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AUSTIN, TEXAS -- BYU had an early lead and all of the momentum against the Texas Longhorns, but the Cougars let missed opportunities, unforced errors and some questionable play calling steal the lead, the momentum and eventually the win.
The Cougars Defense came out of the gate and held the Longhorns and QB Garret Gilbert to a three and out, giving the offense excellent field position. This would be the story for most of the first half. "2nd straight 3 and out for Texas O. BYU D bringin it," tweeted ESPN 700's Jason Shepherd.
But despite the field position and two trips to the red zone all the BYU O could muster were a pair of field goals and wasting those opportunities and not getting into the end zone would come back to haunt the Y.
Heaps hooked up with Apo again in the end zone to put the Cougars up 13 - 0. Then, just before half, Texas tacked on a field goal to put the score at 13 - 3. The Cougars got the ball back with about a minute left and starting driving. The O got the ball well within kicker Justin Sorensen's range, but the coaching staff decided to go for it anyway, another decision that came back to haunt them.
I asked our followers if opting to go for it on that last play was a good decision, only one response was in the affirmative.
"No way. Right call," tweeted 801NiNja. "They get the ball in the 2nd half."
"It was a mistake! There was really nothing to lose. Let's see this kid kick!" tweeted CMillike.
Coming out in the second half the Cougars had the ball and went three and out and pretty much kept that tune throughout the rest of the game. Texas then started running the ball to the outside and that was the end of the night.
Texas got a couple of TD's and BYU struggled to get a couple of first downs. Then Texas took the lead.
"The 1-point deficit BYU faces seems like a lot with 8 minutes left in the game. Not a good half so far for the Cougars," tweeted desnewssports.
The Y's offense came back onto the field, but they stalemated once again, and people are starting to point fingers.
"BYU defense needs one more big play," tweeted Ben Bagley of 1320 KFAN. "Not sure about BYU play calling. Doman doesn't seem sure of himself or the offense as a whole.
That sentiment of questioning the play calling and coaching staff was a common theme for the evening.
"BYU's play calling has been way to conservative in the second half," tweeted JanandGunther. "Doman and Heaps need to step it up here!"
They did not.
"Uh, at what point will BYU fans want Robert Anai back? Doman's offense is worse," tweeted kevingraham1280.
Texas got the ball back and had to convert on a long third and nine to knell out the game. The D fell for a draw and let running back Malcolm Brown gain about 11 yards.
The Longhorns knelled out the game and capped off a comeback win as the Cougars capped off an utter meltdown.
The Cougars better figure out how to score in the red zone and the D needs to remember how to play two halves if they hope to win their home opener next week in the Holy War that's much earlier than I think anyone had hoped.
Email: onlinesports@ksl.com
