Utah Utes football: Louie Louie — Sakoda kicks field goal to win it as time expires
A 37-yard field goal by Louie Sakoda as time expired lifted the 15th-ranked Utes to a 31-28 victory over Oregon State on Thursday night at Rice-Eccles Stadium. The kick capped a wild comeback from an eight-point deficit in the final 1:29 and upped Utah's record to 6-0.
In the process, the Utes also became the nation's first bowl-eligible team.
"I couldn't be more proud of a group of players and assistant coaches as I was tonight," said Utah coach Kyle Whittingham. "The resiliency and the ability to handle adversity was tremendous. Our backs were against the wall and we fought through it."
After tying the game and then forcing the Beavers to punt after three plays, Utah began its game-winning drive. The Utes moved into field-goal range with a 16-yard pass from Brian Johnson to Brent Casteel with 36.3 seconds remaining. Darrell Mack followed with a four-yard run to the Oregon State 20.
Utah then let the clock run down to just two seconds before calling a timeout. When play resumed, Sakoda knocked the game-winner between the uprights. He connected on a similar kick two years ago at Air Force. "When I got out there, the only thing going through my head was concentrating on making the kick," Sakoda said. "This was the biggest kick of my career, without a doubt."
Johnson, who vowed earlier in the week he was determined to avoid such miscues, fumbled just over one minute into the third quarter. He lost the ball after getting sacked by defensive end Slade Norris. Defensive tackle Pernnell Booth recovered it for Oregon State on the Utah 34.
Three plays later, the Beavers took a 21-20 lead on a 7-yard touchdown run by Jacquizz Rodgers.
It stayed that way until a wild exchange over a span of 49 seconds late in the fourth quarter.
Oregon State got things started with a sustained drive that covered 80 yards on 11 plays and took 6:35 off the clock. The Beavers converted on third-and-9 with a 41-yard pass from quarterback Lyle Moevao that gave them possession on the Utah 3. They cashed in with 2:18 to go on a 2-yard touchdown toss from Moevao to tight end Brady Camp.
After the PAT, Utah trailed 28-20. Four plays later, it was 28-26 after Johnson connected on a 25-yard touchdown pass to Bradon Godfrey.
"I knew all along that we'd get a shot to win it," Godfrey said. "We practice the two-minute drill every week in practice, so (Johnson) stepped up and made the plays that we make in practice."
The Utes then had two shots at a two-point conversion. A second opportunity materialized after a pass interference call on the Beavers. Johnson capitalized on the situation by rolling right and running into the end zone to even things up, setting up the dramatic finish.
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just a guy passing thru | Oct. 7, 2008 at 6:34 p.m.
This comment is way late, but I'm a little upset with criticisms…
Bogus penalties | Oct. 7, 2008 at 5:15 p.m.
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Re: Buster | Oct. 7, 2008 at 1:40 p.m.
