Note: BYU football beat writer and sports editor Jared Lloyd will be at Marlins Park for all of the excitement of the Miami Beach Bowl football game between the BYU Cougars and Memphis Tigers. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram at @JaredrLloyd for all the updates.
End of 2nd OT
BYU wasn't able to hold the Tigers' offense who came out and scored a quick touchdown.
BYU then took control on offense, and Christian Stewart threw an interception to end the game.
End of first OT
BYU started on offense and thought they had the touchdown with a pass to Jordan Leslie, but officials called the pass incomplete, setting up a 45-yard field goal, which was good for Sampson.
On the Tiger's first offensive play in overtime, they fumbled the ball, taking them to a 2nd and 19. On 2nd down, they were tackled for a loss to lose an additional 3 yards. On 3rd and 22, the Tigers threw an incomplete pass, setting up the 55-yard field goal attempt.
Jake Elliot, Memphis' kicker made the 54-yard field goal to tie the game, sending the game to a second overtime.
End of Regulation
BYU looked to have the game in hand leading by seven with just more than a minute left in the game and Memphis on a 4th and 7. But the Tigers were able to convert with a long pass to gain the first down to the BYU 12-yard-line.
BYU couldn't get the stop as Memphis scored on a five-yard pass to tie the game at 45 with 45 seconds to play.
The final play of regulation was a deep pass to Jordan Leslie, who was double covered, but the ball was dropped, sending the game to overtime.
End of third
Things went all Memphis's way in the third quarter as the Tigers scored on their first possession, got an interception, then later drove for another TD to go up 10 heading to the final period.
The Cougars got very little offense in the third and have to get on track somehow or once again they will be on the short end of the scoreboard in a bowl game.
Half
The BYU football team surrendered a TD early in the second quarter and appeared to be in trouble -- but some gambles paid big dividends.
The Cougars went for it twice on fourth down on an offensive drive midway through the quarter and successfully converted both times -- including a gorgeous 23-yard TD pass from Christian Stewart to Jordan Leslie on fourth-and-3.
That and an interception by BYU senior Alani Fua that he nearly took to the house -- but set up another Cougar score -- swung the momentum back in favor of BYU.
The Cougars have a narrow edge now but have to turn around and be ready for whatever Memphis changes up at halftime.
End of first
It was an entertaining -- and at times disheartening -- opening quarter here for BYU.
The Cougars started the quarter with a fumble and ended it with an interception.
In between, BYU put together a couple of nice scoring drives and forced a fumble of its own -- but couldn't bring in a couple of interception opportunities and missed a wide-open receiver running down the field on what could've been a big play.
Both teams have had their ups and downs but Memphis has managed to do a little more with its opportunities so far.
The Cougars face a big series after the pick to start the second quarter.
Kickoff
It's 86 degrees with 63 percent humidity here in Miami at game time. It will be interesting to see if either team gets worn down.
GameDay
For a large group of excellent BYU football players and really good young men, this is it.
It's almost humorous to hear Cougar seniors like Christian Stewart, Jordan Leslie, Skye PoVey and others go through the same series of questions during the final weeks of the season:
- What is it like knowing this is your last home game?
- What is it like knowing this is your last regular season game?
- And now, what is it like knowing this is your last game?
But there are no more tomorrows for these seniors as football players for BYU and so this game certainly means something extra.
"This is my last collegiate game and that's really important because you bust your b**t all your life to play football and this could be the last time I play football," Leslie said Saturday. "It starts to kind of hit you deep."
When you consider the overall time commitment that these guys have made to this game, it's not surprising that they feel the impact so heavily at this point.
"As a little kid, all you want to do is play in college and after that, all you want to do is go to the NFL." Leslie said. "When you are going through the years, it feels like it is going slow -- but once you get to the end, you realize it flew by. You look back and think about all the memories you've had."
There are still the dreams of playing at the next level but there is also a reality.
Most BYU players are blue-collar guys, not the flashy, high-profile athletes that have pro scouts drooling. They come to work, work hard, and have success because of what they do together.
"It's been a long road," PoVey said. "I've been through multiple injuries. I came in as a walk-on and no one ever thought I would really play. I've put a lot into it, put my heart and soul into this program. It will be fun and it will be emotional. I don't want it to end but you have to hang it up at some point."
PoVey said when he looks at the other seniors, he knows what they have been through and can be proud of everything they've accomplished.
"Coach (Bronco) Mendenhall prides himself in having a program where it isn't to make it through," PoVey said. "We train hard, we run hard, we practice hard. So at the end, it's very fulfilling."
I've been lucky enough to get to know a number of these guys over the years and I have confidence that, wherever life takes them, they will have the drive and discipline to be successful.
But first, it is time for these seniors to play one more game, one more chance to go out and have fun playing football.
Source: http://www.heraldextra.com/sports/college/byu/blogs/jared-lloyd/byu-football-gameday-cougar-seniors-ready-to-go-out-with/article_54bb6939-4f0b-5e3a-bc79-c8088c9bae6d.html
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