BYU defeated Utah 49-12 Friday night to retain the Wasatch Cup.

In a characteristically physical, unflinching game, the Cougars found more gaps in the outer channels and put the pressure on Utah to make every pass perfect. BYU struck early with some very quick ball movement to score near the corner - prop Ricky Tu'Ihalangingie doing the honors. But the Cougars took a while to add to the lead. A grubber through almost resulted in a try, but Utah wing Casey Raymond - who had an active game, raced in to save the day.

BYU then went down a man due to a yellow card - wing Josh Anderson guilty of a tip tackle - but Utah failed to capitalize. Instead BYU cut through - center Calvin Whiting burston into a Jred Whippy pass into a massive gap. BYU stole a lineout and center Zach Webber delayed his pass until the right moment and wing Kevin Schofield scored another try.

With Whiting hitting the conversion from the touchline, it was 21-0, and it stayed that way until the 33rd minute when fullback Ryan Blaser was sent up the middle as BYU flooded the open side. That made it 28-0 with time winding down in the first half. But Utah didn't back down and a well-taken lineout and maul was stopped just before the line, but then hooker Chad Gough powered over through two defenders. 

So two Scholz Award nominees scored in this game - Gough's made it 28-5 at halftime.

The game continued to be hotly contested, but Utah, despite some excellent chances, just had a harder time converting their chances. Repeated penalties by BYU - and there were a lot - helped the Utes, but their tap-and-go moves were rushed and not cohesive.

Luke Mocke zipped over for BYU's first try of the second half in the 52nd minute, following on some pick-and-goes and rushing through a gap in the first channel. Utah looked to have scored in the after 60 minutes, but Raymond's run ended with the ball being knocked out of his hand. The score remained 35-5 until the final ten minutes. Josh Anderson was put through for the 6th BYU try - once again converted by Whiting - and then finally Utah mauled the ball over for their second. Josh Webber converted nicely to make it 42-12.

But BYU had the final word, with a loose pass, Whiting booted ahead and raced in to score. He converted - ending a perfect 7-for-7 effort on conversions - to get 24 points on his own and finish it up 49-12.

It was an impressive performance by the BYU forwards, especially in continuity and in making the hits at or behind the gain line. Utah didn't back down at all, and put everything they had into the game, but they weren't as cohesive as BYU and the Cougars were just a little stronger. BYU's backs were superb, punishing turnover ball and running their set attack moves with equal precision.