Nov. 07, 2015
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SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) - A late fourth quarter charge by San José State Spartans' quarterback Kenny Potter was cut short on a missed two-point conversion as the Brigham Young University Cougars hold on for a 17-16 win at Spartan Stadium.
Rolling out to the right side on fourth and one, Potter found some open field and took off for a 34 yard run to keep the Spartans (4-5, 3-2 MWC) last drive alive in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter. After two BYU (7-2) penalties totaling 29 yards, Potter found the pylon on a 6 yard run up the left side for the score.
Trailing 17-16, the Spartans opted to go for the two-point conversion to take the lead with 45 seconds left in the game. Potter handed the ball off to running back Tyler Ervin on a sweep to the right side, who was unable to complete a pass to tight end Billy Freeman to take the lead.
Potter completed 18 of 25 passes for 147 yards and one rushing touchdown to finish the game. The BYU defense sacked Potter three times. Freeman was the Spartans leading receiver, catching six passes for 67 yards. On the ground, Tyler Ervin rushed for 80 yards on 23 carries.
San José State kicker Austin Lopez put the first points on the scoreboard with a 31 yard field goal at the 10:07 mark in the opening quarter to give the Spartans a 3-0 lead.
Answering back on their first possession, the Cougars drove the ball 75 yards down the field on 10 plays to score on a four yard touchdown pass from quarterback Tanner Mangum to wide receiver Mitch Mathews. Mangum's touchdown gave BYU a 7-3 lead.
Running back Algernon Brown extended the Cougars score, 14-3, on a five yard touchdown rush up the right side with a dive into the end zone early in the second.
Giving the Spartans a boost just before halftime, cornerback Cleveland Wallace, III intercepted Mangum for a 61 yard touchdown return. San José State cut into BYU lead to trail 14-10 at the half.
San José State missed the opportunity to pull within one point of BYU when Lopez's 46 yard field goal attempt at 5:33 in the third quarter bounced of the left upright. Lopez was one-for-two in field goal attempts.
Kicker Trevor Samson gave the Cougars a one touchdown lead after making a 31 yard field goal. BYU faced a second and 30 on the drive after being called for two offensive holding penalties. Mangum connected with wide receiver Devon Blackmon for a 24 yard completion to put the Cougars into field goal range.
Mangum collected 293 yards in the air for BYU, completing 23 of 37 passes for one touchdown and an interception in the second quarter. Blackmon had six catches for 102 yard to lead the Cougars.
The Cougars had 329 total yards of offense as the Spartans collected 269 total yards.