BYU Knocks Off No. 6 Wisconsin
Sep 15, 2018, 11:03 PM | Updated: 11:22 pm
Brigham Young Cougars head coach Kalani Sitake and the BYU sideline explode with excitement after a half back pass goes for a touchdown during the Wisconsin versus BYU football game at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, WI in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018. Steve Griffin, Deseret News
MADISON, Wisc. – The BYU Cougars got the best win of the Kalani Sitake era yet with a 24-21 victory over the No. 6-ranked Wisconsin Badgers.
It was pure jubilation for the Cougars as they became the first non-conference opponent to topple the Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium since 2003.
Back And Forth Action
Wisconsin took the initial lead with the first score of the game on a two-yard rush by Taiwan Deal. The Cougars tied the game on the next possession on a three-yard rush by Squally Candada to make it 7-apiece.
BYU took the lead at 14-7 on a trick play that saw Tanner Mangum hit Aleva Hifo with a lateral pass who then found an open Moroni Laulu-Pututau 31 yards down field for the touchdown.
TRICK PLAY TOUCHDOWN FOR THE COUGARS!!!!! @BYUfootball #BYUvsWIS #BYUfootball pic.twitter.com/J40cH85V0J
— SCOTT WARNER (@ScottWarner18) September 15, 2018
Wisconsin, however would respond with a TD of their own on a fullback dive by Alec Ingold to tie the game up at 14-all before the halftime break.
After forcing an interception on the Badgers’ first drive of the second half, BYU drove down the field and capped off the drive with a goal line dive by Canada to retake the lead at 21-14.
The Badgers tied the game up at the beginning of the fourth quarter on a five-yard rush by Taiwan Deal, his second of the game. Skyler Southam put the Cougars up again with a 45-yard field goal at the ten minute mark of the fourth quarter. After exchanging possessions, Wisconsin took over the ball with a little less than four minutes remaining. They marched downfield to the BYU 24-yard line and missed a 42-yard field goal to blow a chance to take the game to overtime.
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Wisconsin missed field goal SEALS IT for BYU. Cougars upset No. 6 Badgers, 24-21.
Kalani Plays Mindgames
On his decision to take two timeouts to ice Wisconsin kicker Rafael Gaglinone, BYU head coach Kalani Sitake admitted it was a matter of getting in the Badgers’ head.
“I wanted to use them to get our defense some rest and make them think that I was going to use the other one,” he said postgame.
“I don’t know if that was the key,” he admitted. “Our guys worked hard and I believe in our guys and I’m proud of how hard they fought in this game.”
¯\_(ツ)_/¯ pic.twitter.com/sFR7J7mmB0
— BYU Football (@BYUfootball) September 15, 2018
By The Numbers
Mangum was so-so in the win, completing 12-of-22 pass for 89 yards. Canada rushed for a total of 118 yards on 11 carries with a long of 46 yards to go along with the pair of touchdowns.
Wisconsin’s Heisman-hopeful running back Jonathan Taylor rushed for 117 yards on 26 and was held without a touchdown.
Coming Up
Next up for the Cougars will be McNeese State next Saturday at 4 p.m. at LaVell Edwards Stadium.
