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Sept. 25, 1999
PROVO, Utah (AP) – Thomas Jones ran for 210 yards and scored two touchdowns while Dan Ellis threw for 168 yards and three TDs as Virginia beat No. 17 Brigham Young 45-40 on Saturday night.
The Cougars reached the 10-yard line on their final scoring threat but freshman defensive back Jerton Evans sealed it for the Cavaliers (3-1) when he intercepted Kevin Feterik’s pass in the end zone with 1:37 to play.
The Cougars, without injured linebacker and Butkus Award candidate Rob Morris, looked helpless against Jones, a 5-foot-10, 207-pound running back whom Virginia coach George Welch called one of the nation’s best.
Jones was too slippery for BYU defenders and he ran through gaping holes created by the Virginia line. Often working in bursts of 8 or 10 yards, Jones had 148 yards and two TDs by halftime.
The Cavaliers were traveling west of the Mississippi River for the 11th time in their 111-year football history, and BYU lured them into a shootout characteristic of the wide-open games often played in Provo.
The Cougars, nipping at Virginia’s heels all through the second half, seemed poised to pull out one of their classic come-from-behind victories.
With 3:15 to play, Virginia’s Jermaine’s Lauzon made an interception that would have ended it. Feterik, under pressure, lofted a pass in the direction of Michael Westbrook.
Lauzon came down with the ball in the end zone, but he was called for holding. That gave BYU a first down at the Cavaliers’ 22 near the 3-minute mark. But the Cougars set themselves back with a holding penalty and Feterik threw incomplete twice before Evans made his second interception.
Viriginia opened a 21-0 lead after the first quarter, with Ellis throwing scoring passes of 15 yards to Anthony Southern and 25 yards to Kevin Coffey. Jones added a 23-yard TD run.
Feterik, who came into the game leading the nation in passing at 392.5 yards per game, started slow. He completed 2-of-8 for nine yards with two interceptions in the first quarter.
But the Cougars gained steam as Feterik found his rhythm. The Cougars pulled within 28-12 after scoring runs of 2 and 41 yards by freshman Luke Staley. Then BYU took advantage of Ellis’ only mistake.
Ellis was throwing to Demetrius Dotson when Brian Gray, who missed practice all week with a strained groin, stepped in front of the pass and returned it 28 yards for a touchdown. Owen Pochman’s kick pulled BYU within 28-19.
But Virginia wouldn’t let it stay so close. The Cavaliers took advantage of a questionable call to extend their halftime lead to 35-19 on the second play from scrimmage in the third quarter.
Feterik threw down the line and the ball went off Jonathan Pittman’s hands for an apparent incompletion. But officials ruled it a lateral and Virginia’s Tim Spruill scooped the ball and ran 20 yards for a touchdown.