BYU beats Georgia Tech to get 12 wins (Photo by BYU Athletics)
BYU 25, Georgia Tech 21
BYU came out slinging the ball. Bear Bachmeier led BYU on a 74-yard opening drive, but BYU failed to convert fourth-and-goal at the one-yard line. BYU missed L.J. Martin, who was out with an injury. Bachmeier was 6 of 7 for 56 yards on the opening drive, but the Cougars couldn’t do anything in the running game. Bachmeier, Enoch Nawahine (in for the injured Martin and Sione Moa), and McCae Hillstead had three carries for one yard. Nawahine had his first carry on fourth-and-goal, and BYU turned the ball over.
BYU forced a three-and-out, and the Cougar offense got the ball back at their own 38-yard line. The worst part of that opening drive wasn’t the failure to score, but it appeared Bachmeier had reinjured his left leg, which he had hurt and hobbled him in the Big 12 Championship against Texas Tech. One of Bachmeier’s biggest weapons, his mobility, was no longer a factor. His left ankle didn’t hurt his right arm, however, as Bachmeier led BYU on a 62-yard touchdown drive in which he was three-for-three passing.
BYU led 7-0, but a controversial call by the refs gave Georgia Tech a touchdown on fourth down. Georgia Tech faked like they were going to kick a field goal and rushed the ball to the goal line. The runner was stopped short, and his knees were down when he extended the ball to the goal line. A terrible call gave him the touchdown, and with no challenge thrown from the BYU sideline, the play wasn’t reviewed.
Second Quarter
Kalani Sitake’s team responded with a long drive, but the refs missed Chase Roberts being held on third-and-goal. A 22-yard Will Ferrin field goal capped off the 71-yard drive, and BYU would lead 10-7. BYU’s defense looked distracted, as the rumors of Jay Hill joining Kyle Whittingham at UM in Ann Arbor were on the Cougars’ minds. Tech would score and lead 14-10. It only got worse when Cody Hagen fumbled the ball on the subsequent kickoff, and Georgia Tech scored again, leading 21-10. That would be the score going into the second half.
Second Half
Georgia Tech looked to put the game away on the opening drive of the second half. Tech got first-and-goal to go before Nusi Taumoepeau forced a fumble that Isaiah Glasker recovered, giving the Cougars some hope. BYU drove down the field and got first and goal, but once again faltered in the Red Zone. On second and goal, Bachmeier threw a terrible pass that was intercepted, ending the Cougars scoring threat. Georgia Tech would go on another big drive, deep into BYU territory. BYU’s defense would dig deep, hold them to a field goal attempt that the Cougars would block.
Fourth Quarter
At the end of the third quarter, heading into the fourth quarter. Jovesa Damuni would end the third and begin the drive with two runs, one of 12 yards, one of 19 yards, to set up the Cougars in the final quarter at midfield. A few passes and runs later, Enoch Nawahine would punch the ball into the endzone. SItake and his Cougars would go for two, and Bear Bachmeier would bulldoze his way into the endzone, and BYU would make it a 21-18 game.
After some back and forth with Georgia Tech, BYU would get the ball back with less than six minutes to go. Bear Bachmeier took BYU on a 66-yard drive that Jovesa Damuni would cap off with a 4-yard touchdown run, giving BYU the 25-21 lead with two minutes to go in the game.
BYU’s defense would force a 4th and 15 for Georgia Tech, only to give up a 66-yard pass that would put Tech in the Red Zone. The Cougars would force another 4th-down attempt by Georgia Tech. Lockdown corner Evan Johnson, who gave up the 66-yard pass, would make up for it. Johnson would intercept the pass that secured the victory for the Cougars and give BYU their 12th win of the season and a Pop-Tarts Bowl Championship!
12-2 in 2025
BYU completed a historic season, finishing runner-up in the Big 12, winning 12 games for only the fifth time in school history and the first time since 2001. With 12 wins in 14 games, BYU showed that they deserved to be in the College Football Playoff. As the BYU t-shirts celebrating their bowl win said, they’re the People’s National Championship. BYU is 23-4 in the last two seasons, and are a top 12 program in that time and are heading in an undeniable direction. If you don’t know about BYU, you’re going to find out. Just ask the 12 teams they beat in 2025. Go Cougs!
