BYU 13, Arizona 16

By BOB BAUM AP Sports Writer

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) -- Nick Folk kicked a 48-yard field goal with one second to play to give Arizona a 16-13 season-opening victory over Brigham Young on Saturday night.

Folk, who missed a 42-yarder as the first half ended, also had field goals of 30 and 22 yards in a mistake-filled, defensive struggle in front of 58,450, the ninth-largest crowd in Arizona Stadium history and first home sellout since the season opener against Ohio State six years ago.

BYU's John Beck completed 28 of 37 for 289 yards but the Cougars' offense could manage just one touchdown, Beck's five-yard pass to Daniel Coats in the second quarter. Jared McLaughlin kicked field goals 20 and 32 yards but the Cougars botched a third field goal attempt.

BYU also had a touchdown called back by an offensive pass interference call.

Chris Henry, who had three yards in six carries up to that time, broke free on a 54-yard run and Willie Tuitama threw two yards on third-and-goal to Anthony Johnson for a touchdown to give Arizona its first lead, 13-10, with 6:52 left in the third quarter.

BYU took the ensuing kickoff and drove to the Arizona 5, and on fourth-and-one, the Cougars went for the tying field goal. Holder Jason Beck bobbled the snap and was smothered by defenders.

The Cougars held defensively though, and Jared McLaughlin's 32-yard field goal tied it at 13-13 with 5:23 to play.

The Wildcats took the subsequent kickoff and went from their own 25 to the BYU 29. Syndric Steptoe reversed field after a short pass for an 11-yard gain. Two running plays lost yardage, then Tuitama kept on a sneak to set up the game-winning field goal.

Both teams were hurt by penalties. BYU was penalized 10 times for 76 yards, Arizona eight for 61.

BYU turned it over on the game's first play from scrimmage when John Beck threw to John Harline, who fumbled and Arizona's Spencer Larsen recovered at the Cougars' 33. Arizona drove to the 10, then Folk's 30-yard field goal made it 3-0 with 11:52 to play in the opening quarter.

BYU's touchdown was set up by a pair of superb punts by Derek McLaughlin, the first 66 yards to the Arizona 5, then after an exchange of possessions, his 40-yard punt went out at the Wildcats' 2.

The Cougars held, then got the ball on the Arizona 34. Beck's 20-yard pass to Michael Reed set up his 5-yard scoring pass to Coats and BYU led 7-3 with 2:06 left in the first quarter.

Tuitama's 47-yard pass to Steptoe was the big play as the Wildcats moved to the BYU 4 late in the first quarter, but again the drive stalled, and Folk's 22-yard field goal made it 7-6.

ARIZONA 16, BYU 13 BYU 7 0 3 3 --13 Arizona 3 3 7 3 --16 First Quarter Ari--FG Folk 30, 11:52. BYU--Coats 5 pass from Jo.Beck (J.McLaughlin kick), 2:06. Second Quarter Ari--FG Folk 22, 12:53. Third Quarter BYU--FG J.McLaughlin 20, 10:08. Ari--A.Johnson 2 pass from Tuitama (Folk kick), 6:52. Fourth Quarter BYU--FG J.McLaughlin 31, 5:23. Ari--FG Folk 48, :01. A--58,450.

                       BYU    Ari

First downs 17 15 Rushes-yards 24-24 24-67 Passing 289 186 Comp-Att-Int 28-37-0 19-39-1 Return Yards 58 0 Punts-Avg. 5-37.2 6-52.0 Fumbles-Lost 2-2 0-0 Penalties-Yards 10-76 8-61 Time of Possession 31:38 28:22

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING--BYU, Brown 11-23, Vakapuna 6-21, Tonga 1-2, Team 1-(minus 7), Jo.Beck 5-(minus 15). Arizona, Henry 13-63, Jennings 6-7, Steptoe 1-6, Tuitama 4-(minus 9). PASSING--BYU, Jo.Beck 28-37-0-289. Arizona, Tuitama 19-39-1-186. RECEIVING--BYU, Brown 6-39, Harline 5-71, Meikle 4-26, Coats 3-35, Tonga 3-11, Jacobson 2-35, M.Reed 2-26, Collie 2-22, Vakapuna 1-24. Arizona, Steptoe 6-93, A.Johnson 6-40, Henry 4-25, Thomas 1-14, Wood 1-12, Dennard 1-2.

(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APTV-09-03-06 0033MDT

(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APTV-09-03-06 0007MDT

Related topics