PROVO, Utah — In an impressive display of skill, Jake Retzlaff threw for 218 yards and two touchdowns as the No. 14 BYU Cougars triumphed over Arizona with a score of 41-19 on Saturday.
Darius Lassiter played a crucial role in the victory, securing 86 yards on five receptions. Additionally, Parker Kingston shone with a touchdown catch and added a score of his own on a trick play. With this win, BYU improved its record to 6-0 overall and 3-0 in the Big 12 Conference, marking their best start since 2020.
For Arizona, Noah Fifita passed for 275 yards and a touchdown. However, his performance was marred by three interceptions and a fumble. Tetairoa McMillan contributed 78 yards on five receptions for the Wildcats. This loss brings Arizona’s record to 3-3 overall and 1-2 within the Big 12, suffering their fourth consecutive defeat in the series against BYU.
The Wildcats faced early adversity as they committed two turnovers within their first three plays of the third quarter. BYU’s Jakob Robinson intercepted a pass, resulting in a 9-yard touchdown for Chase Roberts. Shortly thereafter, Harrison Taggart recovered a fumble caused by Isaiah Glasker’s sack on Fifita, leading to a 33-yard field goal by Will Ferrin. This score increased BYU’s lead to 24-7 just two minutes into the second half.
In the fourth quarter, LJ Martin added to the scoreboard with a 1-yard rushing touchdown, while Glasker contributed a 21-yard interception return for a touchdown to seal the game for the Cougars.
Arizona had a strong start, stopping BYU on fourth down during the opening drive. Following that, they engineered a 95-yard scoring drive, culminating in a 14-yard touchdown reception by Montana Lemonious-Craig, after McMillan’s impressive 39-yard catch set it up, putting the Wildcats ahead 7-0.
However, BYU responded effectively on its second drive, executing a fourth-down play that led to a 15-yard rush by Martin, allowing Kingston to catch a touchdown pass from Retzlaff just moments later, tying the game at 7. The Cougars followed this up by taking a 14-7 lead in the second quarter when Kingston connected with Martin on a 33-yard touchdown pass, aided by Tanner Wall’s interception of a pass from Fifita.
In summary, Arizona struggled to maintain momentum after a promising initial drive, faltering on offense and failing to capitalize on opportunities due to turnovers. Conversely, BYU’s defense capitalized on key plays, transitioning the game’s momentum heavily in their favor and showcasing their ability to force turnovers with precision, garnering a total of ten interceptions across six games this season.
Looking ahead, Arizona will face Colorado at home next Saturday, while BYU is set to host Oklahoma State on Friday, positioning themselves for potential movement in the upcoming AP Top 25 rankings following another significant victory at home.