For the first time in two decades, BYU marched into Fort Worth and left with a W, defeating TCU 17-10 this past Saturday. It was far from pretty, a gritty, frustrating battle against injuries, sloppy play, and nasty weather conditions. But the Cougars navigated it all to move to 4-0 on the season and a perfect 2-0 in Big 12 play. That’s how you make a statement.
Bear Bachmeier’s Heroic Ground Attack
Seriously, talk about stepping up! BYU’s ground game had to go into overdrive after a brutal blow: bell cow running back LJ Martin got hurt on his second carry and was out for the rest of the game. You’d think that would sink the run game, right? Nope. The Cougars kept pounding the rock, finishing with 36 carries for 157 yards.
A lot of that was out of necessity. The rain made for a super shaky passing night for quarterback Bear Bachmeier, who only threw for 62 yards with a 46% completion rate. But Bachmeier, bless his heart, put the team on his back, leading the charge on the ground. This dude, who’d only run the ball 12 times in the first three games, logged 15 carries for 66 yards against TCU. He braved contact all night and punched in two touchdowns, one from nine yards out and another from 21 yards. Preston Rex, Journee Tonga, and Legend Glasker also stepped up big time, combining for 75 yards to fill Martin’s shoes against a tough TCU run defense. Given the weather, the injuries, and all the offensive line penalties, there was no other way BYU was winning this one. Staying committed to that run game, even when it was frustrating, paid off huge. They won the clock battle, protected the football, and wore down the Horned Frogs.
Defense Stood Tall, Big Time
While the offense was grinding it out, the Cougar defense absolutely put on a clinic. They held TCU to a measly 259 total yards and forced six punts. TCU couldn’t convert on third down to save their lives, going just 4 of 13, and the Horned Frogs only managed 2.4 yards per carry. That’s suffocating.
Faletau Satuala was the early hero, snagging an interception and returning it 59 yards to set up Bachmeier’s first touchdown. What a play! The pass rush had its best performance of the season, too, with Nusi Taumoepeau, Tausili Akana, Braxton Lindsey, and Jake Clifton all getting home for sacks. Holding a conference rival to just 10 points on their own field? That’s no small feat. Defensive coordinator Kelly Poppinga’s unit is certified solid, no doubt about it.
The Injury Bug Is Real
Alright, so while we’re celebrating, we gotta talk about the elephant in the room: injuries are really starting to pile up for BYU this season. Saturday was no different. Besides LJ Martin, linebacker Isaiah Glasker and defensive back Cannon DeVries both left the game early and never came back. It just makes this road win even more impressive, knowing what they battled through.
The Cougars proved they can win ugly, gutsy games on the road, even when the deck is stacked against them. With that 4-0 record and a flawless 2-0 in conference play, the rest of the Big 12 is definitely watching. Now, they just need to heal up and keep that momentum rolling. What a start to their season!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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