LAS VEGAS -- Bronco Mendenhall's final game as coach at BYU probably couldn't have gotten off to a worse start, a 35-0 deficit first quarter deficit fueled by five turnovers on the Cougars' first five offensive possessions.

But the Virginia-bound coach had nothing but praise for his squad following a 35-28 loss to rival Utah in the Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl at Sam Boyd Stadium on Saturday.

"I'm not sure I've ever been more proud of my team," Mendenhall said. "I've never been part of a game where the first five possessions are turnovers. I don't think there could be a more difficult challenge - some self-imposed, and some certainly a credit to Utah's defense early on. Our team tried really, really hard to the very end."

Utes senior safety Tevin Carter earned defensive player of the game honors, intercepting two passes - including one he returned 28 yards for a touchdown - and junior running back Joe Williams rushed for two touchdowns en route to offensive player of the game honors as Utah held on.

Williams rushed for 91 yards on 25 carries for the Utes (10-3), including 24 yards on five carries that produced two first downs on a game-clinching final drive that ran out the clock after BYU (9-4) closed to within seven points on freshman quarterback Tanner Mangum's 4-yard run with 3:23 left.

"We huddled up and talked about it as an offense," Williams said. "Two more first downs and this game is ours."

Mendenhall said he thought about trying an onside kick but decided to rely on his defense, which blanked Utah over the final 49:38 to get the ball back.

"The way our defense was playing, I felt not only would we get the ball back but also get even better field position," Mendenhall said. "I went back and forth three or four times (before deciding). You can definitely say it wasn't the right decision because we didn't win."

The Utes won for the 12th time in their last 13 bowl games, including three in a row. It was also Utah's fifth straight win in its "Holy War" rivalry with the in-state rival Cougars.

Mangum completed 25 of 56 passes for 315 yards and two touchdowns but also was intercepted three times, including two that were returned for touchdowns, as the Cougars lost despite finishing with huge edges in total yards (386-197) and first downs (22-14).

The Utes had 69 yards in total offense and 5 yards rushing in the first quarter but thanks to forcing the five turnovers in the first 10 minutes, including interception returns of 28 yards by Carter and 46 yards by junior cornerback Dominique Hatfield for touchdowns, built the 35-0 lead.

"You are not going to lose a lot of games when you are plus-five in turnover margin," Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said. "Even though our offensive numbers were not good at all, we took care of the football. I am very proud of our guys, of our seniors. We send them off with a 10-win season and a guaranteed Top 20 ranking. A lot of good things for our seniors coming out of this game and I am really proud of them."

BYU got on the board just before halftime on a 3-yard pass from Mangum to senior tight end Remington Peck and cut the deficit to 35-14 on a 10-yard touchdown run by freshman tailback Francis Bernard early in the third quarter, capping a 12-play, 72-yard drive.

The Cougars made things interesting when Mangum hit junior wide Nick Kurtz with a 5-yard touchdown pass with 10:33 remaining. Mangum's 4-yard touchdown run drew BYU within 35-28 with 3:23 to go.

The Cougars never got the ball back as the Utes ran out the clock on the ensuing possession behind the running of Williams.

"If we could have made one more stop, it gets interesting and we throw the ball into the end zone a time or two and see what happens," Mendenhall said.

"We got complacent," Whittingham said. "That's on me. We've got to do a better job. Next time we're up 35-0 we won't let that happen again."

NOTES: Utah's 35 first-quarter points were a Las Vegas Bowl record for a quarter. ... Mangum's three first-quarter interceptions broke for the bowl record for most interceptions in a game (two) held by eight other quarterbacks. ... Utah improved to 58-34-4 all-time against BYU, including the last five in a row. ... The 35 first-quarter points were a Las Vegas Bowl record for points in a quarter. ... According to ESPN Stats & Info, BYU is the second FBS team in the last 10 years to commit turnovers on each of its first five drives. Pittsburgh did it in a 56-28 home loss to Georgia Tech in 2014. ... BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe confirmed after the game that Oregon State defensive coordinator and assistant coach Kalani Sitake will replace Mendenhall as coach.