PROVO, Utah — Freshman linebacker Kyle Van Noy batted down a fourth-down pass with 16 seconds left to cap one last stand by a dominant BYU defense and preserve a 25-20 win Saturday over Wyoming.
The Cowboy offense marched 61 yards on the game’s final drive, but the Cougar defense held firm at its 25. Van Noy’s deflection at the line of scrimmage followed pass breakups by teammates Shane Hunter, Andrew Rich and Brandon Bradley.
Bryan Kariya ran for 88 yards and a touchdown, JJ Di Luigi rushed for 83 yards and a touchdown and Joshua Quezada added 63 more on the ground for BYU.
The Cougar defense held Wyoming to three positive-yardage plays in the first half. The Cowboys lost yardage on nine first-half plays and went into the locker room with minus-18 yards of total offense.
BYU built a 16-0 lead on the safety and short touchdown runs by Di Luigi and Kariya, but the Cowboys turned two late Cougars turnovers into scores to cut the lead to 16-10.
Wyoming’s Keith Lewis stepped in front of a Jake Heaps pass in the flat and returned it 55 yards for a touchdown. The Cowboys lost yardage after a BYU fumble but still got a 44-yard field goal from Ian Watts.
Heaps completed just 10 passes, six of them to Luke Ashworth, including a 12-yard touchdown pass that gave BYU a 25-13 lead.
San Diego State vs. New Mexico
ALBUQUERQUE — Late game.
