No. 11 BYU Overpowers Colorado State 41-23

FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Built off a high-powered first half, No. 11 BYU defeated Colorado State 41-23 Saturday night, moving to 3-0 on the season.

Bear Bachmeier led the offense through the air, completing 12 passes on 16 attempts for 227 yards. BYU’s biggest strength in Saturday’s matchup against the Rams was the ground game, led by running back LJ Martin. The senior ran for 173 yards and three touchdowns in the first half, with all three scores coming in the first quarter. Martin ended the game with 176 yards on 15 carries, moving him into sixth all-time in rushing yards at BYU. Running backs Preston Rex, Journee Tonga and Devaughn Eka all made appearances, with Rex scoring a touchdown and Tonga rushing for 91 yards.

Freshman Legend Glasker continued his dominant start to the season, securing 113 receiving yards on three catches in the first half, one of which went for 70 yards. He also scored a rushing touchdown on a jet sweep in the second quarter. Glasker ended the night with 135 receiving yards, contributing to BYU’s 559 total yards.

The Cougar defense allowed just 82 rushing yards and forced a turnover deep in their own territory at the end of the second half. The Colorado State offense averaged just over four yards a play, opposed to BYU’s 9.6.

First Quarter

After a weather delay pushed the start time back 45 minutes, BYU received the opening kickoff, starting at the 35 following a kick out of bounds penalty from Colorado State. Martin got the call first with an inside run, powering his way forward with a nine-yard rush. Offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick again called a run for Martin on the second play of the game, and Martin moved his way through multiple Ram defenders and then bounced outside. Wide receivers Jojo Phillips and Legend Glasker secured key blocks as Martin worked the sideline and scored a 56-yard touchdown, capping a two-play, 65-yard scoring drive that lasted just 49 seconds. A successful extra point from kicker Matthias Dunn put BYU ahead 7-0 early.

Colorado State responded quickly, with quarterback Hauss Hejny completing passes to RJ Vick and Cedric Ross for 60 yards in just two plays. Penalties from both teams eventually moved the Rams to the BYU 16 for a first-and-goal. Two BYU stops forced a third-and-goal when Hejny found Vick across the middle for a touchdown. Colorado State evened the score 7-7 after a successful PAT with 11:22 left in the first quarter.

Back on offense, BYU began its drive with an 8-yard jet sweep to Glasker. Bachmeier again delivered the ball to Glasker on the next play, a one-handed snag over the corner for 70 yards. From the Rams' 2-yard line, Martin ran up the middle, scoring for the second time after five total plays. Dunn's extra point then put BYU back ahead 14-7 after a three-play, 1:36 drive. 

Colorado State shifted to a run-heavy scheme on its next drive. Stops from cornerbacks Therrian Alexander III and Evan Johnson forced a punt, and Bachmeier and the offense took over at the BYU 14. The Cougars worked similarly, running three times and then punting after a three-and-out.

BYU’s defense took the field and forced a quick three-and-out of its own, and the Rams’ punt sailed to Cannon DeVries, whose deep return was negated by a review that put the Cougars at their own 27. On third down, Bachmeier found Glasker with a short crossing route, and the freshman worked his way across the 50 into Rams territory. Bachmeier continued through the air on the next play, passing to tight end Walker Lyons for 26 yards. BYU’s ongoing offensive momentum continued as Martin ran for 10 yards and again for an eight-yard score, marking his third touchdown of the game and 225 total yards of offense for the Cougars in the quarter. Dunn’s successful extra point extended the BYU advantage 21-7. 

With Colorado State’s Hejny sidelined, K’saan Farrar took the lead for the Rams on offense, and the quarter came to a close.

Second Quarter

The Cougar defense held strong again, stifling the Rams' offense and forcing another punt, which bounced out of bounds at the BYU 3. Starting against the goal line, Martin picked up right where he left off, running for 17 yards to the 20-yard line. Bachmeier then delivered another first down with a pass to Lyons for 14 yards, and Kyler Kasper grabbed his first reception on the next play, catching and running for 23 yards. The drive continued, and BYU would be stopped on third down. Dunn stretched the lead on fourth down, sending a 44-yard field goal through the uprights for the first made field goal of his career, moving BYU ahead 24-7.

