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Show BYU's No. 1 Ranking a First By John Yardley Brigham Young University was officially named the number one team in college football Monday as all the major polls were at a consensus. In a very unusual turn of events, everything fell exactly into place for the Cougars to rise to the top notch in the ratings of college football teams across America. With last week's number one team, Nebraska falling to Oklahoma 17-7 and South Carolina, the only other undefeated team prior to last Saturday, getting blown out by Navy 38-21, the Cougars were able to glide on up to number one from number three after defeating a very tough Utah team in Salt Lake City 24-14. There was a great deal of speculation Sunday as CBS, CNN,, and ESPN all ranked the BYIT team at the top of the heap. Earlier in the week, Sports Illustrated had christened the Cougars number one. But until the UPI Coaches Poll and Associated Press Writers Poll were released, there was still some doubt as to whether or not the rest of the country could bring themselves to vote a team from the mountains, even from the unheralded Western Athletic Conference, to the top spot In the nation. But it is true for at least a week, the Cougars from Brigham Young are indeed, college football's elite team. The win over Utah was not easy. It was not very pretty either. The Utes were ready to play and jumped out to a 7-0 lead after picking off a Robbie Boscoe pass deep in the Cougar territory. That was the first of the interceptions of the day for the Utah defense who also picked up two fumbles for a total of five BYU turnovers. Boscoe came back, however to complete a TD pass to Adam Haysbert to tie the score at sevens. BYU went ahead for the first time just as the half ended on a field goal 10-7. That was set up by a blocked punt and a couple of brilliant catches by Glen Kozlowskl, the offensive player of the game. The Utes were hampered by the loss of star running back Eddie Johnson who was injured in the second quarter. He left the game, but not before finishing the year by rushing for over 1,000 yards, the first freshman ever to do so for the University of Utah and only the second in WAC history. The Cougars came back in the second half to score two touchdowns, one on a pass to Kelly Smith and the other to the "Koz". Quarterback Mark Stevens for the Utes, who had a great game himself, passed for the other Ute score and thus, the final 24-14. Utah could not have hoped for more breaks, in picking up five BYU turnovers, but just could not convert. Again, the talented BYU defense rose to the occasion. Time and again the defense, led by Kyle Morrell, Mark Allen and Jim Herrman, came up with the big play to stop the Utes in Rice Stadium. So it is on to the final game of the season for BYU as they host Utah State in Provo on Saturday to close out the regular season. The 1-9 Aggies do not figure to stop BYU, but you never know in college football these days and the Aggies have been tough on the Y during the past few years, itjwould be doubtful if the USU defensg could stop, the BYU passing attack for the entire game, however. |