KNOXVILLE, Tennessee — Ty’Son Williams’ pile-pushing touchdown run in BYU’s two-overtime win over Tennessee brought some 15,000 Cougar fans to their feet in a frenzy. Wilson scored standing up behind beefy Cougar blockers who refused to get tired at the end of the 29-26 victory Saturday night in Neyland Stadium.

Williams, who had just 73 yards late in the fourth quarter, gained 92 yards on 17 carries with two touchdowns, none more dominating than his five-yard power bulldozer run between the tackles that proved the margin of victory for the 1-1 Cougars.

BYU pushes for the win in Knoxville pic.twitter.com/iQc1VA12dn — ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) September 8, 2019

“He earned the right to make that play,” said BYU running back coach AJ Steward. “I told him all week he had a great week of practice and deserved to play well on this night in this game. I believe that play is the reason he came to BYU. That is the reason he is here on this team.”

Williams had 12 carries for 64 yards when he was taken out of the game after getting dinged up at the end of the second quarter. After passing concussion protocol, he was inserted back in the game just when BYU needed an experienced, confident back to push the ball against a tiring Tennessee defense.

TySon Williams greets family pic.twitter.com/9Y6T6hGEcN — Jay Drew (@drewjay) September 8, 2019

“Basically, they willed themselves at the end,” said Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt. “They had more out there than we could stop.”

On BYU’s game-winning drive in the second overtime, Aleva Hifo ran around the end for 15 yards to the Vols’ 12. Williams had runs of 7 and 5 yards to cap BYU’s final plays.

Steward said Williams was locked in all week and during the game. “He has done everything we’ve asked of him and more since he’s been here and he earned it. He earned the right to make that touchdown. It feel so good, this was a great win for our team and our guys needed this.”

Williams scored BYU’s first touchdown of the game following an interception by middle linebacker Kavika Fonua. It was a 16-yard run around the right end on a misdirection play. On that one too, he went in standing up to cut Tennessee’s lead 13-10 in the third quarter.