Utah athletic director Mark Harlan may just in finding himself known as into the commissioner’s administrative center this week.
Harlan blasted the officiating past due Saturday after the Utes misplaced to rival BYU, 22-21, on Utah’s house subject.
“This recreation was once completely stolen from us,” Harlan mentioned. “We have been interested by being within the Giant 12, however this night It’s not that i am. We gained this recreation. Any person else stole it from us. Very disillusioned.”
The Utes, acquainted with being within the combine atop the Pac-12 standings, are suffering of their first 12 months within the Giant 12 at 4-5 total, 1-5 within the convention.
Utah clung to a 21-19 led for lots of the fourth quarter after a BYU landing on the 12:35 mark of the overall body. And two times past due within the quarter, the Utes regarded as though they have been headed to the win.
Whilst Harlan did not specify a decision that riled him particularly, it most likely happened within the ultimate two mins.
With 1:56 left, BYU took ownership on its 9-yard line, and quarterback Jake Retzlaff fired 3 instantly incomplete passes. The Cougars known as a timeout, and at the resulting fourth-and-10 play, Retzlaff was once sacked for a loss that put the ball at the BYU 1-yard-line with about 90 seconds to move.
However a maintaining penalty known as on Utah cornerback Zemaiah Vaughn gave BYU new existence and the ball at its 19.
Retzlaff took merit, finishing passes of 30 yards and 12 yards, and working again Hinckley Ropati’s 14-yard run took the ball to the Utah 25 with 1:07 at the clock.
A false get started penalty on BYU despatched the ball again to the Utah 30, and the Cougars spent the following 3 performs positioning the ball and working down the clock to offer Will Ferrin a 44-yard field-goal strive. which he hit with simply 3 seconds left.
“I will be able to communicate to the commissioner. This was once now not truthful to our workforce,” Harlan mentioned. “I am disgusted via the professionalism of the officiating team this night.”
Utah trainer Kyle Whittingham was once offended with officers at the subject however let his boss deal with the officiating postgame.
“Could not get that ultimate forestall once we wanted it, sadly,” Whittingham mentioned. “That is more or less been the tale for a number of video games.”
BYU trainer Kalani Sitake mentioned refereeing comes with the territory.
“No matter determination the refs make, I don’t believe they are seeking to get it incorrect, in order that’s simply a part of the sport,” BYU trainer Kalani Sitake mentioned. “The refs are a part of the sport. We have been ready to capitalize on that.”
With the win, which got here earlier than the biggest crowd (54,383) ever at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake Town, No. 9 BYU moved to 9-0, 6-0 within the convention, to stick firmly within the combine for a Faculty Soccer Playoff berth.
The sport marked the primary time the in-state opponents have performed as convention warring parties since 2010 when the groups left the Mountain West Convention.
–Box Degree Media
