No. 18 Cougars win in double-overtime comeback 33-27 at Arizona

TUCSON, Ariz. – In a five-hour, back-and-forth double-overtime battle that featured a lightning delay that lasted more than an hour, fighting through multiple defensive injuries, the No. 18 BYU Cougars fought through all the adversity to win 33-27.

BYU scored the first 14 points of the game, then allowed 24 consecutive Arizona points before answering with 10 points in the fourth quarter to force overtime and secure the victory in extra time. It was the first double-digit fourth-quarter comeback for the Cougars since 2014. 

For the first time in program history, the Cougars are 6-0 to start back-to-back seasons. Tonight’s win also deems BYU bowl-eligible, the eighth time in the 10-year Kalani Sitake era.

In tonight’s matchup, LJ Martin recorded 162 rushing yards for a new career high. Additionally, the junior recorded his 15th career touchdown as he got the Cougars on the board first. Overall, BYU racked up 258 total rushing yards to Arizona’s 164. In the first half, the Cougars racked up 143 rushing yards, the most Arizona has allowed in a half this season.

Bear Bachmeier recorded 172 passing yards, 89 rushing yards and three touchdowns, one passing and two rushing. The freshman quarterback sealed the game in the second overtime with a seven-yard touchdown rush. 

Siale Esera led the defense with 16 tackles, doubling his previous career high of eight. Faletau Satuala also reached double digits with 11 tackles, including a tackle for loss. Linebacker Isaiah Glasker recorded five tackles and an interception tonight. Glasker’s takeaway on the one-yard line held the Wildcats from scoring early in the third quarter after a nearly seven-and-a-half minute drive.

The victory is the first time the Cougars have won in overtime since defeating Baylor 26-20 in double overtime in 2022.

First Quarter

Arizona won the coin toss and chose to receive the ball in the second half. Martin picked up six yards on the first play from scrimmage, but after two straight plays with no gain, the Wildcat offense took the field following a three-and-out.

Led by Raider Damuni, the Cougar defense returned with a three-and-out of its own to force an Arizona punt. On the Wildcats’ first-and-10, Damuni immediately tackled a receiver at the line of scrimmage. On second-and-10, Damuni and Esera brought down Wildcat quarterback Noah Fifita for a one-yard loss. Fifita attempted a deep pass on third-and-11, but it fell incomplete.

On BYU’s second drive of the game, Martin and the Cougar offense powered an eight-play, 66-yard touchdown drive. On second-and-10 from the BYU 42, Martin rushed for eight yards, then added five more on third-and-two. After another Martin run and a 7-yard carry from Bachmeier, the Cougars faced third-and-one at the Wildcats’ 44. With his first career reception, Preston Rex rumbled 19 yards after the catch to pick up the first down and more. On second-and-10, Martin rushed 28 yards to the end zone for his fourth touchdown this season. With Will Ferrin’s extra point, BYU went up 7-0 over Arizona with 8:55 remaining in the opening frame.

The Cougar defense shut down Arizona quickly on its second drive. After allowing a first down, Bodie Schoonover and Faletau Satuala combined for three-straight stops, forcing the Wildcats to punt again.

Starting from the BYU six, on second-and-10, Martin picked up a first down. Bachmeier followed with a nine-yard run, reaching the Cougar 16. On second-and-one, the true freshman quarterback threw deep to Parker Kingston, who made the catch at Arizona’s 48 and darted all the way into the end zone for a career-long 75-yard reception. It was the first BYU touchdown reception of more than 70 yards since Zach Wilson and Dax Milne’s 78-yarder at Houston in 2020 and the first passing touchdown the Wildcats have allowed all season.

Fifita and the Wildcat offense would respond with a touchdown drive of their own. BYU was unable to get the stop on fourth-and-two from Arizona’s 48-yard line, and after two-straight first downs and a BYU offside penalty, the Wildcats reached the BYU 17 and Fifita hit wide receiver Kris Hutson for a touchdown, and with the made extra point, Arizona trimmed the Cougar lead, 14-7, with 32 seconds on the clock.

Martin recorded a six-yard carry on BYU’s next play and the first quarter time would expire.

Second Quarter

Just as the second quarter was about the start, the threatening Tucson weather prevailed, leading to a lightning delay of one hour and 14 minutes.

The Cougars returned to the field and were unable to surpass midfield. On fourth-and-nine, punter Sam Vander Haar executed a fake punt but couldn’t pick up the first down, which gave the Wildcats the ball at the Cougar 44.

Quick gains and a targeting call on Keanu Tanuvasa helped Arizona reach the red zone. After three consecutive incompletions from BYU’s six, the Wildcats brought out the kicking team and settled for a field goal, bringing the score to 14-10 with just under 10 minutes remaining in the half.

Starting from the Cougar 25, Martin recorded five-straight carries, the longest being 11 yards. On fourth-and-one at the 50, Bachmeier rushed three yards up the middle on the keeper for the first down. Martin helped the Cougars move closer, eventually reaching the Arizona 24, but the Wildcat defense forced a fourth-and-eight. Ferrin attempted a 42-yarder, but it went wide left.

With 2:37 on the clock, the Wildcat offense returned to the field and powered a 8-play, 76-yard touchdown drive that spread across nearly two minutes. After several short gains and a 15-yard completion, Fifita launched a 35-yard pass into the end zone, and with the extra point, the Wildcats took their first lead of the game, 17-14 after scoring 17 consecutive points.

On the Cougars’ next drive, Bachmeier connected with Kingston for a 14-yard gain, but an incompletion set up second-and-10. Bachmeier attempted to pass to Kingston again, but the throw was intercepted at Arizona’s 39.

An incompletion and short gain from the Wildcats closed the half, with Arizona leading 17-14. BYU’s program-record streak of 32 consecutive quarters with points ended when the Cougars failed to score in the second quarter.

