Washington 31, BYU 16
SAN FRANCISCO -- Washington quarterback Keith Price and Huskies running back Bishop Sankey both sat out the fourth quarter with apparent injuries, but Washington still held on for a 31-16 victory over Brigham Young in the Fight Hunger Bowl at AT&T Park on Friday night.
Washington's defense shut out BYU (8-5) in the second half, helping the Huskies to finish the season with a 9-4 record.
A 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Washington's John Ross III in the first half also aided the Huskies' cause.
Sankey, who ranked third nationally in rushing entering the game, ran for 95 yards and two touchdowns. The reason for his absence in the fourth quarter was unknown, although he was seen taping his hand.
Price completed 17-of-22 passes for 123 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He left the field early in the fourth quarter to be X-rayed for a rib injury, according to a Washington radio sideline reporter. Cyler Miles replaced Price, who returned to the sideline but did not get back into the game.
BYU quarterback Taysom Hill rushed for 133 yards on 31 carries and passed for 293 yards on 25-of-48 attempts. BYU outgained Washington 473-319, but BYU failed to score a point in the second half.
Cougars wide receiver Cody Hoffman had 12 receptions for 167 yards. He had to leave the game in the final minute of the second quarter after taking a hard hit while attempting a pass. But he returned in the second half.
The Huskies increased a 21-16 halftime lead to 28-16 on Price's 16-yard touchdown pass to tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins on Washington's first possession of the third quarter.
An interception by BYU's Robertson Daniel led to nothing as Cougars kicker Justin Sorensen missed a 44-yard field goal attempt.
Washington kicker Travis Coons added a 45-yard field goal to make it 31-16 with 7:53 left in the game.
BYU outgained Washington 297-145 in the first half, but two long kickoff returns helped the Huskies take a 21-16 lead at intermission.
Washington scored on its first possession as Sankey's 11-yard touchdown run ended a 12-play, 71-yard drive that made it 7-0.
The Huskies had an opportunity to increase their lead when BYU punter Scott Arellano mishandled the snap and was tackled at the BYU 22-yard line. But on Washington's fourth-and-2 play from the BYU 3-yard line, Sankey was tackled for 9-yard loss by linebacker Kyle Van Noy.
From that point, BYU marched 88 yards in 12 plays for tying score. Hill carried the final yard for the touchdown that made it 7-7.
Washington regained the lead seconds later when Ross returned the ensuing kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown that put the Huskies ahead 14-7.
A 45-yard field goal by BYU's Justin Sorensen reduced the Huskies' lead to 14-10, and Sorensen then made it 14-13 by kicking a 31-yard field goal with 3:46 remaining in the half.
Jesse Callier's 47-yard kickoff return set up Sankey's 11-yard touchdown run that gave Washington a 21-13 lead with 2:36 remaining in the first half.
Sorensen kicked a 32-yard field goal on the final play of the second quarter to cut the Huskies' lead to 21-16.
NOTES: This was the final Fight Hunger Bowl at AT&T Park in San Francisco. Next year's game will be played in Santa Clara at Levi's Stadium, which is under construction and will be home to the San Francisco 49ers. ... Marques Tuiasosopo was Washington's interim head coach for Friday's game. Chris Petersen is set to take over as the Huskies' head coach. ... Two women, Sarah Thomas and Maia Chaka, were members of the officiating crew for Friday's game. It's the first time in FBS bowl history that two female officials worked a game. ... BYU had won bowl games each of the past four seasons entering Friday's game. ...Washington had lost its last two bowl games in 2012 and 2011. ... Friday was probably Justin Wilcox's final game as Washington's defensive coordinator. According to multiple reports, he agreed to become USC's defensive coordinator under Steve Sarkisian, the former head coach at Washington.
