Recap: BYU runs through a hot Baylor team to the tune of a 28-7 win

Everyone was wondering how BYU football was going to bounce back from a disappointing stretch over the past three weeks. Would flights grounding for five hours last night affect Baylor’s rhythm? It seemed like it did.  

The run game appears to be back. That was the main catalyst to the Cougars controlling this game. It feels even better that the rushing success came through against a Baylor defense that was third in the nation in tackles for loss (80) and third in the Big 12 in points allowed per game (17.0) on top of being second in the FBS in total sacks (37). 

The Bears scored 40-plus points in each of their two prior contests coming into Saturday night. The Cougar defense showed no mercy and did not even let them hit double digits when it was all said and done.

A first half rushing and defensive masterclass

A strong defensive start was what BYU needed. After a generous offensive pass interference on the first play, Baylor quarterback DJ Lagway got sacked for a loss of five to get the party started. Those kinds of plays ended up not being a rare occurrence for him for most of the night. The Bears lost 15 yards on their possession before punting it away.

The first BYU drive was a good mix of the run and pass. An LJ Martin 11-yard run, a Walker Lyons 24-yard reception up the seam, and Bear Bachmeier scrambled into the endzone from 8 yards out. A fast start equals a great sign. 

The Cougars got the ball back after forcing a punt with seven minutes left in the first, then kept it the rest of the quarter. The ground and pound began to take its course. Ten of the next twelve plays proceeded to be run plays.

Martin mixed in rushes of 11 and 15 yards, running efficiently as before while his ankle was still not at 100%. Kasper caught the only completion on the drive for 12 yards. True freshman Jaron Pula drew a pass interference. Bachmeier had a nine-yard run of his own and closed out the drive with his legs, with a keeper up the gut for his second touchdown on the ground. I do not think you could draw up a much better first quarter than that.

BYU yet again made Baylor punt it away, then proceeded to be ball hogs. It took 9:03 and 18 plays for them to get six. 15 of those plays were running plays. It was a grind, but a successful one. The 96-yard drive was capped off with Bachmeier’s third rushing score of the night. Suddenly, there was only 1:40 remaining in the half. A chef’s kiss in the ball control department.

The score remained 21-0 in favor of the Cougars for the rest of the half. 

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BYU rushed for 150 yards as a team in the first half. Martin had six carries for 49 yards before sitting out the rest of the contest out of precaution. 8.2 yards per carry is not too shabby for a running back not fully healthy yet. Bachmeier had 10 rushes for 51 yards and three scores with his legs while throwing for 54 yards amidst the complete dominance in the trenches. The defense only surrendered 41 total yards in the half. 

An ugly third quarter

The third quarter saw both offenses stalling out and beating themselves. The Cougar momentum was put to rest twice when an 81-yard kickoff return by Cannon DeVries and a 62-yard catch-and-run by Legend Glasker two plays later were both called back by holding penalties. Double ouch. 

The Bears were still plagued offensively. Through three quarters, they still only picked up five first downs. How was this the team that put up over 40 points in back-to-back games coming in? In addition, they only got to 87 yards through 45 minutes of regulation. The quarter ended how it should have with Lagway telegraphing an out route that Tommy Prassas read the whole way and picked off. 

On top of all the ugliness, poor Sione Moa went down with an alleged knee injury after a 12-yard

The fourth quarter started out restlessly. Unfortunately, BYU was not able to capitalize and lengthen the lead. Matthias Dunn pulled his 45-yard field-goal try wide left. Baylor took advantage. It scored its first touchdown of the game on a Lagway bootleg then forced a three-and-out, Cougar fans were getting a little antsy, especially after Bachmeier got lucky when his third-down throw was dropped when it probably would have been a pick six. Another instance of BYU not putting the game away sooner than they should.

The defense redeemed itself the very next possession. Incompletion, sack, and another sack in that order got LES rocking again. Special teams built on that when DeVries took a booming 64-yard punt back 44 yards. Good thing the punt return team found it’s stride again after a brief hiccup not too long ago.

Three plays later, Bachmeier rolled out to his right as the line collapsed and rifled it to Jojo Phillips in stride for a 23-yard house call. The Cougars went up 28-7 with 6:43 to go, and that would just about do it. The Bears picked up some garbage time yards but stayed at seven. 

The run game, the stalwart defense, timely Bear throws, and a loud ROC is a familiar recipe that appears to be percolating again. Even though the Cougars did not run up the score, keep in mind that Martin sat out the whole second half and Moa came out of the game on his own power due to injury. We saw in the first half how much pressure those two backs alleviate off the back of Bachmeier. The defensive pressure was absolutely relentless, and Baylor runners only mustered 79 total yards on the ground. Lagway did not look comfortable like he has been for most of the year. Cougar nation is hopefully trending up from here.

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