East Carolina Pirates Keaton Mitchell (2) shakes off a sort out from BYU’s Talan Alfrey (25) as he runs the ball for a landing throughout an NCAA faculty soccer recreation Friday, Oct. 28, 2022, in Provo, Utah. Ben B. Braun, Deseret Information
After Friday evening, Provo is Heartbreak Metropolis for lots extra than simply those that endure from relationship woes.
BYU had its dropping streak prolonged to 4 in excruciating vogue because the Cougars fell 27-24 to East Carolina when Pirates freshman Andrew Conrad hit a 33-yard area objective as time expired.
Listed below are three takeaways from the loss that dropped BYU to 4-5:
Fourth-down failures strike BYU once more, within the worst methods
Three fourth-down performs within the fourth quarter went in opposition to BYU and have been vital within the loss.
First, the offensive woes.
BYU had a virtually eight-minute drive finish with no factors two performs into the ultimate quarter when Miles Davis was stuffed for no achieve on a fourth-and-2 on the East Carolina 12.
On the time, the rating was 24-24 and each groups have been buying and selling rating for rating.
Later within the quarter, after East Carolina missed a go-ahead area objective, BYU once more confronted a fourth-and-1 at its personal 44, however Jaren Corridor was stuffed for no achieve.
What made it worse was that Corridor appeared to choose up a primary down on third down two snaps earlier than, but it surely was negated by a Cougar holding penalty.
These two offensive mishaps have been ill-timed for a crew that’s reeling, and finally the Pirates made them pay.
#BYU is now 5 for 20 on 4th down conversions on the season… and a pair of for his or her final 17.#BYUSN
— Spencer Linton (@Spencer_Linton) October 29, 2022
The final fourth-down fail for BYU was probably the most heartbreaking.
East Carolina turns into bowl eligible with the walk-off win‼️ pic.twitter.com/AKEQUWb6Gv
— ESPN School Soccer (@ESPNCFB) October 29, 2022
After getting the ball again with simply over two minutes to play, East Carolina confronted a fourth-and-8 on the BYU 37 with below a minute to go.
The Pirates elected to go for the win.
ECU quarterback Holton Ahlers went deep with a go, and whereas it was incomplete, BYU cornerback Kaleb Hayes was flagged for go interference.
That arrange Conrad’s game-winner, which got here after East Carolina wound down the clock and lined up an try in the course of the sphere.
BYU’s ploy to manage time of possession didn’t repay
A number of occasions this season, BYU opponents have performed preserve away whereas controlling time of possession with lengthy drives.
The Cougars tried to reverse that development Friday evening and had the ball for almost eight minutes greater than the Pirates.
BYU dedicated to establishing the run and ran for 244 yards, led by Lopini Katoa’s 116 yards on the bottom.
Nonetheless, BYU’s run recreation broke down at key moments — like these fourth-down misses within the fourth — and the Cougars’ passing recreation — Jaren Corridor threw for 144 yards — was by no means a constant menace.
East Carolina, like so many groups earlier than them in October, additionally made large play after large play in opposition to a struggling BYU protection and matched the Cougars rating for rating all through the sport.
The Pirates had chunk performs of 31, 51, 35, 26 and 21 on their first 4 scoring drives, together with a 31-yard landing run from Keaton Mitchell, who ran for 176 yards and averaged 8.4 yards per carry.
Whereas BYU confirmed maybe a little bit of enchancment over its earlier three losses — the Cougars made their very own fourth-down cease within the fourth quarter deep in BYU territory — they nonetheless gave up 424 yards.
In the long run, it was East Carolina making the vital performs in key moments extra usually that BYU.
Are BYU’s bowl hopes on life assist?
With the loss, the Cougars are 4-5 and went 0-4 in October.
If BYU goes to make the postseason, they’ll must win a minimum of one recreation on the street.
Up subsequent is a recreation at Boise State every week from Saturday. The Broncos are 5-2 after some early struggles.
Probably the most winnable recreation is in opposition to FCS opponent Utah Tech after a bye week in BYU’s house finale.
The ultimate regular-season recreation for BYU is at Stanford.
Whereas the Cardinal is 3-4, they've gained two straight, together with at Notre Dame, a crew that beat BYU earlier this month.
In a season the place BYU began 4-1 and was ranked within the Prime 15, the chance of staying house throughout bowl season is an actual risk.