Cougars move to 4-0 with 24-21 comeback at Colorado

BOULDER, Colo. – Despite going down 14-0 in the first quarter, the BYU offense responded and the defense sealed the victory late in a 24-21 victory on the road against the Colorado Buffaloes.

BYU moves to 4-0 on the season in back-to-back seasons for just the second time in program history (2020, 2021). Four teams have started the season 4-0 in the Kalani Sitake era, giving BYU 12 total 4-0 starts in school history.

In the second road game of his career, BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier went 19-for-27 with 179 passing yards and two passing touchdowns. The true freshman also notched 98 rushing yards, which is the second-most for a BYU freshman quarterback in a single game. Bachmeier is the only quarterback in BYU history to now have recorded 10 or more touchdowns without a single turnover.

Chase Roberts hit 2,000 career receiving yards in tonight’s game, with five catches, two for touchdowns. It’s Roberts’ first game with two receiving touchdowns in his career.

In the first quarter, BYU’s defense gave up 16 plays for 138 yards and 14 points. But in the second quarter, the defense limited Colorado to 17 plays for 50 yards and did not allow a point. Additionally, the defense held the Buffaloes to just 103 total yards in the second half, including just 19 in the fourth quarter..

BYU recorded three sacks in tonight’s matchup. Colorado did not record any. Isaiah Glasker captured a game-sealing interception late in the fourth quarter, while Jack Kelly stood out with six solo tackles and a sack.

First Quarter

BYU won the coin toss and deferred to receive the ball in the second half. Colorado opened the game with an 11 play, 75-yard touchdown drive, powered by Buffalo quarterback Kaidon Salter as he engineered three completed passes and several rushes, eventually landing Colorado a snap on the Cougar three yard line. Salter scrambled into the end zone and alongside an extra point, Colorado started the game in front, 7-0. It’s the first time the Cougars trailed in a game this season.

Bachmeier and the BYU offense took the field at their own 25-yard line. The Buffalo defense kept the Cougars from advancing far into their territory and on fourth-and-one at the Colorado 37, Bachmeier was unable to connect with Roberts, resulting in a turnover on downs with the clock at 6:31.

Starting at their own 38-yard line, the Buffaloes began another dominant drive. After three long rushes and a Cougar penalty, Colorado snapped at the BYU 5 and ran into the end zone for another touchdown. With the extra point, the Buffaloes pushed their lead to 14-0 with 5:08 remaining.

The Cougar offense returned to the field and opened its second drive with a 28-yard completion from Bachmeier to Carsen Ryan. Bachmeier kept the momentum going with two straight first downs on the ground, moving BYU to the Colorado 24. After another Bachmeier-to-Ryan connection and an LJ Martin 7-yard run, two plays for no gain brought up fourth-and-three at the Colorado 5. Despite a BYU delay of game, Will Ferrin converted the field goal to cut the deficit to 14-3 late in the first quarter. This field goal marks 25 in a row for Ferrin, extending his school record of consecutive makes.

Second Quarter

After reaching the BYU 30, Glasker recorded a sack on first-and-10 for a loss of four yards. The Buffaloes gained four yards on the next play, bringing up third-and-10. After Salter scrambled behind the line of scrimmage, Kelly dropped him for a nine-yard loss, forcing the Buffaloes to punt.

BYU’s offense was unable to get past their own 20-yard line, bringing Sam Vander Haar and the punt team on the field for the first time on the night. 

Kelly picked up another tackle for loss on Colorado’s first-and-10, forcing second-and-14. The Buffaloes picked up a first down but a tackle from both Glasker and Evan Johnson alongside an incomplete pass kept the Buffaloes from advancing further into Cougar territory with 4:22 to play in the half.

In the final Cougar drive of the half, BYU started at its own 6-yard line. Parker Kingston caught a 15-yard pass from Bachmeier to the BYU 31. On second-and-3, Martin picked up 13 yards to the Colorado 39. Two consecutive Buffalo penalties moved the Cougars closer to the end zone, and after two Martin rushes and another Kingston reception, Bachmeier found Roberts in the front of the end zone on second-and-goal. With Will Ferrin’s extra point, BYU cut Colorado’s lead to 14-10 to close the half.

Third Quarter

Both defenses opened the second half with quick stops, with BYU forcing a three-and-out against Colorado.

On their second drive of the second half, the Cougar offense fueled a nine-play, 74-yard touchdown drive, highlighted by Kingston and Roberts. On second-and-seven, Bachmeier found Roberts for a 22-yard gain, placing the ball at the Cougar 45. One play later, Kingston marched 20 yards and on the following play, he caught an 8-yard pass. After two Bachmeier short gains to the Colorado 4-yard line, the offense stayed on the field for fourth-and-two where Bachmeier found Roberts wide open in the end zone. With Ferrin’s extra point, the Cougars took their first lead of the game, 17-14, with 5:26 remaining.

The Buffalo offense started at its own 25, with Salter completing back-to-back deep passes, one for 26 yards and the next for 19. Colorado advanced to BYU’s 19, and Salter connected with a receiver in the end zone, giving the Buffaloes a 21-17 lead.

Martin opened the next drive with a 19-yard reception and then ran 22 yards to the Cougar 42. A BYU penalty, a loss on the next play and an incomplete pass brought up third-and-17 from BYU’s 35. Bachmeier scrambled up the middle for 16 yards, but it fell short of the first down. On fourth-and-one, Enoch Nawahine rushed four yards to grab the first down before the clock expired to end the quarter.

Fourth Quarter

Bachmeier rushed 13 yards on second-and-10 to pick up another Cougar first down. On the following play, Bachmeier handed the ball off to Cody Hagen on a tornado reverse. Hagen rushed 32 yards to the house, which was the longest play from either team up to that point. Ferrin made the extra point, and the Cougars took the lead back, 24-21 with 14:02 remaining.

On Colorado’s next drive, the BYU defense forced a third-and-three, where Glasker chased Salter for a 22-yard loss on Glasker’s second sack of the season.

Short gains from BYU brought up fourth-and-16 on Colorado’s 37, setting Ferrin up for a field goal attempt. Ferrin missed wide left, keeping BYU at a three-point advantage, and ending Ferrin’s BYU record at 25 consecutive made field goals.

The Cougar defense forced another three-and-out, sending the offense back onto the field. BYU wasn’t able to advance far enough into Buffalo territory, so Vander Haar punted 30 yards on fourth-and-nine, and Hagen downed the ball at the Colorado 4-yard line.

With 1:49 remaining, Salter completed an 8-yard pass and followed it with two straight rushes for 12 yards. Facing second-and-five from the Buffalo 24, he launched a throw, but Glasker came up with the game-sealing interception, snuffing out Colorado’s final chance with 50 seconds left and pushing the Cougars to 4-0.

Up Next

The Cougars return to Lavell Edwards Stadium on Oct. 3 to take on the West Virginia Mountaineers. Kickoff is set for 8:30 p.m. MST. Watch the broadcast live on ESPN or listen to live play-by-play with Greg Wrubell on BYU Radio.