BYU’s Bear Upsets Notre Dame (Photo by BYU Athletics)
BYU Battles Notre Dame for a huge Cougars victory!
#5 BYU 28, #2 Notre Dame 24
The game got off to a solid start for the Cougars. They had a drive moving on a couple of pass completions by Bear Bachmeier to JoJo Phillips and Walker Lyons. That got them to midfield, and Notre Dame had a horrible hit on Bear Bachmeier that was ruled targeting. Boubacar Traore lowered his head when he rushed and hit Bachmeier helmet-to-helmet. Traore would be ejected. Another completion to Lyons got BYU inside the Notre Dame 15-yard line. A pass to Kyler Kasper would get another first down for BYU to the Fighting Irish three-yard line. Bachmeier would pay it off himself with a rushing touchdown, and BYU would open the game with an 11-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that would take 5:39.
Notre Dame responded quickly. They moved the ball down the field quickly, getting all the way to the BYU 29. But then the Cougars’ defense toughened up and held the Irish to a field goal. BYU would move early on another drive, getting into Notre Dame territory before stalling out and punting themselves. Notre Dame would get to midfield themselves before the first quarter finally ended.
Second Quarter
Notre Dame would begin the quarter by finishing an 84-yard touchdown drive to take a 10-7 lead. BYU’s defense struggled in the middle, particularly when Notre Dame got in the red zone. BYU’s offense would give their defense a much-needed break with a drive of their own. The Cougars would get it into the red zone and then reach into their bag of tricks! Bachmeier would throw to the left to Kyler Kasper, who would throw it back to Bachmeier, who would run it in for a touchdown, and the Cougs would reclaim the lead, 14-10!
The Cougar defense would force a Notre Dame punt, and the offense would get right back to work. BYU would march it down the field, and their young guns would strike again. Legend Glasker would get the ball inside the one-yard line on a 12-yard run. Bear Bachmeier would then find the end zone for the third time by leaping into the end zone.
Notre Dame would march the ball down to the BYU five-yard line, but CJ Carr would fumble the snap on a spike, and BYU would recover it to end the half. BYU would lead 21-10 at the break.
Second Half
Notre Dame would get one first down on their first possession of the second half and then go three-and-out. BYU would get the ball at their own 16-yard line. BYU would get into Notre Dame territory, and a phantom offensive pass interference call on a crossing route from JoJo Phillips and Kyler Kasper would stop BYU. They’d punt and pin Notre Dame at their own six-yard line. BYU would force a punt, but Cannon DeVries would fumble it, and for the second straight week, BYU would give the opponent a free possession by failing to cleanly field a punt. Notre Dame would get three out of it.
BYU would double down on their mistakes. After going run, run, pass, punt on offense, they decided to forgo the punt and went with a fake one. BYU wasn’t even close and they gave Notre Dame another free possession inside their own 25 yard-line. A worn-out defense dug deep and managed to hold the Irish to another field goal. BYU would head into the fourth quarter with their 11-point lead down to five, their defense tired, and their offense and special teams stalled.
Fourth Quarter
They started the fourth quarter with another three-and-out. Putting their tired defense back on the field. The weary defense would give up a 68-yard touchdown drive, and Notre Dame would lead 24-21 after converting the two-point conversion. The teams would trade punts, and BYU would have the ball late, needing at least a field goal to tie the game. Legend Glasker would get BYU to the Notre Dame 15-yard line, and then Bear Bachmeier would get a first down and set up BYU at the five. On third-and-goal from the six, Bachmeier would find Walker Lyons in the end zone for a touchdown! BYU would lead 28-24 with 1:47 to go. The hope seemed to fade as Notre Dame converted three fourth downs to get to the BYU eight-yard line with 0:04 to go. Evan Johnson would very physically cover Notre Dame receiver Jaden Greathouse on the last play of the game. Irish fans wanted a flag and an extra 0:01 on the clock, but the pass was incomplete, the game was over, and #5 BYU upset #2 Notre Dame, 28-24!
Bear Heisman
Of course, BYU’s win was carried by their star quarterback Bear Bachmeier. Bachmeier and CJ Carr showed why, along with Darian Mensah, they’re the top three quarterbacks in college football. Bear did it all. #47 was 23 of 36 for 224 yards with a touchdown, had a 15-yard touchdown reception, and 13 carries for 45 yards and two touchdowns rushing. 284 yards of offense and four touchdowns in a 28-24 win against the #2 team in college football is as good as it gets. He is 100 of 152 for 1,257 yards and nine touchdowns passing. Bachmeier has 49 carries for 284 yards and six touchdowns rushing. He also has a 15-yard receiving touchdown.
Up Next, at UCF
The Cougars are now headed to Orlando. They’ll lock horns with the 3-3 UCF Knights. Scott Frost and UCF had this week off after falling to Oklahoma State last week, 42-28. The Knights aren’t having the best season, but they’re still a capable team with a great home-field advantage. BYU can’t let their Notre Dame win cost them in Florida next week.
