Utah Senior QBs Have Struggled In Rivalry Games Against BYU

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Quarterbacks in Utah football history have not had great success against BYU since 1980 in the rivalry game as a senior.

Utah senior QB’s lost the first six times that they have started in the rivalry since 1980.

To date, the seniors are 4-9 against BYU in the big in-state matchup.

Obviously, every situation is different in the rivalry as the 2019 Utah football team has a lot of talent surrounding Tyler Huntley as he enters his senior campaign for the Utes.

Here is the results of those quarterbacks and how they performed in their final game against BYU.

1980 – Ricky Hardin

It wasn’t the greatest outing for Ricky Hardin, who threw for 258 yards and 2 interceptions in Utah’s 56-6 loss to BYU at Rice Stadium. The Utes finished with a 6-4-1 record that season. BYU QB Jim McMahon had 399 yards passing and 3 touchdowns as a junior in the rivalry game.

1982 – Kenny Vierra

The Judge Memorial High School graduate threw for 155 yards and 1 interception as the Utes lost to BYU 17-12 in Salt Lake City. The Utes had to try to stop BYU quarterback Steve Young, who threw for 254 yards and 2 touchdowns in the win.

1984 – Mark Stevens

Stevens played his second season with the Utes after transferring from Eastern Utah. He struggled against BYU by completing just 10 of his 21 pass attempts for 134 yards and one touchdown. The Utes lost to BYU 24-14, led by Robbie Boscoe, who threw for 367 yards and 3 touchdowns. Running back Lakei Heimuli ran for 117 yards for the Cougars.

1986 – Larry Egger

The El-Camino College transfer had 304 yards and 3 touchdowns, but that wasn’t enough as BYU won the game, 35-21 at Rice Stadium. Three players for BYU rushed over 100 yards in Lakei Hemuli, Bruce Hansen and Robert Parker. The Utes won just two games in 1986.

1991 – Mike Richmond

The Reedley, California native couldn’t get past BYU legend Ty Detmer and the Cougars after throwing for 184 yards, 2 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. Utah lost to BYU 48-17 at Cougar Stadium. Detmer threw for 378 yards and 5 touchdowns. Despite the bad loss, Utah finished with a 7-5 record.

1992 – Frank Dolce

Dolce was a El-Camino College transfer from Culver City, California. He threw the ball 56 times in Utah’s 31-22 loss to BYU at Rice Stadium. Dolce had 347 yards and two touchdowns, while running in another touchdown. Utah finished with a 6-6 record after losing to Washington State in the Copper Bowl.

1994 – Mike McCoy

McCoy led the Utes to a fourth quarter comeback win over the Cougars, 34-31 in Salt Lake City. He threw for 247 yards and 4 touchdowns, including the game-winning touchdown to Charlie Brown from 20 yards. The Utes posted a 10-2 record after beating Arizona in the Freedom Bowl.

1996 – Mike Fouts

After leading the Utes to a 34-17 win as a junior in 1995, Mike Fouts couldn’t get past the Cougars in 1996, losing 37-17 at Rice Stadium. He recorded 179 passing yards and one touchdown, while BYU quarterback Steve Sarkisian only attempted 12 passes, but the Cougars made up for it by rushing for 366 yards and 4 touchdowns.

2000 – Darnell Arceneaux

The senior from Hawaii had a 2-1 record against Utah’s rivals heading into 2000, but the Utes lost 34-24 at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Arceneaux threw for 115 yards and 1 touchdown in the loss. The Utes picked up just four wins in 2000.

2006 – Brett Ratliff

The Butte College transfer threw for 358 yards and 3 touchdowns in the “Beck to Harline” game as BYU quarterback John Beck found tight end Jonny Harline wide open in the end zone on the last play of the game to give the Cougars a 33-31 win over Utah at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Utah won eight games in 2006 after being Tulsa in the Armed Forces Bowl.

2008 – Brian Johnson

Johnson was fantastic in 2008 as Utah beat BYU 48-24 in Salt Lake City. He completed 30-of-36 passes for 303 yards and 4 touchdowns. BYU QB Max Hall threw five interceptions in the loss. The Utes went undefeated for the second time and beat Alabama in the Sugar Bowl.

2012 – Jon Hays

The Butte College transfer started against BYU after Jordan Wynn suffered an injury. Hays threw for 196 yards and 2 touchdowns in the Utes 24-21 win in Salt Lake City. Utah finished with a 5-7 record in 2012.

2015 – Travis Wilson

Wilson and the Utes had a phenomenal start to the Las Vegas Bowl against the Cougars with all 35 points coming in the first quarter and held BYU scoreless. But, Utah didn’t score again as BYU fell short of the big comeback, losing to the Utes 35-28. Wilson finished with 71 passing yards and 23 rushing yards for one touchdown.