Pop Tarts Bowl: No. 12 BYU Defeats No. 22 Georgia Tech In Thrilling Fashion

Playing in the Pop Tarts Bowl — or as many who call it the "People's Championship" game — No. 12 BYU played like it did for much of the season as the Cougars rallied from a double-digit deficit for an incredible 25-21 come-from-behind victory over No. 22 Georgia Tech in a Big 12-ACC showdown.

With the win, the Cougars not only scored another bowl victory — after crushing Colorado in the Alamo Bowl last year — they also won their 12th game of the season, marking just the fifth time the in program history to do so, with the last time being the 2001 season.

BYU true freshman quarterback Bear Bachmeier ended up being the MVP as the dual-threat completed 27-of-38 passes for 325 yards and a touchdown. He also scored on a two-point conversion which proved pivotal as it forced the Yellow Jackets to go for a touchdown on the last play of the game, instead of attempting a game-tying field goal.

With just over 30 seconds to play in the game, and faced with 4th-and-10 from the 18-yard line, Georgia Tech senior quarterback Haynes King got flushed out of the pocket and threw the ball into the end zone towards Jamal Haynes, but BYU's Evan Johnson was right there and intercepted the pass in the end zone to secure the victory.

For the game, the Cougars piled up 426 yards of total offense and it was Bachmeier's third 300-yard passing game of the season. BYU had to rely more on the passing game with star running back LJ Martin -- the Big 12 offensive player of the year -- not playing in the game due to a recent surgery.

Like much of the season, the Cougars got down early but found a way to come back. After taking a 7-0 lead early in the first quarter, it was all Georgia Tech which scored 14 points in 10 seconds in a wild swing of events.

After the Yellow Jackets took a 14-10 lead on a 5-yard touchdown pass from King to Eric Rivers, BYU's Cody Hagen muffed the ensuing kickoff which gave Georgia Tech the ball on the 6-yard line which they scored on the very next play for a 21-10 lead.

But that's the last time Georgia Tech would score as the Cougar defense rallied to force to turnovers as well as a blocked field goal. With all the momentum, the Cougar offense did the rest to cap off a historic 12-win P4 season.

Here’s a look at all the reactions from around the country:

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