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Sept. 2, 2000
By MATTHEW BARAKAT
Associated Press Writer
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) – Owen Pochman’s 27-yard field goal in overtimecapped a furious Brigham Young rally as Bret Engemann threw for 416 yards tolead the Cougars to a 38-35 victory.
The Cavaliers led 21-0 at halftime but the Cougars scored five second-halftouchdowns, including three TD runs by Brian McDonald.
Virginia failed to score on its overtime chance when Tyson Smith picked offDan Ellis‘ pass.
Brigham Young tied it at 35 with 50 seconds left on a 6-yard pass from BretEngemann to Margin Hooks. That play capped a 49-yard drive that began whenVirginia failed to convert a fourth-and-one play.
The Cavaliers then drove to the Cougars’ 31, but David Greene’s 48-yardfield-goal attempt with five seconds left missed wide left.
Virginia’s trio of Arlen Harris, Antwoine Womack and Tyree Foreman filled innicely for the departed Thomas Jones, each scoring a touchdown and combiningfor 159 yards on 21 first-half carries.
Just like last year’s game in Provo, Utah, Virginia took a 21-0 first-halflead. Unlike last year, when the Cavaliers held on for a 45-40 victory, theCougars finished the comeback.
Engemann threw for 215 yards in the third-quarter alone.
The Cavaliers opened the game with an eight-play, 80-yard drive capped byHarris’ 27-yard TD run. A 26-yard pass from Ellis to Billy McMullen onthird-and-8 kept the drive alive.
Virginia made it 14-0 on a 95-yard, second-quarter drive that included a42-yard bomb from Ellis to Demetrius Dotson. Womack finished the drive with a4-yard TD run.
Foreman became the third Virginia running back to score on a 5-yard dashwith 7:44 remaining in the second quarter.
Brigham Young moved the ball into Virginia territory several times in thefirst half, but mistakes stopped the Cougars each time. Receiver Mike Rigellfumbled at the 16 after being hit by safety Jerton Evans, and four sacks in thefirst half knocked the Cougars out of field-goal range on two drives.
The Cougars didn’t score until their opening drive of the second half. Theythen scored touchdowns on their first two drives of the second half – both80-yard drives, both ending on TD runs by Brian McDonald.
Engemann twice threw interceptions in his own territory, and the Cavaliersfollowed both picks with touchdowns.
Engemann struck back immediately after his second interception, connectingwith Jonathan Pittman on a 70-yard pass on the final play of the third quarter.
Before the game, Virginia dedicated its newly renovated Scott Stadium, whichadded 16,500 seats to increase capacity to 61,500. Attendance was 60,435, thelargest crowd ever to watch a college game in Virginia.