Here are the three plays that helped bring BYU back from the brink of defeat to claim its fifth-consecutive victory over Arizona.
Most of the BYU football team is too young to appreciate the classic rock band REO Speedwagon, and except for the coaching staff, their hit song ‘Ridin’ the Storm Out’ probably falls on deaf ears — but that’s exactly what the Cougars did Saturday to beat Arizona 33-27 in double-overtime.
Football games are full of both good fortune and misfortune. BYU had to overcome a lot of the latter, including a one-hour and 14-minute weather delay, to survive the stormy night and remain undefeated (6-0, 3-0).
Turnovers, penalties, missed tackles and rare gaffes on special teams were ready to define the night for BYU, especially with the Wildcats leading 24-14 with under five minutes to play; however, there is a reason why the Cougars are 16-1 in their last 17-night games away from Provo — they don’t quit.
Here are the three plays that helped bring BYU back from the brink of defeat to claim its fifth-consecutive victory over Arizona on head coach Kalani Sitake’s 50th birthday weekend.
The King’s return
Having earned his job back as BYU’s punt returner, former Roy High star Parker Kingston fielded Isaac Lovison’s 44-yard punt on the Cougars’ 27 with 2:55 to play. A Will Ferrin field goal had trimmed the Wildcats’ lead to 24-17, but BYU needed a touchdown to pull even.
Kingston slipped past the initial defenders before darting to his right and finding daylight in front of the bewildered Arizona sideline. Before Lovison could bring him down, Kingston motored 26 yards to the Arizona 47-yard line — giving BYU excellent field position to launch a final drive.
“It shows our resilience, our toughness,” Kingston told BYUtv. “We were down 10 with 10 minutes left and we weren’t worried. We knew we had a chance no matter what — if plays were made, we would win this game.”
#BYU WR Parker Kingston goes over 100 yards receiving for the second straight week. A career high 117 yards on 5 receptions in the Cougars win over Arizona.#BYUFootball@KSLSportspic.twitter.com/RLePe3ll3n
— Sam Farnsworth (@Samsworth_TV) October 12, 2025
Eleven plays later, with 19 seconds remaining, Bear Bachmeier scored on a 2-yard run and Will Ferrin’s 96th consecutive point-after-try tied the game and forced overtime.
Will power
Like their rest of the squad, Ferrin and the special teams unit was a little off for most of the night — including a missed 42-yard field goal in the first quarter (in the rain), a failed fake punt after the weather delay in the second quarter, and a few abnormal center-to-holder snaps throughout the game.
When it mattered most, however, the trio of Garrison Grimes (center), Sam Vander Haar (holder) and Ferrin (kicker) held true to form.
"HE'S HUMAN"
— Ben Criddle (@CriddleBenjamin) October 9, 2025
🎙️ Kelly Poppinga on what makes Will Ferrin one of the best kickers in the country. pic.twitter.com/2SI20Jg4bX
Trailing 27-24 in the first overtime, and after BYU’s offense lost two yards in three plays, Ferrin calmly booted a 45-yard field goal to save the game and extend it to a second overtime.
Bear-ing down
There were times on Saturday where Bachmeier looked everything like a true freshman quarterback — he turned the ball over, he rushed throws, and he missed his targets — but to his credit, the 19-year-old never panicked.
BYU opened the second overtime with five straight running plays, including three from Bachmeier. On his 22nd run of the night, the 6-foot-2, 235-pound locomotive moved to his right, cut up field and dove across the goal line for the game-winning touchdown.
Bear Bachmeier led BYU to another comeback win tonight
— Ensign Gridiron (@EnsignGridiron) October 12, 2025
This time in 2OT against Arizona:
• 12/29 (41.4%)
• 172 pass yards
• 1 pass TD
• 2 INT
• 89 rush yards
• 2 rush TD
It wasn’t always pretty, but Bear came through when it mattered most 👏 pic.twitter.com/unBDJVWpBU
“You just have to keep your composure,” Bachmeier said. “There are highs and lows, but you just have to bounce back.”
Bachmeier completed just 12 of 29 passes for 172 yards with two interceptions and one touchdown. He rushed 22 times for 83 yards and two touchdowns.
“He’s a tough kid,” said Sitake, whose program improved to 17-2 over the last 19 games. “These are great lessons for him to learn and great memories for all of us to make. Nothing is easy.”
Honorable mentions
Bachmeier’s game-tying touchdown at the end of regulation was only made possible because of Kyle Sfarcioc’s fumble recovery. Facing third-and-4 at the Arizona 8-yard line, Bachmeier ran into the heart of the defense and fumbled.
A scrum ensued and somehow the transfer from Southern Utah secured possession of the ball and fought off everybody to keep it. In addition, Sfarcioc’s recovery also gave BYU a first down at the 4 with 45 seconds remaining.
Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita threw the ball 45 times, but his last throw was in the direction of Cougars cornerback Evan Johnson. The sophomore played his post perfectly and Fifita’s fourth-down toss to Javin Whatley in the back corner of the end zone fell incomplete to end the game.
Junior running back LJ Martin rushed for what might be the quietest 162 yards in program history. His 28-yard touchdown burst in the first quarter was his longest run of the night. Everything else (25 carries) was nickel and dimed, here a little and there a little.
Martin’s career night not only helped BYU secure their second road win in Big 12 play, but it also kept him on top of the conference in rushing with 652 yards (6.5 average).
Dave McCann is a sportswriter and columnist for the Deseret News and is a play-by-play announcer and show host for BYUtv/ESPN+. He co-hosts “Y’s Guys” at ysguys.com and is the author of the children’s book “C is for Cougar,” available at deseretbook.com.
Category: General Sports
