Dec 19, 2015; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Utah Utes defensive back Tevin Carter (9) holds the most valuable player trophy at the Las Vegas Bowl against the Brigham Young Cougars at Sam Boyd Stadium. Utah defeated BYU 35-28. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
LAS VEGAS — Tevin Carter intercepted two passes, including one he returned 28 yards for a touchdown, and Joe Williams rushed for two touchdowns as 22nd-ranked Utah held off Brigham Young 35-28 in the Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl on Saturday afternoon at Sam Boyd Stadium.
Williams rushed for a game-high 91 yards on 25 carries for Utah, including 26 yards on five carries that produced two first downs on a game-clinching final drive that ran out the clock after BYU had scored 28 staraight points after falling behind 35-0 in the first 10 1/2 minutes.
Tanner Mangum completed 25 of 56 passes for 315 yards and two touchdowns but also was intercepted three times, including two that were returned for scores, as the Cougars lost despite finishing with huge edges in yards (386-197) and first downs (21-14).
The Utes had 69 yards in total offense and 5 yards rushing in the first quarter but forced five turnovers in the first 10 minutes, including interception returns of 28 yards by Carter and 46 yards by Dominique Hatfield for touchdowns, to build the 35-0 lead.
Arizona 45, New Mexico 37
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Scooby Wright, who missed most of the year with injuries, returned to the lineup and led Arizona over New Mexico in the New Mexico Bowl.
Wright finished with 15 tackles (11 solo) and two sacks and had the biggest defensive play of the game late in the fourth quarter. The Lobos, trailing 42-37, were driving deep into Wildcats territory with a chance to go ahead. After a misplay on a pitch attempt left New Mexico facing a fourth-and-12, Wright sacked Austin Apodaca to give Arizona the ball on the 38.
The Wildcats then methodically drove down the field, killing the clock. Casey Skowrown kicked a 37-yard field goal for an eight-point advantage with 1:32 left.
Apodaca had pulled the Lobos within 42-37 with a 4-yard touchdown run, his first of the season, just 1:08 into the fourth quarter after trailing 35-17 early in the third quarter.
