Robert Parker opened the game with an exhilarating 94-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. And the Cougars scored on the last play of the game, too, with a pass from Bob Jensen to Bruce Hansen.
But in between the first and last plays of the game was the worst defeat for a LaVell Edwards team in 12 years.
The Huskies scored on each of their next nine possessions. Cougar quarterbacks were sacked 10 times and BYU yielded four turnovers. Everything seemed to run perfect for the seventh-ranked Huskies, while 8,896 fans back home in the Marriott Center were suffering through a closed circuit telecast.
BYU quarterback Steve Lindsley was replaced in the second half so as not to loose confidence, but reserve QB Mike Young suffered a spinal contusion after tossing a TD pass and was replaced by Jensen.
Hours before the game, BYU players were notified starting center Brian Rodoni would be sidelined due to a possible brain tumor.
BYU dropped out of the wire service rankings for the first time since pre-season 1984. BYU now 2-1 overall and still 1-0 in the WAC.
Source:1987 BYU media guide
