In this weekly BYU Explosive Stats column, we dig into the Cougars' box scores and explore the statistical insights that help us understand what's working -- and what's not working -- in Provo. We break the "explosive" stats down by firecracker (a little explosive), hand grenade (explosive), and atomic bomb (massively explosive). Here we go!
Firecracker: Arizona's running backs had 18 carries for 55 yards (3.1 YPC)
When facing a quality quarterback like Noah Fifita, it's imperative for the opposing defense to stuff Arizona's run. That's exactly what Kelly Poppinga's squad did on Saturday.
Arizona's lead running back Kedrick Reescano had 15 carries for 49 yards, averaging a harmless 3.3 yards per carry. In two previous seasons with the Wildcats Reescano registered 162 carries for 755 yards, giving him a healthy career average of 4.7 yards per carry. BYU's run defense held him to about a yard-and-a-half below his career average.
Fellow running back Quincy Craig had three carries for six yards, so 2.0 yards per carry. Last year he averaged 5.6 yards per carry on 65 attempts.
BYU's defense effectively neutralized Arizona's traditional running game.
Hand grenade: Cannon DeVries' team leading 9 tackles
You guys, BYU has found a dawg in sophomore Cannon DeVries. In the opener against Utah Tech he dazzled as a return man, including taking a kickoff to the house.
Then against Arizona he shined in his role as a nickel corner. DeVries had a team-leading nine tackles to go along with one pass defended. One of his assisted tackles came on the Cougars' game-changing fourth down stop with Arizona's receiver just inches from the first down marker.
DeVries flew under the radar when he signed with BYU back in 2022. He was a three-star athlete with an 84 grade from 247 Sports, making him the No. 32 prospect in the state of Utah. After serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to Texas, he cut his teeth last year with four tackles over 14 games.
Now with the mission rust completely knocked off, Cannon DeVries is flashing massive potential as an underclassman.
Atomic Bomb: Bear Bachmeier's 61-yard bomb to Legend Glasker
The most explosive moment -- and stat -- from BYU's win over Arizona was Bear Bachmeier's glorious long bomb to Legend Glasker.
BYU was nursing a tenuous 21-17 lead with just over seven minutes left in the game. Facing 2nd-and-1 from their own 27 yard line, Aaron Roderick dialed up a go route for freshman sensation Legend Glasker who got a step on his defender and Bachmeier showed off his deep ball, hitting Glasker in stride for a 61-yard gain to the Arizona 12.
BYU QB Bear Bachmeier's 61-yard completion to Legend Glasker will be remembered for a long time.pic.twitter.com/EfkC5kMlSe
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 12, 2026
BYU scored a game-sealing touchdown a few plays later to take a commanding 28-17 lead, which proved to be the final score.
The reason this play is an "atomic bomb" is because it reinforces Bear's ability to uncork the long ball. His pass traveled about 60 air yards from the BYU 20 yard line to the Arizona 20 with pinpoint accuracy. The prospect of Bear Bachmeier throwing the deep like this has to terrify opposing defenses. BYU's future opponents know they will need to keep a safety deep or the Bachmeier-to-Glasker connection could make them pay. This dynamic has the ability to further open up the running game and underneath routes to BYU's outstanding tight ends, Walker Lyons and Roger Saleapaga.
BYU looked explosive in their win against Arizona, and these stats prove out how they pulled it off.
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