FILE - In a Jan. 17, 2013 file photo, former BYU head football coach LaVell Edwards poses before receiving the Lifetime Achievement award at the Paul "Bear" Bryant awards ceremony, in Houston. Edwards, who led BYU to national prominence with his dynamic passing offenses and ranks as one of the most successful coaches in college football history, died Thursday, Dec. 29, 2016, said Athletic department spokesman Brett Pyne. He was 86. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan, File)
FILE - In a Jan. 17, 2013 file photo, former BYU head football coach LaVell Edwards poses before receiving the Lifetime Achievement award at the Paul "Bear" Bryant awards ceremony, in Houston. Edwards, who led BYU to national prominence with his dynamic passing offenses and ranks as one of the most successful coaches in college football history, died Thursday, Dec. 29, 2016, said Athletic department spokesman Brett Pyne. He was 86. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan, File)

Before LaVell Edwards was promoted to head coach, BYU ran a slogging run-first offense that yielded mediocre or worse records.

Under Edwards, dizzying passing numbers became the norm, and college football fans stayed in front of their TVs late Saturday nights from the 1970s to ’90s to see just how many points the Cougars could score.

Jim McMahon, Steve Young, Ty Detmer and other quarterbacks flourished, and the Cougars grew in prominence, even being voted national champions in 1984.

Edwards, the humble and devout Mormon who won 257 games at the Utah school over 29 seasons, died on Thursday at 86. The school confirmed his death but disclosed no other details.

“LaVell was one of the best friends that I had in the coaching world,” said Tom Osborne, the retired national championship-winning Nebraska coach whose triple-option offense was the polar opposite of Edwards’ dynamic passing attack. “He had a great sense of humor and was always well-grounded and fun to be around.

“BYU had a distinct identity under LaVell. They were a passing team before it became stylish, but many did not realize that they had a very good running game as well.”

Edwards, who retired in 2000, had a record of 257-101-3, the seventh-most wins in FBS history. His teams won or shared 19 conference titles and played in 22 bowl games. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2004.

Edwards became BYU’s head coach in 1972, taking over a program that had just 14 winning seasons in 49 years. BYU won 10 straight Western Athletic Conference titles from 1976-85 and went to 17 consecutive bowls from 1978-94.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Patti, and three children.

Birmingham BowlUSF 46, S. Carolina 39 (ot)

Birmingham, Ala. — Quinton Flowers ran for three touchdowns and threw for two more to lead No. 25 South Florida past South Carolina in overtime in the Birmingham Bowl.

South Florida (11-2) squandered a 39-21 lead in the second half, but recovered for its school-record 11th victory. Flowers threw a 25-yard touchdown pass on the first play of overtime, finding Elkanah Dillon in the end zone.

South Carolina’s overtime drive ended after Jake Bentley was sacked by Mike Love on fourth down. Bentley fumbled and Khalid McGee recovered to end the game.

Flowers, who was selected the game’s Most Valuable Player, completed 23 of 32 passes for 261 yards and ran for 105 yards on 21 carries.

Belk BowlVa. Tech 35, Arkansas 24

Charlotte, n.c. — Jerod Evans threw for 243 yards and two touchdowns and ran for two scores and No. 18 Virginia Tech pulled off the largest comeback in its 124-year history, erasing a 24-point halftime deficit to beat Arkansas in the Belk Bowl.

After being limited to 180 yards in the first half, Hokies (10-4) took advantage of three of Austin Allen’s interceptions and scored touchdowns on five of their first seven possessions of the second half.

Evans scored on a 4-yard run and threw touchdown strikes to Sam Rogers and Chris Cunningham to cut it to 24-21 In the third quarter. Travon McMillan put the Hokies ahead for good with 12:03 left in the game when he scored on a 6-yard run. Evans sealed the win with an 8-yard touchdown scamper

Virginia Tech came in averaging 35 points, but the Razorbacks (7-6) set the tone early by turning Evans’ fumble and interception into 10 points to take a 17-0 lead in the first quarter. Arkansas extended the lead to 24-0 at halftime and it looked as if it might cruise to an easy victory.

But Evans had other ideas.

He completed 12 of 16 passes for 129 yards and two TDs in the second half, helping Justin Fuente became the first coach in school history to win 10 games in his first season.

TAKEAWAYS

Arkansas: They fought well in the first half but appeared to run out of steam coming out of the locker room as the protection broke down on offense.

Virginia Tech: The Hokies showed again they never quite. They rallied from 17 points down to beat Notre Dame 31-24.

TALE OF TWO HALVES

Allen was spectacular in the first half, completing 13 of 16 passes for 215 yards and two touchdowns. However, his three interceptions in the second half proved costly.

ALL FOR NOTHING

With Arkansas leading 24-7, wide receiver Drew Morgan caught a 74-yard pass from Allen in the third quarter, but then fumbled at the 1 and the ball rolled out of the back of the end zone for a touchback. However, the Razorbacks were bailed out because Virginia Tech was called for illegal hands to the face, giving them a first down — although 65 yards back down the field. But the fumble still proved costly as the Razorbacks would have to punt the ball away four plays later. Morgan was ejected later in the game for unsportsmanlike conduct.

UP NEXT

Arkansas: The Razorbacks open next season at home against Florida A&M on Sept. 2.

Virginia Tech: The Hokies will open next season against neighbor West Virginia on Sept. 2 at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland.

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