Kalani Sitake hired as new coach of BYU

The quake emanated from the box housing the Utes’ assistant coaches, who were presumably slamming their fists in frustration.

BYU (9-4) ended up with 386 total yards to 197 for Utah, but the five early turnovers were the key in a game where the Utes didn’t turn the ball over.

“Those plays weren’t gifts, we forced those turnovers”, Whittingham said. As his team was trying to win its first-ever bowl game, the redshirt junior missed two field goals, potentially costing the Mountaineers the lead late in the game.

BYU opened the season with three consecutive games that were decided in the final seconds, notching wins over Nebraska and Boise, followed by a one point loss at UCLA. Mendenhall, who wanted to coach the bowl game before leaving, finished his BYU career with a 99-43 record.

“That certainly qualifies to be in the BYU-Utah rivalry handbook, manual or whatever it is”, BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall said. “It was great to see him have the game he did”. WHAT BOOKS SAY: “Utah (-2.5) continues to receive 3-1 bets and money over BYU, but the line has been staying strong at 2.5 for the past four days”.

The Utah Utes had planned on being in the National Championship playoffs before dropping two of three to end the regular season.

Tanner Mangum, Freshman Sensation: When Taysom Hill went down with a season-ending injury in the first game of the season, no one knew what to expect from Mangum who had just returned from serving his two year religious mission.

Utah took advantage of a disastrous start by BYU in the Las Vegas Bowl, scoring five first-quarter touchdowns on turnovers – including two interceptions by Tevin Carter – before holding on to beat the Cougars, 35-28, Saturday in Las Vegas. For example, a team can drive 80 yards and score a touchdown or kick a field goal or turn the ball over. “Those plays weren’t gift-wrapped. It was our defense flying around, getting great pressure on the quarterback”.

Tanner Mangum, QB, BYU – BYU can not win this game if Tanner Mangum doesn’t have a good game. Francis Bernard capped off a 12-play, 72-yard drive with a 10-yard touchdown carry to pull BYU within 35-14 with 10:02 left in the third quarter.

“New Mexico fell behind 42-24 midway through the third quarter on Jared Baker’s 4-yard touchdown run, his third of the game, but the Lobos were able to make it close”.

For New Mexico, quarterback Lamar Jordan rushed for three touchdowns, in addition to throwing a 92-yard touchdown pass to Delane Hart-Johnson to get away from his brother in the family battle. He thinks he can make any throw and who are we to tell him any different. The Utes raced out to a 35-0 lead, and then the Cougars rallied before falling 35-28.

Williams rushed for a game-high 91 yards on 25 carries for Utah, including 26 yards on five carries that produced two first downs on a game-clinching final drive that ran out the clock after BYU had scored 28 staraight points after falling behind 35-0 in the first 10 1/2 minutes.

BYU is losing it’s entire offensive staff, Guy Holliday excluded, and all but two defensive coaches (Steve Kaufusi, Paul Tidwell.) All three have expressed interest in remaining at BYU, and there’s a decent chance all three are retained by Sitake.

The Utah defense came up with a few stops, but let up on a big fourth down, allowing Mangum to find a receiver down the field for 44 yards. The Utes recovered and six plays later Joe Williams scored on a 1 yard run for the first touchdown of the game. And that streak says a lot about the direction both programs are going. This storied rivalry hasn’t been kind to Mendenhall in the past, as he’s just 3-6 in his career against the Utes.

While the Cougars went down fighting, the win marks the fifth straight time the Utes have beaten their in-state rival.