can the cougars bounce back? byu at UCF game recAP

UCF vs BYU Game Recap

The Bounce House was bumping on Saturday in UCF’s upset win over the BYU Cougars. In just the span of seven days, it seemed that all BYU had accomplished in their first six games went down the drain. 

The offense started slow for UCF, with their only two drives in the first quarter ending in punts. On the flip side, BYU had a long, 11-play, 84 yard touchdown drive, ending in a 27-yard touchdown reception by Kyler Kasper. It seemed that BYU should be all good in Orlando, and that all the “hangover game” talks were silenced.

However, UCF responded with a touchdown drive of their own, resulting in a 2-yard touchdown run from Landen Chambers. From there, it seemed like the thought of losing would haunt the Cougars for the rest of the game, causing them to play timid and scared. UCF played this game at their own pace.

BYU would go three-and-out, and then UCF would take the lead on a field goal. However, Bear Bachmeier wouldn’t back down, leading his team on a touchdown drive, this time ending in his own touchdown run. BYU would then force a punt, and was beginning to put together a good drive, when things went south.

In my opinion, this is where BYU lost the game. They had a chance to go up 21-10 and put the game away, the same halftime lead they had against Notre Dame. However, Bachmeier would throw an interception in UCF territory, and the Knights would respond with a 1:18 touchdown drive to end the half.

Knights Quarterback Keyone Jenkins completed a 6-yard touchdown pass to Landen Chambers for the Knights. This was a 10-14 point swing in the negative direction for the Cougars, and this would ultimately cost them the game and their undefeated season. 

Sitake’s squad would not back down, though. BYU would take the lead 17-14 on a 1-yard touchdown run by Sione Moa, helped set up by a 27-yard rush from receiver Preston Rex, a 14-yard reception by Kasper and a 24-yard reception by Jojo Phillips. UCF Quarterback Keyone Jenkins would then lead another touchdown drive, ending in a 1-yard touchdown run by himself to re-establish the lead.

BYU would kick a 47-yard field goal to tie the game. A punt from both teams would give the Knights the ball back with about nine minutes remaining in the game. They would go on an incredible drive, lasting 7:17, and going 61 yards in 12 plays. However, the BYU defense would hold strong at the 1-yard line on 4th down, giving BYU the ball back with a minute and a half. 

The rest of regulation was confusing to say the least. BYU would punt once more, and UCF would receive the ball at their 31-yard line with 37 seconds remaining. A 21-yard reception by Landon Chambers rejuvenated the Knights and it seemed like they had a real chance to win in regulation. However, BYU would sack Jenkins, in what was originally called a fumble recovery by the Cougars. After video review, it was determined that Jenkins threw an incomplete pass and that a BYU player committed an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for pushing Jenkins’ head into the turf. Now, the Knights were in field goal range, and were set to win the game on a 46-yard field goal. 

The craziness would continue, as the Cougars blocked Will Stone’s kick, although Stone recovered the block and ran for a few yards before getting his helmet ripped off. Since the ball was kicked on 3rd down it seemed that UCF would have another chance to kick the field goal. However, since Stone’s helmet fell off, a 10-second runoff was enforced and the game would head to overtime. To be entirely honest, it doesn’t seem like anyone has any idea what happened at the end of regulation, with many saying that it was the most confusing end to a football game they have ever seen.

To start overtime, Bachmeier connected with Legend Glasker for a 28-yard touchdown pass on 3rd&13. However, UCF would score on the very next play on a 25-yard touchdown pass to Josh Derry. UCF would start with the ball to begin the second overtime period.

BYU seemed to stand tall once again, holding UCF to a field goal, but a roughing the kicker penalty gave the Knights a fresh set of downs at the 5-yard line. Jenkins would complete a pass to Tight End Grayson Brousseau to start 2OT with a score, also adding the two-point conversion that the second overtime period requires.

Ultimately, BYU would turn the ball over on downs after an incomplete pass to Walker Lyons from the 4-yard line. Knight fans would storm the field as their squad took down the 2nd ranked team in the nation, and the Cougars would get a taste of their own medicine, losing in similar fashion to Notre Dame last week.

For UCF, nothing short of an amazing win for the program, and without a doubt, the best win for Scott Frost in his second stint of leading UCF. Quarterback Keyone Jenkins, who replaced Alonza Barnett III due to injury, starred with over 300 total yards and 4 touchdowns. Running Back Duke Watson also ran for 94 yards on 6.3 YPC for the Knights.

In order to win this game, someone in the receiver room outside of Josh Derry had to step up. On Saturday it was Tyren Hornes, who led UCF with 137 receiving yards. Derry still impressed with 6 catches for 54 yards and a touchdown

Defensively, the interception from Tackett Curtis arguably won them this game. Ken Talley had the team’s only sack, and Jayden Williams led the Knights with eight tackles. Collectively, UCF held BYU to just 3.2 yards per carry. 

Outside of the interception, Bachmeier didn’t do anything in particular to lose this game for the Cougars. He threw for 257 yards and two touchdowns, while also adding 37 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Kyler Kasper and Legend Glasker continued to be his two main targets, combining for 10 catches with 183 yards and two touchdowns. Running Back Sione Moa only had 36 yards off 13 carries in his first game back from injury. 

Defensively, Cade Uluave led the Cougars with 10 tackles and Defensive Tackle Justin Kirkland had the team’s only sack. Overall a poor showing from the Cougar defense, who allowed 463 yards. They would’ve loved to get more out of Isaiah Glasker, who starred against Notre Dame, but struggled against the Knights. He missed a crucial tackle on a 3rd and long in the third quarter, which resulted in a 56-yard completion for UCF. UCF would take the lead later on in this drive with a touchdown.

Overall, it was an absolutely poor showing from BYU in a letdown spot after the big win against Notre Dame. It is never easy to perform well after a program-changing win, especially when you have to fly across the country to face a team coming off of a bye week. That being said, there is no excuse for this performance from the Cougars if they want to win a National Championship. They put themselves in a spot to contend for an at-large bid in the CFP after their win over #2 ranked Notre Dame, but now the Cougars may not even make the Big 12 Championship game. 

BYU looks to get back on track next week against Arizona State, before facing their rival, Utah, in Salt Lake City. They will also play Cincinnati and Baylor the rest of the way, two teams that are arguably better than UCF. The Notre Dame win (and also the Arizona win) will carry them far, but BYU can’t afford to drop another game and put their fate in the committee’s hands. Kalani Sitake must get his team back on board and back to how they were playing for the first half of the season.