A penalty kick helps the Cougars defeat the Utes at Rice-Eccles Stadium

The game was over.

As BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff lay on his back on the wrong goal line, a record-breaking crowd swarmed Rice-Eccles Stadium, convinced the Utes had scored the final goal for an upset rivalry victory.

At least that's what they thought.

A fourth penalty on Utah cornerback Zemaiah Vaughn gave the Cougars a new string of losses, new life and, ultimately, the beginning of an improbable victory.

Over the next 1:31, Retzlaff led BYU down the field and into field goal range, where kicker Will Ferrin drilled a 44-yarder, giving the Cougars a 22-21 victory.

Utah athletic director Mark Harlan issued a sharp rebuke to the referee after the game.

“I have been a sports director for 12 years. This game was absolutely stolen from us,” he said. “We were excited to be in the Big 12, but tonight I’m not. We won this game. Someone else stole it from us. I am very disappointed. I'll speak to the commissioner. That's not fair to our team. I am disgusted by the professionalism of the officiating crew tonight.”

BYU now sits alone at the top of the Big 12 standings at 9-0 and has a clear path to the conference title game.

The Utes (4-5, 1-5) have now lost five straight games and two consecutive meetings with their rival.

“An unfortunate way to lose a ballgame,” Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham said. “I’m proud of our boys, proud of our players. They fought. They should hold their heads up high. It’s not up to them, it’s not up to them.”

Asked about the controversial decision at the end of the game, Whittingham said: “I don’t want to go into it again. They are what they are. It's a ridiculous situation. I won’t get involved.”

In sophomore quarterback Brandon Rose's first career start, Utah appeared to be in control for most of the game. Led by Rose's two passing touchdowns and a big score from senior tight end Brant Kuithe, the Utes had a 21-10 lead at halftime.

BYU's only touchdown in the first half came on a 96-yard kickoff return by Keelan Marion.

The Cougars hit a 33-yard field goal in the third quarter, shrinking the Utes' lead to a 21-13 margin.

Retzlaff began the fourth period with a quarterback sneak and a score, but was intercepted on a two-point conversion, keeping the Utes' lead at two points.

The score was still 21-19 when Retzlaff took the lead with 9 minutes to play with 1:56 to play.

Over the next four snaps, Utah's defense huddled and the Cougars' QB threw three incompletions. On fourth down, the Utes wrapped him up and took him to the ground.

But the Cougars' drive was extended by the penalty.

Two plays later, Retzlaff found Chase Roberts on a 30-yard shot to midfield.

A 12-yard catch by Darius Lassiter and a 14-yard run by Hinkley Ropati put the Cougars within field goal range.

“We played Lights Out [defensively]“We just can’t make that last stop,” Whittingham said.

BYU finished the game with 339 yards of offense to Utah's 259.

Rose finished 12-of-21 in his first start with two touchdowns and an interception. Retzlaff had 219 passing yards and a rushing score.

Bernard led Utah with 82 rushing yards. LJ Martin had 72 of 11 runs for BYU.