The Rams relied heavily on the run game on their subsequent drive. After running on all six plays, Colorado State was forced to punt the ball back to BYU, which began its drive on the 22 after a 10-yard return from DeVries.

Martin’s ground game shined again as the senior ran for nine yards on first down and 49 on second, issuing in the two-minute timeout. Out of the break, Bachmeier found Glasker for a fourth reception, getting 15 yards. On the next play, Glasker received the ball again on a jet sweep and marched into the end zone from five yards out. Another successful extra point from Dunn moved BYU’s lead 31-7 with 1:18 remaining in the first half.

The home offense embarked on its longest drive of the half, working the ball down to the BYU 27 with 18 seconds left. Despite the Rams driving into scoring position, the Cougars capitalized in their own territory as defensive end Hunter Clegg dropped back into coverage and intercepted a pass from Farrar. The offense then kneeled out the remaining seconds on the clock, totaling 377 yards in the first half.

Third Quarter

On defense to start the second half, the Cougars forced a quick three-and-out after another Colorado State drop. DeVries' 17-yard punt return put the ball at midfield as Bachmeier and the offense took the field for the first time out of the half.

Martin opened the drive with a nine-yard reception from Bachmeier and ran for a first on the next play. Phillips secured his first reception of the game, catching a short pass and juking a defender for 12 yards, moving the ball to the Rams' 29. Glasker snatched another nine yards before running back Preston Rex walked into the end zone untouched. With the extra point through the goalposts, BYU moved ahead 38-7 on an eight-play, 53-yard drive.

The Cougar defense showcased its dominance again, forcing a Rams three-and-out for the second time in the third quarter. Journee Tonga made his first appearance of the game on the next drive, running for 14 yards on the first play of the possession. BYU’s offensive line continued to maintain control of the line of scrimmage as Tonga gained another nine yards. Devaughn Eka then entered the game, running for 16 yards on his first carry and seven on his second as he moved the ball to the Colorado State 19. After a Tonga touchdown was called back on a holding penalty, Bachmeier turned over the ball in the end zone after a pass to Kasper was intercepted and returned out to the 26-yard line. Bachmeier's pick marks the first turnover for BYU this season.

Colorado State’s drive extended six plays before freshman safety Kennan Pula stopped the Rams' tight end short of the first on fourth down. Despite the turnover on downs, BYU’s offense was sidelined after just one play when a tipped pass from quarterback Treyson Bourget was intercepted by the Colorado State defense at the end of the third quarter.

Fourth Quarter

BYU’s defense began the fourth quarter in its own territory as the Rams moved their way down the field. After an injury took Farrar out of the game, Colorado State’s third-string quarterback Darius Curry made his way into the game. A roughing the passer penalty on BYU and a reception would put the Rams at the 1-yard line. Three plays later, running back Durell Robinson scored a touchdown. After a two-point conversion, BYU’s lead shrunk 38-15.

Now working to burn the clock, the Cougars kept the ball on the ground on their next possession. Tonga burst through a seam and ran for 38 yards before he was tackled and followed up with a 12-yard run on the next play. After runs from Eka, Dunn kicked a field goal from 26 yards out, moving BYU’s lead back up to 41-15.

With 6:39 left in the game, the Rams' offense fought into BYU territory, supported by a 30-yard catch and run from Ross. Continuing to slowly work its way to the goal line, Colorado State scored off a 1-yard pop pass from Curry to tight end Nader Chirchi. Another successful two-point conversion adjusted the score 41-23.

Kasper would recover the Rams’ onside kick and Bourget would kneel out the remaining time on the clock, securing BYU’s third win on the season at 41-23.

Up Next

No. 11 BYU takes a week off with a bye in Week 4. Following the break, the Cougars continue on the road as they travel to Fort Worth, Texas, to play conference opponent TCU on Saturday, Oct. 3. Kickoff time and streaming information will be announced at a later date.