BYU's Tanner Wall dives for a touchdown (Photo by BYU Athletics)
BYU 44, TCU 13
Kalani Sitake’s BYU team got started with a solid first quarter. The defense forced two TCU punts, and the offense scored twice. The first was on a Will Ferrin field goal from 52 yards out. Next, the Cougars went on a methodical drive that began at their own nine-yard line. They went 91 yards in 6:02. Parker Kingston ended the drive when he scored on a play that has become a staple of the Aaron Roderick and Coach Sitake’s offenses, the jet sweep.
BYU had another big drive in the second quarter that went 75 yards, lasted 5:44, and ended with another touchdown. This time, it was Bear Bachmeier keeping the ball on an option play and running for a 17-yard touchdown. It was on 3rd and 13 when he made that play. TCU would answer this score with a field goal, and it would be 17-3, in favor of the Cougars.
BYU’s Bear Strikes Back
The Cougars would answer that field goal quickly with a 75-yard touchdown drive that took only four plays and 1:03. It would be capped off by a great throw from Bachmeier to tight end Carsen Ryan, with Ryan showing off a lot of skills as he rumbled for a 43-yard touchdown catch and run.
TCU would respond with a touchdown, but with under two minutes left in the half, BYU decided to be aggressive. They moved the ball 58 yards and got a 32-yard Will Ferrin field goal as time expired for halftime. BYU would lead at the break 27-10. The third quarter was a bit more challenging for BYU offensively. Both teams would trade field goals, and it would be 30-13 going into the fourth quarter.
BYU would strike early in the fourth quarter, and they would turn a Faletau Satuala interception into an LJ Martin touchdown run. That would give BYU a 37-13 lead. The teams would then exchange punts for three straight possessions, and BYU looked to do it on a fourth until their backup punter had a bad snap and had to fall on it.
Any hopes this may have given TCU were very short-lived. Tanner Wall would intercept Josh Hoover and return it 68 yards for a touchdown. This would be the final score of the game, and BYU would win, 44-13. This was just what BYU needed after a tough loss to Texas Tech: a quick jump back on the right track.
Roaring Cougars
While their offensive stars were dimmed at noon against Texas Tech, they shone as bright as ever under the nighttime Provo sky in BYU’s 44-13 victory to get back on the right track. Bachmeier, Martin, Kingston, Satuala, Wall, Ferrin, and more had some big games for BYU. Bear Bachmeier was 23 of 33 for 296 yards and a touchdown passing the ball, and he had 10 carries for 49 yards and a touchdown rushing the ball. Bachmeier took care of the football, with his seventh game of the year without throwing an interception. Bachmeier has only thrown one pick at home in LaVell Edwards Stadium this season. This year, Bear is 172 of 272 for 2,144 yards, 13 touchdowns, and four interceptions. He also adds 115 carries for 479 yards and 10 touchdowns on the ground.
LJ Martin had a good game, going over the century mark in total yards. He had 21 carries for 88 yards and a touchdown on the ground with four catches for 34 yards receiving. His season totals (while missing most of the ISU game) are 163 carries for 912 yards and six touchdowns with 21 catches for 145 yards. That puts him over 1,000 yards of total offense with 1,057 yards this season.
Shooting for all-Big 12
Parker Kingston’s five catches for 80 yards and four carries for 13 yards, including an 11-yard touchdown, had him at nine touches for 93 yards and a touchdown. This year, he has 44 catches for 639 yards and four touchdown receptions with 19 carries for 97 yards and three rushing touchdowns. Kingston has 736 total yards of offense and seven total touchdowns.
The BYU secondary had a first-rate game. Therrian Alexander and Evan Johnson kept TCU from having a passing touchdown, and Satuala and Wall played at an all-Big 12 level. Satuala had five tackles to go with his interception. This put his season stats at 64 tackles, 6.5 tackles for a loss, a sack, three interceptions, two forced fumbles, and a defensive touchdown.
Cougars will clash with the Cats in Cincinnati
Next week, BYU is hitting the road to visit my hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio. They’ll play the UC Bearcats at Nippert Stadium. UC is fresh off two losses to teams the Cougars have beaten. The Bearcats got walloped by Utah in Salt Lake City and just suffered a grueling defeat to Arizona. The Bearcats have had a strong home-field advantage for a long time, and with Fox being there next week for the pregame show and the game kicking off at 8:00 PM, they will be fired up when hosting a 9-1 team.
This game will be a challenge for BYU, but there is no reason they shouldn’t emerge victorious. The Bearcats have a good quarterback in Brendan Sorsby, who can beat you with his passing and his rushing. They’ll need another good game plan and execution from Jay Hill’s defense, and for their Bear Raid offense to get on track early and stay on track like they did against TCU. BYU should be 10-1 and on the road to the Big 12 title game after a win over a solid UC team.
