Rushing the football field is typically saved for special occasions. Count snatching a victory from the jaws of defeat to preserve a chance at a Bowl Championship Series Bowl one of those moments.
Kicker Louie Sakoda’s 37-yard field goal with two seconds left gave Utah a victory that seemed improbable just two minutes before. A sea of red promptly poured out of the MUSS and onto the field, something that hasn’t happened at Rice-Eccles Stadium since 2004 when Utah beat BYU 52-21 to earn a berth to the Fiesta Bowl.
“I’ve never seen anything like that,” said Josh Voland, a freshman in material and engineering sciences. “I’m from New Hampshire, so that was just crazy.”
There was no plan to rush the field, but when Sakoda’s field goal split the uprights, natural excitement took over.
“It just happened,” Voland said. “I just saw people going down the isles, so I just followed them.”
Once the U student body reached Sakoda near midfield, he was thrust onto the shoulders of everyone could carry him. Various chants of “Louie, Louie” and “King Louie” followed.
“When I got out there, the only thing going through my head was concentrating on making the kick,” Sakoda said.
With 2:18 left to play, Oregon State scored what looked to be a heart-breaking touchdown to push its lead to eight points. Fans all over the stadium could be seen ditching their seats for an opportunity to beat the post-game traffic. The 45,599 who stayed were rewarded for their loyalty.
“Once Oregon State scored, it was hard,” said Chad Hansen, a senior in biology. “But we never gave up and we won.”
Hansen and his buddies held a large sign, one part a simple D, the other a cardboard cutout of a white picket fence. While Oregon State’s late score was a bit disheartening, the trio never completely gave up faith.
“We’ve watched a lot of college football,” said Carl Strain, a junior in communication. “We know better to think it’s over until it’s over. We’re a good team against good teams.”
It was the first time on the turf at Rice-Eccles Stadium for many students and U fans. Some could be seen bending over and pulling at the artificial turf. Others sprinted back to a group of friends with a story about how he or she had just touched the jersey of a U football player. One woman even sprinted back screaming, “I touched Louie!”
Amid the droves of U fans and red painted bodies were the U football players who seemed just as excited and dazed as the student body.
Reserve tight end Jacob Bentrude could barely describe what had just happened.
“It was awesome,” he said. “It was just making great plays.”
Defensive back R.J. Rice was as jubilant as his fellow classmates. When asked to describe the last two minutes and quarterback Brian Johnson’s last-minute resurgence, his first reaction was a huge laugh.
“That was crazy,” Rice said. “It was awesome man, it was awesome man. (Johnson) showed who Brian Johnson is. He didn’t play a great first half, but he showed everybody who he is. He’s the man. Louie is the man. I’m proud of everybody.”
The whirlwind finish left many players overwhelmed by dozens of high fives and hugs from people they had never met, but who shared the same excitement. For the first time, members of the MUSS stood side by side with the players to sing “Utah Man” before continuing the impromptu party. Most players had to jockey their way through hundreds of fans before getting to the locker room. Before everyone could get in, chants of “Louie, Louie” could also be heard deep within the Utah tunnel.
It’s not often that so many fans get to celebrate arm-in-arm with their football team. It’s also not often that a team turns an eight-point deficit into a three-point victory all within the time it takes to get through a sitcom commercial break. And for once, players and fans were on the same level. It was obvious to the players and the fans of the third-largest home crowd in Utah history that something special had just happened, and all anyone could do was smile and find the next person to high-five.
“The fans came out, and they showed that this is a tough place to play today,” Johnson said.
Tyler CobbLouie Sakoda celebrates his last second field goal to give the Utes a win.