Watch: Two late TDs and a controversial last-second no-call lifts Utah over Baylor
The No. 12 Utah Utes used two late touchdowns in the fourth quarter and some help from the officials to escape Baylor with a 20-13 victory on Saturday.
Trailing for most of the contest, Utah tied the game at 13 when Nate Johnson scampered for a seven-yard score with 1:59 left. What transpired afterward will likely haunt Baylor and its fans for a while.
Three plays after the Utes knotted the score, Cole Bishop picked off Baylor quarterback Sawyer Robertson, who returned the interception to the Bears' 29-yard-line, setting Utah up for the game-winning tally.
Six plays into the drive, Jaylon Glover put the Utes ahead, scoring from 11 yards out. However, with 27 seconds left, Baylor's defense had decided to allow Glover to score, leading to a hilarious few seconds.
At first, Glover intelligently stayed out of the end zone as long as possible, tip-toeing along the goal line in an attempt to run out the clock. But his instincts got the better of him, and he slowly edged closer and closer to crossing into the end zone before Baylor's Mike Smith eventually pushed him in with 17 ticks left on the clock.
The heartbreak wasn't over for the Bears. Baylor had one last chance to salvage the victory and after Robertson miraculously connected Hal Presley for a 47-yard gain down to the Utah 22-yard line, it looked like they'd have a chance to do just that.
However, on the next play, wideout Ketron Jackson appeared to be interfered with heavily in the endzone by Utah DB Miles Battle, but officials kept flags in their pockets.
Despite the frustrating end, the Bears have no one to blame but themselves. They had a seven-point lead late, only to watch it disappear in less than 120 seconds. While many would expect Baylor to be upset over the late no-call, they took it on the chin — even Jackson, who had the biggest reason to complain.
Speaking with reporters after the game, Jackson took the blame for how the final play shook out.
"I've got to make a play on the ball there," Jackson said via Craig Smoak of 365 Sports. "I put that on myself."
Meanwhile, Utah is happy to improve to 2-0 after another character win. Remember, they're doing this all without starter Cam Rising and backup Blake Shapen. On Saturday, the duo of Nate Johnson and Bryson Barnes did the job, finishing a combined 12-of-26 for 153 yards.
The Utes will look to make it three wins in a row next week when they host Weber State at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
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