BYU has survived another test. The Cougars hosted Virginia Saturday and squeezed out an impressive victory, beating the visiting Cavaliers 41-33.
Virginia-BYU final score: 3 things we learned from the Cougars’ 41-33 win
BYU is still alive in the playoff hunt after another test.
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Virginia got off to a lightning-fast start, gaining strong field position on a 47-yard kick return from Darius Jennings and a defensive pass interference on the first play from scrimmage. Greyson Lambert ran for 37 yards on the next play, and Kevin Parks punched it in from one-yard out to give the Cavaliers the 7-0 lead.
BYU was able to tie the game at 10-10 in the middle of the second quarter, when Taysom Hill found Jordan Leslie for an eight-yard touchdown. Virginia took the lead on a field goal and were later driving into BYU territory, but a poor interception thrown by Greyson Lambert allowed the Cougars to tie it up with a field goal of their own. Ian Frye’s third field goal of the second quarter took the lead back for Virginia, sending the game to halftime at 16-13.
With nine minutes left in the third quarter, Taysom Hill made a big play completely on his own, as Taysom Hill is wont to do. The touchdown run gave the Cougars the 20-16 lead.
The two teams still had plenty of scoring left -- BYU scored 21 points (including a 50-yard TD pass from Hill) and Virginia scored 17, but the Cavaliers never got closer than eight points from then on.
Three things we learned
1. BYU playoff chances are still alive. We ranked this game tied for third-hardest on BYU’s remaining schedule, and passing the challenge in the way they did is quite promising for the rest of their season. An undefeated Cougars’ team could get a shot at the playoff, but they’ll likely need some help from the other contenders to get that chance.
2. Virginia should still be considered a Coastal contender. Virginia’s defense showed up again, but Taysom Hill made the plays he needed to win the game. The Cavaliers’ offense is still struggling, but the rest of the ACC Coastal is as well. Duke is likely the closest thing to a “strong” team in the division, and Virginia still stands undefeated in conference play.
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3. Taysom Hill is the non-AQ player to watch every week. Hill continues to make highlight-reel plays against any sort of competition, and has a legitimate claim to being the most exciting player in the nation. He completed 13 of 23 passes for 187 yards and two touchdowns and ran 16 times for 64 yards and a score. If he’s playing, we’re watching.
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