(Photograph credit score: Rob Grey-Imagn Photos)
No. 18 BYU has by no means produced back-to-back 6-0 begins in its storied historical past.
The Cougars have a watch on that milestone and likewise crave to stay unblemished in Large 12 play once they battle Arizona on Saturday night time at Tucson, Ariz.
BYU (5-0, 2-0 Large 12) is seeking to open a season with six straight wins for simply the seventh time in program historical past. A type of campaigns was turned in by the 1984 nationwide championship squad.
The Cougars have twice beforehand began 6-0 below coach Kalani Sitake, profitable their first 9 on each events. Along with final season’s group, the 2020 squad led by Zach Wilson additionally turned in such a begin.
BYU, which recorded a 38-24 dwelling win over West Virginia on Oct. 3, is getting into a difficult stretch.
After dealing with the Wildcats (4-1, 1-1), fierce rival Utah and ranked groups Iowa State and Texas Tech observe on the slate.
‘That’s what we’re going to discuss — being extra grateful and stepping it up within the pleasure now we have enjoying the sport,’ Cougars receiver Chase Roberts mentioned. ‘We discovered quite a bit (towards West Virginia). It was an incredible sport for us heading into these more durable video games developing.’
Roberts (161 yards on 4 catches) and Parker Kingston (111 yards and a landing on fourth receptions) each had career-best yardage video games towards the Mountaineers. So did freshman quarterback Bear Bachmeier, who threw for 351 yards and a TD with one interception.
Bachmeier and Roberts additionally teamed up on an 85-yard move play, the varsity’s longest since now-Texas coach Steve Sarkisian related with Dustin Johnson for 87 in a 1996 sport towards Rice.
The Cougars common 38.4 factors per sport however could possibly be challenged by a sturdy Arizona move protection.
The Wildcats are the one group within the nation to not permit a passing landing they usually have restricted three of their 5 opponents to fewer than 100 passing yards. They held visiting Oklahoma State to 69 by way of the air and 158 complete final weekend in a 41-13 trouncing.
The Wildcats are longing for a greater exhibiting towards BYU, which coasted to a 41-19 victory in Provo, Utah, in 2024.
‘Final 12 months is final 12 months,’ Arizona linebacker Max Harris mentioned. ‘Heading in the direction of BYU, it’s a faceless opponent. The subsequent opponent on the schedule is whoever it’s. We’re simply going to play and provides it 100% each time.’
Wildcats quarterback Noah Fifita was intercepted thrice in final 12 months’s matchup whereas finishing 26 of 52 passes for 275 yards and one landing.
Fifita tied his profession excessive of 5 landing passes — the fourth time he has thrown that many — within the win over Oklahoma State.
General, Fifita has handed for 1,341 yards and 13 touchdowns towards three picks this season.
‘It is looking for a strategy to disrupt (Fifita), however even once you do this and convey extra strain, he is aware of the place to go together with the ball,’ Sitake mentioned. ‘He is an incredible participant and I do know he is an incredible younger man. That is the sort of man that everybody ought to cheer for. … We all know that is going to be a tricky activity.’
Fifita is tied for third in Arizona historical past with 57 passing touchdowns and is fourth with 7,296 passing yards.
‘Being a Division I quarterback on this stage is difficult. You get method an excessive amount of credit score and an excessive amount of blame,’ Wildcats coach Brent Brennan mentioned. ‘Noah Fifita handles it with unimaginable class and dignity. He is an incredible chief and an incredible teammate.’
Arizona has misplaced the previous 4 conferences with the Cougars.
–Subject Stage Media
