San Diego, CA – A late interception secured the BYU Cougars a victory over the Wyoming Cowboys 24-21 in a rainy Poinsettia Bowl Wednesday night.
Wyoming picked up one first down on their last possession 1:44 left on clock down by three points and a chance to tie or win the game.
Josh Allen on the next play threw late across the middle only to be intercepted by BYU defensive back Kia Nacua.
“right when I saw him break from the pocket I looked back towards the tight end and saw him start working my way and I almost overran the ball because I was so excited,” said Nacua ”
The wet conditions in the game caused problems for both teams with the ball bouncing around. The last bounce fell the cougars way.
BYU running back Jamaal Williams who was named the Offensive MVP punished the Wyoming defense for 210 yards and a touchdown.
Williams kept running hard all game, coach Kalani Sitake fed him the ball for 26 carries and it paid off.
“It brought back a bunch of memories from my freshman year,” said Williams “It felt like almost the same because I scored (touchdown) in both of them,”
These seniors for BYU won the Poinsettia Bowl as freshman in 2012 over San Diego State.
Even though BYU never trailed in the game the Wyoming comeback attempt definitely made the defense dig in their heels.
Allen who threw for 207 yards and his only two touchdowns came in the fourth quarter. That’s when the rain finally let up so balls were dryer but field was still wet.
Harvey Langi of BYU was named the Defense MVP with 16 tackles in the game. Langi fills in anywhere in the front seven to give the Cougars a spark.
‘It was so fun just being there,” Langi said “I get to play football and that’s what I love doing.”
The Poinsettia Bowl made a great start and finish for the BYU seniors and for the program going forward following coach Sitake.
