PROVO, UTAH -- The numbers in the victory column indicate LaVell Edwards
has pulled even with Tom Osborne. Yet the retiring BYU coach insists it's a gap
he'll never close.
Owen Pochman kicked two long field goals, getting a great bounce on the
first, to give Edwards career victory No. 255 as the Cougars beat Wyoming 19-7
on Thursday night.
Edwards improved to 255-100-3, tying Osborne for sixth place on the NCAA's
career list. Edwards is retiring after 29 seasons this year; Osborne retired
three years ago after 25 seasons at Nebraska.
"It took him 25 years and it's taken me about 100," Edwards said. "Tom's
a great guy and a very good friend. I don't know if anyone has done a better
job coaching in a 25-year period than he has."
The Cougars (4-5, 2-2 Mountain West) went ahead 9-7 late in the third
quarter when Pochman's wobbling line-drive attempt from 48 yards struck the
crossbar and bounced through the posts.
Pochman missed three second-half field goals during BYU's 16-15 loss to San
Diego State last weekend, but he celebrated on the field this time. The
normally stoic Edwards cracked a smile on the sideline.
"We play better when everybody contributes and I'm just glad I was able to
come through," Pochman said. "That first ball was ugly, no question, but I'll
take it because it put three points on the board."
The Cougars extended the lead to 16-7 on Marcus Whalen's 4-yard touchdown
run early in the fourth quarter and Pochman added a 42-yard field goal, this
time with plenty of height, with 4:15 to play.
Tyson Smith made his third interception, picking off reserve quarterback
Brandon Neill's pass, to end a late scoring threat by the Cowboys (1-8, 0-5),
who lost their sixth straight.
For a while, it seemed neither team wanted to win. It was a woeful second
quarter, with each punchless offense trading fumbles and interceptions. Over a
span of 1:38 late in the half, possession changed three times.
"We must have set a record tonight for turnovers, both teams," Edwards
said. "I don't have a clue how many we had."
Wyoming starter Jay Stoner threw three first-half interceptions, but the
Cougars seemed determined to give the Cowboys another chance.
It came with 1:29 before halftime, when Charlie Peterson threw a pass
straight to Wyoming's Jacque Finn at midfield. Stoner threw a 13-yard TD pass
to Malcolm Floyd with 49 seconds before the break.
Stoner left midway through the third quarter with an injured right ankle.
Although trainers taped it heavily and Stoner threw passes on the sideline, he
didn't return.
The Cougars, meanwhile, established the run and wore down the Cowboys.
"The offensive line did a great job in the second half," Peterson said.
"We controlled the game better, we stayed out of third-and-long and we put the
ball into the end zone."
The Cougars finally scored on Peterson's 5-yard TD run with 6:49 remaining
in the third quarter. The PAT effort failed on a botched snap, and when Pochman
tried to throw he was stripped by Wyoming's Jason Jones.
Although Pochman didn't appear to be stopped, officials blew their whistles.
The Wyoming coaches and players protested unsuccessfully on the sideline as
Jones jogged into the end zone.
"The second half was a microcosm of our season," Wyoming coach Vic
Koenning said. "When there's a break, it goes the wrong way.
"We take the ball away from their kicker. That's points for us. The ball
hits the crossbar, not on the top but square in the middle and bounces over.
Finally, our defense plays well and Stoner gets hurt."
