BYU’s Reggie Frischknecht scores a touchdown (Photo by BYU Athletics)
The BYU Cougars defeat the Arizona Wildcats in Provo
#8 BYU 28, #21 Arizona 17
BYU’s defense was very flat on the opening drive of the game. In 5:50, Arizona marched down the field, and Noah Fifita showed why he’s been so good for so long. Fifita scored on an 11-yard rushing touchdown to have Arizona go up 7-0. The BYU defense only forced one third down on that drive and couldn’t get off the field. The offense was just as bad. A holding call on Andrew Gentry put BYU behind the sticks. BYU battled back to make it 3rd and 2 at their own 33, but Bear Bachmeier nearly threw a pick-six. The Cougars couldn’t have gotten off to a much worse start.
The Cougars defense responded well on Arizona’s second possession. On 3rd and 9, Cade Uluave picked off a Noah Fifita pass and returned it to the nine-yard line. Isaiah Glasker brought the pressure, and Uluave made the play. Two plays later, Bear Bachmeier would bulldoze his way into the end zone, and BYU had a strong response to knot things up at 7-7.
Back and Forth Battle
The Wildcats would have a decent drive, but Therrian Alexander III would make a big Red Zone, third-down stop and force an Arizona field goal. The Wildcats would lead 10-7 after the first quarter. BYU’s offense would struggle to get in sync; drops and miscommunications slowed them down, but BYU worked their way down the field. A big play to Kyler Kasper was followed up by a Bear Bachmeier touchdown pass. They faked a screen to Legend Glasker, and Bachmeier found Reggie Frischknect wide open for a touchdown off of a slant, and BYU would lead 14-10.
The teams exchanged punts after that, but Arizona got on track again midway through the second quarter. BYU’s defense would struggle against the Wildcats offense. Fifita would gash BYU both in the air and on the ground. BYU would lose track of Arizona’s tight end, and the Wildcats would get a touchdown to retake the lead, 17-14. BYU would try to run their two-minute offense, but would fizzle and trail by three at the half.
Second Half
BYU came out of the gate moving well on their first possession of the second half. The Cougars leaned on LJ Martin, and it paid off. It opened up the passing offense, and BYU was able to be balanced. Bachmeier would find Kyler Kasper for a six-yard touchdown pass, and BYU would jump back in front, 21-17, on a 75-yard touchdown drive that took 5:23 off the clock. A lot of the hiccups BYU had earlier on offense were cleaned up on this drive. The Wildcats and the Cougars would exchange punts for the next four possessions.
Fourth Quarter
Arizona would have a long drive into BYU territory and into the Red Zone. On 4th and 4, Arizona would go for it, and sure tackling from BYU’s defenders led by Tommy Prassas would stop Arizona cold. When it looked like it would be an LJ Martin-heavy drive, Bear Bachmeier decided it was time to throw. Who’d Bear throw to? The BYU instant Legend. Legend Glasker burned the Arizona defense for a 61-yard bomb to have BYU in the Arizona Red Zone. After another LJ Martin handoff, BYU went to the air again. Bachmeier and Kasper would connect for their second touchdown of the game, and BYU would lead 28-17 with 6:10 to go!
BYU was rolling then, sacking Noah Fifita twice and forcing Arizona to punt on 4th and 23. BYU would start their drive at their own 45 with a chance to ice the game. The Cougars would rock the ball down inside the five-yard line. Kalani Sitake would go the classy route, and BYU would kneel on it to end the game. BYU would get a 28-17 win.
BYU’s Big Cats
The Cougars got their win behind their big stars. LJ Martin had 22 touches for 125 total yards. Bear Bachmeier had 217 yards and three touchdowns passing, with 37 yards and a touchdown rushing. Oregon transfer Kyler Kasper had four catches for 51 yards and two touchdowns. The surprises were on defense. Unsurprising was Isaiah Glasker, who had eight tackles, five of them solo, in his season debut. Faletau Satuala had seven tackles, including a tackle for a loss. Evan Johnson and Therrian Alexander III were great at corner, as usual. It was the newcomers for BYU’s defense that impressed a lot. Cannon DeVries had nine tackles, Tommy Prassas had four tackles, and Tausili Akana had a good game. Akana was elite with four tackles, 2.5 tackles for a loss, and 2.5 sacks.
Up Next, at Colorado State
BYU makes a rare road trip to a Group of Six school in the old Mountain West and WAC opponent, Colorado State. The Rams beat Wyoming in Week 1, 35-13. BYU will then have an early bye week, followed by a game at TCU, and it’ll be Friday, October 9th, before they play at LaVell Edwards Stadium again.
