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LARAMIE, Wyoming (Ticker) -- Brigham Young is known for its offense. But its defense may have saved any hopes of a BCS berth. After forcing a crucial turnover, the Cougars watched Luke Staley score on an eight-yard run with 2:08 remaining as the ninth-ranked Cougars remained unbeaten with a wild 41-34 victory over Wyoming. The victory clinched a share of the Mountain West Conference title for the Cougars (10-0, 6-0 MWC), who along with Miami and Nebraska are the only remaining unbeatens in Division I-A. BYU could clinch the title at home next week with a win over Utah. But the Cougars' latest win did not come easily as they found themselves locked in a dogfight with Wyoming, which is winless within the conference. Boasting the nation's highest scoring offense at over 50 points per game, the Cougars once again were stellar on that side of the ball, rolling up over 500 total yards. But it was their defense that came through when it mattered most. With the game tied, 34-34, cornerback O'Neil Howell intercepted Casey Bramlet, giving the Cougars possession at the Wyoming 34 with 4:21 remaining. Six plays later, Staley went around left end, scoring his fourth touchdown of the game to give BYU a 41-34 lead. Staley, who rushed for 171 yards, also had TD runs of three, one and four yards. The Cowboys (2-7, 0-6) attempted to rally in the waning moments, driving inside the BYU 10 with under 30 seconds left. After a holding penalty on first down, Bramlet completed a pass inside the 7 before throwing consecutive incompletions, sealing the victory for the Cougars. BYU still needs plenty of help to secure a BCS berth as it entered Saturday just 13th in those rankings due to a weak schedule. The Cougars held a 515-476 edge in total yards. BYU had 24 first downs, one more than the Cowboys. Bramlet, who had a big game, lifted the Cowboys into a 34-34 tie, when he scored on a keeper from one yard on fourth down with 9:28 remaining. He went 24-of-52 for 358 yards with one touchdown and one interception and added 52 yards on the ground on 16 attempts. Scottie Vines was Bramlet's favorite target, catching six passes for 157 yards, including a 37-yard TD reception late in the second quarter that tied the contest at 20-20. Staley, who came into the contest with 22 touchdowns this season, scored on a one-yard run 4:34 into the third quarter to give the Cougars a 27-20 lead. Staley carried 31 times and added three catches for 26 yards. Kit Bradshaw scored on a one-yard run midway through the third quarter to pull Wyoming back even before Staley scored on a four-yard run with 1:30 left in the period. BYU could not have hoped for a better start, taking a 10-0 lead less that seven minutes into the contest on Matt Payne's 40-yard field goal and a three-yard run by Staley After the Cowboys answered with 10 straight points, Brandon Doman put BYU back in front with a 16-yard touchdown pass to Reno Mahe that made it 17-10 with 11:21 left in the first half. Doman completed 23-of-38 passes for 268 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Payne kicked a 27-yard field goal to extend the lead before Jarvis Wallum converted from 37 yards and Bramlet hit Vines with a 37-yard scoring strike with 41 seconds left in the half to tie it.
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