Utah DT Viliseni Fauonuku calls BYU a ‘dirty team’ at bowl event

Why should one game be more important than the collective whole? That came after BYU linebacker Harvey Langi was caught on film punching a Utah State player, BYU offensive lineman Ului Lapuaho punched a Boise State player in the groin and BYU defensive lineman Bronson Kaufusi rolled the leg of a Nebraska player.

Thanks to the internet, a place that can be seen as the dark side but can regularly exhibit the force, we have a video that combines the two events and celebrates such a momentous occasion.

Comments: BYU struggles to move the ball, Utah flexes their muscles to end a “What-could have been” season. When the game was originally announced and we learned that these two would be going at it on the field once again, that was reason enough to be excited. In the meantime, I’ll be running around making light saber sounds in my office. They have been especially poor in their final two games, only throwing for 218 total yards against UCLA and Colorado.

Tanner Mangum has played well as a true freshman (ranking 30th in yards and 37th in passer rating), but he is still a true freshman. Devon Blackmon has 572 receiving yards for BYU. They lost the other two, falling to USC and UCLA. In a heated rivalry game like this, a big turnover could cause the game to swing in one team’s favor.

We can’t wait for the Holy War on December 19th. Gionni Paul has 109 tackles and 3 sacks, while Marcus Williams has 5 interceptions for Utah.

This game looks like a close call, but ultimately BYU finished better than Utah did. BYU was better about taking care of the football than the Utes, only turning it over 15 times (No. 24), but they not as effective at creating takeaways as the Utes, forcing 22 (No. 39). In their losses, they have not won the turnover battle once. The Cougars then won five games in a row before losing at Missouri.

Utah has had great postseason success under head coach Kyle Whittingham, going 7-1 SU and 6-2 ATS in eight bowls.