1976 BYU Cougars football team

1976 BYU Cougars football
WAC co-champion
Conference	Western Athletic
1976 record	9–3 (6–1 WAC)
Head coach	LaVell Edwards
Offensive coordinator	Doug Scovil
Defensive coordinator	Dick Felt
Home stadium	Cougar Stadium
Seasons ← 1975 1977 →

1976 WAC football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
BYU +	6	–	1	–	0			9	–	3	–	0
Wyoming +	6	–	1	–	0			8	–	4	–	0
Arizona State	4	–	3	–	0			4	–	7	–	0
Utah	3	–	3	–	0			3	–	8	–	0
Arizona	3	–	4	–	0			5	–	6	–	0
New Mexico	3	–	4	–	0			4	–	7	–	0
Colorado State	2	–	4	–	0			6	–	5	–	0
UTEP	0	–	7	–	0			1	–	11	–	0
+ – Conference co-champions Rankings from AP Poll

1 2 3 4 Total Colorado State 0 8 7 3 18 • BYU 7 15 3 17 42 Date: September 18 Location: Cougar Stadium, Provo, UT Game attendance: 33,013

Scoring summary 1 BYU Jeff Nilsson 9-yard pass from Gifford Nielsen (Taylor kick) BYU 7-0 2 CSU Davis 5-yard run (Graham run) Colorado St 8-7 2 BYU John VanDerWouden 35-yard pass from Gifford Nielsen (Gifford Nielsen to Chronister pass) BYU 15-8 2 BYU John VanDerWouden 26-yard pass from Gifford Nielsen (Taylor kick) BYU 22-8 3 CSU Harris 1-yard run (Drake kick) BYU 22-15 3 BYU Taylor 38-yard field goal BYU 25-15 4 CSU Drake 42-yard field goal BYU 25-18 4 BYU John VanDerWouden 13-yard pass from Gifford Nielsen (Taylor kick) BYU 32-18 4 BYU Taylor 21-yard field goal BYU 35-18 4 BYU John VanDerWouden 12-yard pass from Terry McEwen (Taylor kick) BYU 42-18

Scoring summary
1		BYU	Jeff Nilsson 9-yard pass from Gifford Nielsen (Taylor kick)	BYU 7-0
2		CSU	Davis 5-yard run (Graham run)	Colorado St 8-7
2		BYU	John VanDerWouden 35-yard pass from Gifford Nielsen (Gifford Nielsen to Chronister pass)	BYU 15-8
2		BYU	John VanDerWouden 26-yard pass from Gifford Nielsen (Taylor kick)	BYU 22-8
3		CSU	Harris 1-yard run (Drake kick)	BYU 22-15
3		BYU	Taylor 38-yard field goal	BYU 25-15
4		CSU	Drake 42-yard field goal	BYU 25-18
4		BYU	John VanDerWouden 13-yard pass from Gifford Nielsen (Taylor kick)	BYU 32-18
4		BYU	Taylor 21-yard field goal	BYU 35-18
4		BYU	John VanDerWouden 12-yard pass from Terry McEwen (Taylor kick)	BYU 42-18

1 2 3 4 Total • BYU 13 3 0 7 23 Arizona 3 7 3 3 16 Date: September 25 Location: Arizona Stadium

Scoring summary Q1 BYU Taylor 36 yard field goal BYU 3–0 Q1 BYU Taylor 38 yard field goal BYU 6–0 Q1 ARIZ Pistor 52 yard field goal BYU 6–3 Q1 BYU Billick 20 yard pass from Nielsen (Taylor kick) BYU 13–3 Q2 ARIZ Nash 31 yard pass from Krohn (Pistor kick) BYU 13–10 Q2 BYU Taylor 39 yard field goal BYU 16–10 Q3 ARIZ Pistor 20 yard field goal BYU 16–13 Q4 ARIZ Pistor 39 yard field goal Tie 16–16 Q4 BYU Harris 43 yard pass from Nielsen (Taylor kick) BYU 23–16

Scoring summary
Q1		BYU	Taylor 36 yard field goal	BYU 3–0
Q1		BYU	Taylor 38 yard field goal	BYU 6–0
Q1		ARIZ	Pistor 52 yard field goal	BYU 6–3
Q1		BYU	Billick 20 yard pass from Nielsen (Taylor kick)	BYU 13–3
Q2		ARIZ	Nash 31 yard pass from Krohn (Pistor kick)	BYU 13–10
Q2		BYU	Taylor 39 yard field goal	BYU 16–10
Q3		ARIZ	Pistor 20 yard field goal	BYU 16–13
Q4		ARIZ	Pistor 39 yard field goal	Tie 16–16
Q4		BYU	Harris 43 yard pass from Nielsen (Taylor kick)	BYU 23–16

1 2 3 4 Total Arizona St 21 0 0 0 21 • BYU 17 7 16 3 43 Date: October 30 Location: Cougar Stadium • Provo, Utah

Scoring summary 1 BYU VanDerWouden 3-yard run (Taylor kick) BYU 7-0 1 ASU Mucker 80-yard pass from Sproul (Kush kick) Tie 7-7 1 BYU Taylor 21-yard field goal BYU 10-7 1 ASU Mucker 43-yard pass from Sproul (Kush kick) Arizona St 14-10 1 BYU Harris 35-yard pass from Nielsen (Taylor kick) BYU 17-14 1 ASU Sproul 1-yard run (Kush kick) Arizona St 21-17 2 BYU Lowry 2-yard run (Taylor kick) BYU 24-21 3 BYU Chronister 81-yard pass from Nielsen (Taylor kick) BYU 31-21 3 BYU Taylor 40-yard field goal BYU 34-21 3 BYU Christensen 2-yard run (pass failed) BYU 40-21 4 BYU Taylor 44-yard field goal BYU 43-21

Scoring summary
1		BYU	VanDerWouden 3-yard run (Taylor kick)	BYU 7-0
1		ASU	Mucker 80-yard pass from Sproul (Kush kick)	Tie 7-7
1		BYU	Taylor 21-yard field goal	BYU 10-7
1		ASU	Mucker 43-yard pass from Sproul (Kush kick)	Arizona St 14-10
1		BYU	Harris 35-yard pass from Nielsen (Taylor kick)	BYU 17-14
1		ASU	Sproul 1-yard run (Kush kick)	Arizona St 21-17
2		BYU	Lowry 2-yard run (Taylor kick)	BYU 24-21
3		BYU	Chronister 81-yard pass from Nielsen (Taylor kick)	BYU 31-21
3		BYU	Taylor 40-yard field goal	BYU 34-21
3		BYU	Christensen 2-yard run (pass failed)	BYU 40-21
4		BYU	Taylor 44-yard field goal	BYU 43-21

The 1976 BYU Cougars football team represented Brigham Young University during the 1976 NCAA Division I football season.

Gifford Nielsen completed 13 of 32 passes for 174 yards before leaving late in the final quarter while John VanDerWouden set a single-game conference record with four touchdown receptions. LaVell Edwards beat Colorado State for the first time since taking over BYU in 1972.

...
Wikipedia