Nose tackle Mike Atkinson returned a second-half interception 36 yards for a touchdown and No. 24 Boise State survived a fourth-quarter rally to beat BYU, 7-6, on Thursday night in a game dominated by defense in Boise, Idaho.
Boise State (2-1) forced five turnovers and held the Cougars (2-2) to 200 total yards. The Cougars were held scoreless until the final minutes when backup freshman quarterback Taysom Hill scored on a 4-yard run.
But with 3 minutes, 37 seconds remaining, BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall elected to go for two points and the Cougars’ first victory over Boise State. But Hill’s pass on the attempt was deflected by a defender and fell incomplete in the end zone.
The Broncos, helped by a long kick return, ran out the clock to notch their third consecutive win over the Cougars. Boise State’s offense wasn’t much better, managing 261 yards.
COACH’S MONEY WOES
Arkansas coach John L. Smith is trying to wipe away $25.7 million in debt in bankruptcy court and hang on to $1.2 million in retirement accounts and some personal property.
Smith has a meeting with a long list of creditors at U.S. Bankruptcy court in Fayetteville, Ark., on Oct. 12, the day before the Razorbacks host Kentucky.
Smith was coaching Louisville when he began investing in real estate, which he has said was profitable until land values took a nosedive. Smith filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on Sept. 6, and court papers filed Wednesday detail the depth of his financial losses.
As of the filing, Smith had received $115,000 from his 10-month, $850,000 contract with Arkansas, plus $35,643 from his alma mater, Weber State, which he left before coaching a game to return to Fayetteville after Bobby Petrino’s firing. He also picked up $9,810 from Nike and $1,057 from a football camp, according to the court documents.
Smith has two retirement accounts, each worth about $600,000, which his filing lists as exempt from liquidation, along with household furnishings.
The filing lists 26 unsecured creditors, with the largest debt — $20 million — claimed by Terra Springs LLC of Louisville. Other debts include $2 million to Republic Bank and $902,000 to King Southern Bank, both in Louisville. He also owes about $10,000 to American Express.
Smith revealed his financial problems during the summer, saying he anticipated a bankruptcy filing and that he didn’t want it to distract the team or embarrass the university.
EXTRA POINTS
Doctors have cleared star Arkansas senior quarterback Tyler Wilson to return to action Saturday against Rutgers after he missed a game with what he called a concussion. … Minnesota freshman wide receiver Andre McDonald was hospitalized after a school spokesman said he “had a little problem” with his heart. … Nebraska coach Bo Pelini said sophomore defensive tackle Chase Rome returned to the team and will be available to play Saturday against Idaho State. Rome left the team last week after starting the first two games. … McNeese State free safety Malcolm Bronson, an FCS All-American, will miss the remainder of the season after injuring his knee against Weber State last weekend. … Junior running back James Sims, the top returning rusher for Kansas, can return to action after being suspended three games after getting arrested on suspicion of drunken driving in April.
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