Third Quarter

Because of the previous lightning delay, halftime was shortened to 12 minutes. The Wildcats started at the Arizona 25, and running back Ismali Mahdi picked up several short gains to the 46. On second-and-10, Fifita connected with Kris Hutson for 19 yards. A chop-block penalty pushed Arizona back 15 yards, but a 10-yard gain followed by a BYU roughing the passer penalty gave the Wildcats an automatic first down at the Cougar 25. BYU forced a fourth-and-one, but an offside penalty gave Arizona the five yards needed. The Cougars held Arizona to an incomplete pass and two short gains, which brought up fourth down again. On fourth-and-four, Fifita’s offense stayed on the field and after being pressured by Tausili Akana, his pass was intercepted by Glasker at the Cougar one-yard line, keeping the game within three points with 7:13 on the clock.

The Cougar offense started the next drive at their own four-yard line, and they were unable to get a first down due to an incomplete pass and a BYU holding penalty.

On the Wildcats’ next drive, Satuala took down Mahdi for a one-yard loss, and after two incompletions, the second being broken up by Mory Bamba, the Cougar defense forced Arizona to punt.

Bachmeier connected with Chase Roberts for eight yards and then found Kingston for 15, moving BYU to their own 46. After three short gains, on second-and-10 from the Arizona 43, the snap sailed over Bachmeier’s head. He recovered and attempted a pass to Carsen Ryan, but was intercepted, giving Arizona the ball at their own 26 with 16 seconds remaining in the quarter.

After a three-yard Wildcat pickup, the third quarter clock expired. 

Fourth Quarter

Arizona opened the fourth quarter with a three-yard rush followed by a nine-yard completion. From their own 41, on third-and-10, Fifita hit Hutson for a 14-yard gain that got them the first down. The defense forced fourth-and-one, but on the next play gave up a 36-yard touchdown run that gave the Wildcats a 10-point advantage after the extra point.

The Cougar offense returned to the field, and Bachmeier opened with a nine-yard run. On the next play, Martin ran two yards up the middle for a first down, followed by a three-yard carry from Bachmeier. An incomplete pass to Cody Hagen set up third-and-seven, but Bachmeier found a seam and rushed 13 yards to the Arizona 48. After a short run and two incompletions, on fourth-and-seven Bachmeier connected with Kingston for 12 yards. On second-and-seven, Roberts caught a 17-yard pass and added six more for another first down. The Cougars failed to find the end zone on the drive, but on fourth-and-three, Ferrin hit a 24-yard field goal, cutting Arizona’s lead to 24-17 with 4:07 remaining.

Led by Esera, the BYU defense forced a three-and-out, bringing out the Wildcat special teams. Arizona punter Isaac Lovison punted 44 yards to BYU’s 27 and Kingston returned it 26 yards to set the offense up at the Wildcat 47.

Bachmeier picked up five yards on a keeper, and Martin followed with six yards to get the first down. Two-straight short gains from Bachmeier brought up third-and-one, and Martin marched 13 yards deeper, reaching the Arizona 14. Hagen made a six-yard catch on first down, and after an incomplete shot to Roberts into the end zone, the Cougars had to face another third down. Bachmeier rushed up the middle, fumbled, but Kyle Sfarcioc recovered and gave the Cougars the first down. On first-and-goal from the four, Bachmeier tried to hit Roberts again, but this time a pass interference penalty was called on the Wildcats, putting BYU at the Arizona three. One play later, in a pass intended for Kingston, another pass interference was called on Arizona, bringing the Cougars closer, at the Wildcat two-yard line. On the next play, with 23 seconds remaining, Bachmeier got his sixth rushing touchdown of the season, and with Ferrin’s extra point, the game was tied up at 24.

Arizona took a knee on their possession, sending the game into overtime. The last time BYU played an overtime game was in 2023 against Oklahoma State.

First Overtime

The Wildcats started with possession and picked up 13 yards to BYU’s 12 for a first down. Arizona went on to get another three yards and on its next play, running back Kedrick Reescano found an opening and rushed nine yards into the end zone, but it was overturned due to a Wildcat holding penalty. The Cougar defense brought up third-and-10 and Arizona was unable to get the first down, bringing out their kicking team. Michael Salgado-Medina’s kick was good from 23 yards, helping the Wildcats take the lead, 27-24.

On BYU’s possession, Bachmeier opened with a deep pass down the sideline to Roberts, but he was unable to make the catch. Two negative rush plays set Ferrin up for a must-have 45-yard kick that went right through the middle of the uprights, tying the game at 27 and sending the game into a second overtime period.

Second Overtime

The Cougars started with the ball this time, and Bachmeier and Martin each recorded six-yard carries, getting a first down and bringing the ball to the Arizona 13. Bachmeier carried the ball four yards closer on second-and-eight, and on third-and-four at the Arizona seven, the Murrieta, California native rushed into the end zone. In an attempt to Roberts on the two-point conversion, the pass was broken up, but BYU remained in the lead, 33-27.

When the Wildcats got the ball, BYU forced them to a fourth-and-one at the Cougar 16, but Arizona got the first down off a two-yard rush up the middle. An incomplete pass brought up second-and-10, where a short pass was stopped by Bamba. On third-and-seven, Fifita scrambled and picked up one yard before he was tackled by Esera. The Cougar defense faced Arizona’s sixth fourth down conversion attempt of the game and held strong, stopping the Wildcats with an incompletion in the end zone and ending the game.

Up Next

BYU returns to LaVell Edwards Stadium for its homecoming game against Utah on Saturday, Oct. 18 with kickoff set for 6 p.m. MST. Watch the broadcast live on FOX or listen to live play-by-play with Greg Wrubell on BYU Radio.