Jamaal Williams earned Offensive MVP honors rushing for 210 yards and a touchdown! (Photo by Duane Barker)
(San Diego)–BYU free safety Kai Nacua picked off Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen at the Cougars 10-yard line in the game’s final minute to secure a 24-21 victory for BYU in the San Diego County Poinsettia Bowl at Quallcomm Stadium on a rainy Wednesday night.
The interception was the second of the night for Allen and the sixth on the season for Nacua.
The turnover halted a furious fourth quarter rally by the Cowboys that saw them pull within a field goal of the Cougars after trailing 24-7 at the end of three.
Wyoming started the final quarter by constructing a 14-play drive that was capped off by Allen hooking up with Tanner Gentry for a 9-yard touchdown.
The Cowboys wasted no time on their next possession in finding the end zone, again, thanks to Allen’s arm. The redshirt sophomore found Gentry wide open to bring Wyoming within three points after the point after with a little more than three minutes left to play.
With 2:11 to play and having all of their timeouts, the Cowboys kicked off and quickly forced the Cougars into a three and out. On first down, from midfield, Allen hooked up with Brian Hill for a 19-yard completion. On the very next play, Allen rolled right and went downfield. There Nacua stopped the drive by jumping the pass to end Wyoming’s comeback.
With the win, BYU, 9-5, picked up its first bowl win since 2012 and the first for head coach Kalani Sitake. Wyoming finished the season, 8-6.
The games first touchdown came late in the first quarter after Cowboy punter Ethan Wood fumbled the snap inside of his five yard line. BYU took advantage of the short field and scored when quarterback Tanner Mangum was flushed out of the pocket and scrambled for the 3-yard run to paydirt.
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