Devon Dampier just etched his name into NCAA history, dropping a performance that no other player in the league has ever pulled off. On a massive Saturday night, facing No. 9 BYU in the Holy War, the Utah quarterback became the first player in NCAA history to rack up at least 150 passing yards, 25 receiving yards, two passing touchdowns, AND two rushing touchdowns in a single game. His heroics led No. 3 Utah to a hard-fought 28-20 victory over their bitter rivals, securing their undefeated 9-0 record and setting them squarely on course for a College Football Playoff bye.
The Holy War Lived Up to the Hype, Then Utah’s Defense Took Over
This wasn’t just any Holy War, folks. For the first time ever, both the Utes and the Cougars rolled into this rivalry game ranked inside the Top 10. The stakes were astronomical, and Utah came out firing. Dampier immediately made his presence felt, capping their opening drive with a 22-yard rushing touchdown. Just minutes later, he connected with wide receiver Braden Pegan for a 46-yard bomb, pushing the Utes out to a swift 14-0 lead. But BYU wasn’t going down without a fight. Their offense started to wake up, chipping away with a couple of field goals after some clever trick plays. Then, quarterback Bear Bachmeier hit Legend Glasker for a massive 75-yard touchdown, cutting Utah’s lead to a terrifying 14-13. Incredibly, despite that early 14-point hole, the Cougars actually clawed their way into the lead before halftime, with running back LJ Martin punching in a four-yard score. The end of that first half was pure chaos: BYU’s Nusi Taumoepeau recovered a fumble, only for Utah’s James Chenault to snag an interception from Bachmeier in the red zone. No points came from that wild sequence, but it set the stage for a tense second half with BYU clinging to a 20-14 lead.
BYU’s Second-Half Collapse and Dampier’s Dominance
Whatever adjustments Utah made at halftime, they worked. The third quarter was an absolute disaster for BYU. Bachmeier threw an interception on their opening drive and failed to pick up a single first down throughout the entire quarter. Yeah, you read that right: *zero* first downs. While Utah kicker Dillon Curtis missed a 29-yard field goal attempt, the Utes’ defense held strong, forcing a three-and-out. That’s when Dampier and Pegan decided enough was enough, hooking up again for a 14-yard touchdown reception to wrestle the lead back. Not long after, Dampier took it himself on a three-yard keeper, marking his fourth touchdown of the day,two through the air, two on the ground. That pushed Utah’s lead to 28-20, and the air just went out of BYU. Bachmeier then threw a crushing interception on third-and-goal from Utah’s 2-yard line, a brutal turn of events that essentially sealed their fate. Utah took over, ate the clock with Dampier and Wayshawn Parker alternating carries, and weathered a final, desperate BYU drive that ended with Bachmeier’s fourth interception of the night, secured by Utah safety Nate Richie in the end zone.
This win means everything for the Utes. They’re sitting pretty at 9-0, undefeated, and look absolutely destined for a bye in the College Football Playoff. As for BYU, this second conference loss means they’ve officially lost control of their own destiny for the Big 12 Championship. They’ll need to win out and hope Texas Tech and Houston both drop at least one game. The Utes’ next game will be against their next challenger as they continue their march toward the playoff. You can bet everyone will be watching to see if Dampier can keep up this historic pace.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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