BYU wins on 11-play drive
The Cougars used two fourth-down conversions and a 53-yard bomb to defeat Arizona State 27-20 in a late-season showdown.
By Sanjay Ivanov ·
BYU defeated Arizona State 27-20 on Saturday, November 1, securing their ninth consecutive victory on Halloween. The final margin depended on an 11-play, 95-yard scoring drive in the fourth quarter. It was the third-longest such sequence in the program's history since 2016.
With 5:52 remaining and leading 20-17, head coach Kalani Sitake faced a critical choice. The Cougars sat on their own 14-yard line facing fourth-and-1. Sitake called a timeout and opted to keep the offense on the field rather than punt. He cited visible fatigue in the Arizona State defense as a factor in the decision.
Quarterback Bear Bachmeier snapped the ball from shotgun. Running back Sione Moa blocked downfield, and Bachmeier gained the necessary yardage. Sitake said the team was eager to go for it. Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham called the play the right decision for BYU's football team.
On the next snap, Bachmeier threw a 53-yard pass to Legend Glasker. The catch moved the ball to the Arizona State 31-yard line. Glasker finished the game with four receptions for 87 yards and 14 rushing yards. He became the fifth true freshman in Big 12 history to record 600 receiving yards and 100 rushing yards in a single season.
The drive continued until the Cougars reached the Sun Devils' six-yard line. Facing fourth-and-4 with 2:30 left, Sitake again chose a touchdown over a field goal. Bachmeier connected with Roger Saleapaga at the five-yard line. Saleapaga, a 6-4, 230-pound junior, was tackled hard and left the game with a knock, but the touchdown stood.
Running back Sione Moa scored on the following play to extend the lead to 27-17. The win keeps BYU at 7-1 overall and 4-1 in the Big 12. The team remains in the championship race. Bachmeier described the sequence as rewarding, noting the team converted on key downs.
The game took place before 63,000 fans. Moa said he trusted the coaching staff's play calls. He noted that the group understood their capability to execute. Sitake expressed relief that the aggressive strategy succeeded.
Source: Deseret News
