No. 11 BYU made a statement it didn’t need to make Saturday, rallying from an early deficit to beat UCF 41-21 in Provo, Utah to build momentum entering next week’s Big 12 championship game.
By game’s end, the Cougars’ early 14-0 hole was long forgotten. LJ Martin had a hat trick of touchdowns, Bear Bachmeier had 289 yards passing with an 84% completion percentage and Parker Kingston had two 45-plus-yard touchdowns.
Arizona State’s loss to Arizona last night solidified BYU’s place in the Big 12 championship game next week against Texas Tech, providing a chance for the Cougars to avenge their lone loss.
Leading 17-14 at the half, the Cougars (11-1, 8,1 Big 12) opened the second half with a 75-yard drive that took over six minutes and was capped with Martin’s 4-yard scoring run. The Big 12’s leading rusher finished with 95 yards on the day.
UCF (5-7, 2-7) punted to Kingston on the ensuing drive. After evading two defenders, he broke through the seam for a 55-yard touchdown to balloon the lead to 31-14.
The Knights responded with a trick play. Running back Agyeman Addae took a direct snap and threw to quarterback Tayven Jackson, who was wide open to cut the deficit to 31-21 with 3:24 left in the third.
Bachmeier and Kingston hit back with a 46-yard throw and catch on fourth-and-3 to push the lead back to 17. The pair connected six times for 126 yards.
Bachmeier completed 18 of his final 20 passes.
The Cougars put up 407 yards of offense, rattling off 31 straight points after falling down early.
Jackson led UCF on an opening drive where he went 7 for 8 with 70 yards and a 4-yard touchdown to Dylan Wade with 9:27 left in the first.
The second drive went just as well as Addae caught a 20-yard pass for a 14-0 lead with 3:39 left in the first.
Jackson finished the day 21-for-37 passing with 232 yards, two touchdowns and a fumble. Wide receiver Duane Thomas Jr. threw an interception and also caught four passes for 74 yards.
Martin rattled off two 1-yard touchdowns in the second quarter, the latter making it 14-14 with 4:54 left in the half.
BYU kicker Will Ferrin was 2-for-4 on the day, including a 26-yarder right before the half and a 50-yarder with 3:53 left in the game to cap the scoring.
