For 57 minutes of Thursday night’s game, Utah quarterback Brian Johnson struggled to find any sort of rhythm.
For three minutes, time stood still.
Johnson finished the night 17-for-30 with 201 yards and committed two turnovers in the game, each of which led to Oregon State touchdowns. Johnson’s only interception on the night and sixth of the year was returned 26 yards by Beaver safety Al Afalava for a touchdown, giving the Beavers an early 9-3 lead to start the second quarter.
It was Johnson who fumbled the ball to start the third quarter, giving the Beavers prime field position. The Beavers capitalized on Johnson’s mistake, taking over on Utah’s 34 yard line. The drive ended with a 7-yard touchdown run by OSU’s Jacquizz Rodgers, resulting in a 21-20 lead for the Beavers.
It wasn’t until OSU tacked on another touchdown, bringing its lead to eight with just over two minutes to play that Johnson took over the game, leading the Utes to victory.
“Brian Johnson really came through for us during the final two drives,” head coach Kyle Whittingham said.
Down eight with two minutes and 11 seconds to play, Johnson went 4-for-4, spanning 60 yards and culminating with a 25-yard touchdown pass to Bradon Godfrey. Down two, Whittingham was forced to go for the two-point conversion. Johnson again shinned as he rolled out to his right and scampered across the goal line8212;tying it 28-28 with 1:29 left in the game.
Johnson’s work was not done yet. After an inspired showing of the Utah defense, who forced Oregon State into a 3-and-out, running only 23 seconds off the clock, it was time for the Ute quarterback to go back to work.
“We practice our two-minute drill very often in practice,” Johnson said. “Tonight it showed.”
With 1:06 left on the clock and the ball at Utah’s own 45 yard line, the third-largest crowd in Rice-Eccles history8212;45,5998212;turned to Johnson to lead the Utes to victory. Johnson suddenly seemed like a new quarterback, making reads and being smart with the football.
Johnson was nearly flawless on his final two drives, completing all but one of his passes on his way to not only tying the game for the Utes, but setting up Louie Sakoda for his 37-yard game winning field goal with time expiring.
“Those final two drives just showed the toughness of our football team,” Johnson said. We really battled the whole game and it paid off in that two minute drill. This was the biggest win that we’ve had since I’ve been here.”
The game could have just as easily been one of the biggest losses since Johnson has been here at the U if it weren’t for his late-game heroics. For the majority of the game, the Beavers defense got the best of Johnson, seemingly reading the quarterback’s thoughts, forcing him into sloppy play as well as two turnovers.
“This team worked entirely too hard,” said Johnson. “I couldn’t have it on my heart that the reason we would have lost this football game was because I turned the ball over. I had my mind made up I was going to bring us back.”
The capacity crowd at Rice-Eccles Stadium collectively saw its dream of another perfect season flash before its eyes. Johnson made up a game of mediocrity with three minutes of brilliance.
Anna KartashovaBrian Johnson rallied in the fourth quarter to pass for a TD and score the Two point conversion.