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.
