This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Provo • Different Mitch, same result.
And same crazy, improbable victory for BYU.
Final score: BYU 35, Boise State 24.
A week after the Cougars'Mitch Mathews caught a 42-yard Hail Mary to beat Nebraska, BYU's Mitchell Juergens did roughly the same thing to beat Boise State on Saturday night, catching a desperation heave from Tanner Mangum in the end zone.
Juergens capped a spectacular game with a 35-yard touchdown catch with 45 seconds remaining on fourth-and-7 to lift the Cougars to a 28-24 lead. Kai Nacua's 50-yard interception return for a touchdown capped the scoring with 30 seconds remaining.
"Our receivers continue to make critical plays when they need to and have to," said BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall.
Juergens, who was put on scholarship the week before the season opener at Nebraska, finished with a career-high 172 receiving yards on four catches.
"Honestly, I can't find the words to describe how this feels," Juergens said. "We have an unbelievable team."
Unbelievably lucky, some might say.
But the Cougars aren't about to give Saturday's win or the 33-28 win over Nebraska back.
"A great win for our team," Mendenhall said.
Full of big plays made by Juergens and Mangum.
The Cougars finished with 381 yards, and 231 of them came on four plays — an 84-yard touchdown throw from Mangum to Juergens on the game's third play, a 42-yard pass to Juergens, a 70-yard pass to Devon Blackmon and the go-ahead play in the final minute.
"He was stretched out, all 5-foot-7 of him, or whatever he is," said Mendenhall of the touchdown reception by the Texan listed at 5-10, 182 pounds.
Mangum finished completing 17 of 28 passes for 309 yards and two touchdowns, with two interceptions, in his first college start.
Blackmon also had his best game as a Cougar, catching six passes for 105 yards. His 70-yard catch broke the Cougars from their offensive lethargy and set up a 21-yard touchdown run by Adam Hine.
Twitter: @drewjay