Author: utahman

I’d thought about going down to that city down South to see the game in person. But I threw my back out and have been in extreme pain since Thursday.

So I watched the game on TV while laying on the floor drugged up on muscle relaxers. The first thing I had to do was turn off the TV volume and put the audio from Hot Ticket 700 on so I could hear MY Ute announcers. I wasn’t really liking the TV announcers.

What a perfect first half for the Utes. 24-3!! I bet the zoobie fans were in shock. The zoo team threatened the end zone once but that was really as close as they got in the first half.

Ratliff was awesome and very poised for a guy playing his first major college football game in an insane road environment. He busted out on some big runs for huge gains. Some of his runs were at crucial times like 3rd down and long. He was much more mobile than I thought he’d be. What I also liked was his ability to make a quick decision. As talented as Johson is, he hung around in the pocket way to long (especially last week). Ratliff made his reads and either threw or ran at the correct time. He even got rid of the ball well, rather than taking sacks.

Ganther had an outstanding game, and especially first half with 115 yards. That 115 put him over 1000 for the season. He’s only the 8th Ute to ever do that. Ganther had a huge hit on a byu player in the secondary. He broke through the line and absolutely plowed the byu guy. The byu player was seriously knocked out and stumbled off the field with the help of the trainers.

The 2nd half was a real fight and scratch kind of half. As expected the zoo made a major run. But we answered fairly well. It came down to our defense holding and byu having to settle for a field goal with about 2 minutes left to tie. They made it.

We had about 1:45 to try and go the length of the field and make a field goal to win. The best we could muster in regulation was a 52 yard attempt with time running out, but alas, it was blocked.

Overtime!

34-34 and we win the overtime coin toss. On our 2nd overtime play Ratliff fires a strike on a post pattern and we record a TD! What an awesome play! The zoo gets the ball and is unable to make a first down. Ballgame.

The byu/Utah game is usually a nail-biter (except last year). This one will go down in history as one of the best for sure. There’s nothing sweeter than breaking the hearts of the byu players and fans by beating their team at home in overtime, and celebrating the victory on their field.

Well done Utes.

Looks like we are going to have a “quarterback controversy” for 2006.

Here’s a blog post from a friend of mine who lives in Philly who is also the biggest of Ute fans. He gives a good description of why Ute fans my age hate byu with a passion.

http://alanlnelson.typepad.com/seat_1a/2005/11/holy_war.html