Sakoda, already one of Utah's most celebrated athletes, added to his local legend Thursday by kicking a game-winning field goal to give the Utes (6-0) a 31-28 win over Oregon State (2-3) in front of 45,599 at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

Sakoda, who had kicked field goals of 33 and 28 yards earlier in the game, lined up with two seconds on the clock and the wind to his back and nailed a 37-yarder to complete an improbable Utah comeback.

The senior kicker was immediately swarmed by his team and then by numerous football fans who poured out onto the field to celebrate one of Utah's most dramatic comebacks in recent years.

It was Sakoda's second game-winning field goal of his career. The first was at Air Force in 2006 when he kicked a 37-yarder to give the Utes a 17-14 win.

"I think it was the exact same hash and yardage as the Air Force and I went out there said, 'Oh, I got this,' " Sakoda said. "It wasn't the cleanest hit ball, but it went in."

That victory was nice, coming against a conference opponent and all, but there was so much more at stake Thursday with Utah trying to become a BCS buster. A representative from the Fiesta Bowl was on hand to watch Thursday's game and the game was nationally televised, giving voters a chance to see what this team was all about this season.

What they all saw was an inconsistent offense become pinpoint perfect when it mattered most, a beaten defense rise up and make stops and a little guy known around campus as King Louie make what could be the clutch play of the season.

"You could see the sense of urgency in our play and in our execution," said quarterback Brian Johnson of the improved play in the final minutes. He finished 17-for-30 for 201 yards and two touchdowns.

Oregon State entered the game hoping to add another impressive win to its season after upsetting USC a week ago. In the end, the Beavers were the ones who left impressed.

"I thought we had it at the end, but it turned out we didn't," Oregon State coach Mike Riley said. "[Utah] is an outstanding program."

Sakoda was mobbed by teammates and fans at the end of the game, but he wouldn't have had a chance to make the kick if it hadn't been for some last-minute heroics by his teammates.

First it was the offense and quarterback Brian Johnson. Johnson struggled earlier in the game, throwing one interception that was returned for a touchdown and fumbling on another possession that led to an Oregon State touchdown to go along with a handful of off-the-mark passes.

But he was perfect when he needed to be, leading the Utes on a four-play, 60-yard scoring drive that ended with a 25-yard touchdown pass to Bradon Godfrey making it a 28-26 game.

"When I saw people leaving, I said they were about to miss a show," Johnson said. "There was no way we were going to lose this game."

His only incomplete pass in the Utah possession came next, and it didn't even count in the end, as Johnson threw a pass intended for David Reed that landed behind him. A pass interference call on Oregon State gave the Utes another try, and Johnson ran into the right side of the end zone to even the game at 28-28 with 1:29 remaining.

Then it was on the defense to come up with something magical. It seemed doubtful that could happen given the Beavers' drive minutes before when they drove 80 yards in 6:35 and scored on a two-yard touchdown pass from Lyle Moevao to tight end Brady Camp, giving the Beavers a 28-20 lead with 2:11 remaining.

But the defense came through, denying Oregon State a first down and forcing it to punt. Luckily for the Utes, Johnny Hekker's punt went only 31 yards to Utah's 45-yard line, setting up the final dramatics.

lwodraska@sltrib.com