BYU Survives Arkansas State Scare
BYU Survives Arkansas State Scare
Arkansas State pushed BYU in a tough D1A playoff game.
BYU survived something of a scare by Arkansas State to move on to the quarterfinals of the D1A playoffs, but it wasn't easy.
In what was the closest game of the Round of 16, the Cougars trailed as late as 64 minutes, and the game was within a try until the final minute. A last-minute try from prop Michael Payne finalized the score at 34-23.
Producing their most physical and unflinching performance of the season, Arkansas State led early thanks to a try from wing Sam Ross. That 5-0 advantage held until midway through the first half, when BYU's outstanding openside flanker Tosh Wilcox scored on an old-fashioned back row peel move off the back of the scrum. Wilcox argued that his team deserved a penalty try for a high tackle as he went over, and he had a point, but the try out wide remained and it was 5-5.
Some concerted pressure from ASU led to flanker Tabo Maree squirming his way over for a 10-5 Red Wolves lead. Moments later, center Zach Young broke through and exposed BYU before offloading to Maree, who put on a few moves himself and went in under the posts. Brock Roper converted and Arkansas State led 17-5.
BYU straightened some things out before halftime and from a tap penalty, freshman No. 8 Bryce Tenney drove over. And just before the break Tua Laei raced onto a flat pass and crunched through the ASU defenders to get over the line. It was a big four minutes for BYU, as the Cougars went into halftime down 17-15, rather than 17-5.
The teams battled on and a Roper penalty at 53 minutes made it 20-15 for the Red Wolves. Scrumhalf Chase Matua's try tied it up, and Calvin Whiting's conversion put BYU ahead 22-20. But Roper's second penalty put Arkansas State up 23-22 with 20 minutes to go.
BYU WINS!! Onto the next round!! 34-23 BYU #BYURugby! pic.twitter.com/CV84dG1Z9t
— BYU Rugby (@byurugby) April 15, 2018
The Cougars camped out in the ASU 22, and finally lock Jonathan Layne took a lineout throw, wasn't held, and just surged through to score from five meters out. Whiting converted for the 29-23 BYU lead, and the game sat at a knife edge for the rest of the game.
ASU threw everything it could at BYU. A brilliant defensive play from BYU's Justin Weaver saved a possible try; ASU had another chance stopped by having the ball held up. The Red Wolves had some penalties they might have opted to kick, but down six points, went for the try, and BYU held them out.
Finally, as BYU tried to run out the clock and work the phases into Arkansas State territory, Payne picked up and dove over to seal it.
For Arkansas State, it was almost a grand upset, and a performance the Red Wolves might be able to build on for the future. Meanwhile, BYU moves on and will host a quarterfinal against Penn State.
BYU 34
Tries: Wilcox, Tenney, Laei, Matua, Layne, Payne
Convs: Whiting 2
Arkansas State 23
Tries: Ross, Maree 2
Convs: Roper
Pens: Roper 2
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