SAN DIEGO -- With the score 41-39 and 2:34 remaining on the game clock, Ty was looking to tie the Holiday Bowl.

Brigham Young (10-3) had just driven 60 yards on nine plays, using less than three minutes, and scored a touchdown. Now, if quarterback Ty Detmer and the Cougars could convert the two-point attempt, BYU would be in position to possibly earn a come-from-behind victory.

Throughout the game, Penn State's defense had held the Cougars inside the 20-yard line, but this extra-point seemed almost too easy.

Detmer stepped under center and looked over the defense. He took the ball, rolled left and threw toward the end zone.

"We knew we were going to have to hit it quick and it was kind of an option for (tight end) Chris Smith," Detmer explained. "As soon as he made his cut I threw it, but it was a little bit inside and their backer made a good play . . . it seemed like they kind of set up for that play."

Detmer thought he had fooled Penn State's Andre Collins with a quick look to the middle of the field. Collins, a senior from Cinnaminson, N.J., did not buy the fake and intercepted the second pass of his career.

"I knew we had to come up with something big," Collins said. "We're an opportunistic team and sooner or later someone will come up with a big play."

Coach Joe Paterno had spoken with the defensive unit several times during the game. Despite BYU's offensive success, he wanted his players to remain upbeat about what the Penn State (8-3-1) defense was doing.

"I kept telling them, 'Keep your poise, keep your poise,' " Paterno said. "I wanted them to know something could happen. We'd get a turnover or something, and things would work out."

Collins pulled the ball down two yards deep in the end zone and ran it out. After avoiding several would-be tacklers it looked like he would down the ball near the 20.

Instead, he continued running and after 102 yards the Lions' lead had increased by two points, 43-39.

"I had no choice but to run it," Collins explained. "It was a freebee."

"Again, it's tough for BYU to lose a game on those type of plays, but I thought Collins made a very alert play," Paterno said.