In a thrilling Friday night showdown, Kedon Slovis showcased his quarterback prowess, helping Brigham Young University (BYU) secure a hard-fought 35-27 victory over Cincinnati. Slovis, who threw for 223 yards and two touchdowns, was instrumental in guiding the Cougars (4-1, 1-1 Big 12) to their first Big 12 conference victory of the season.
One of the standout performances of the game came from Chase Roberts, who piled up a career-high 131 yards on six catches, providing crucial support for the Cougars. BYU's offense displayed its explosiveness with four touchdown drives, each covering five or fewer plays.
Slovis didn't have the smoothest start, completing only one of his first seven pass attempts. However, he bounced back admirably, connecting on eight of nine passes and leading three consecutive touchdown drives that ultimately secured the win for BYU. Roberts praised Slovis's resilience and leadership, emphasizing that it all starts with their talented quarterback.
On the opposing side, Cincinnati's Emory Jones had a noteworthy performance, throwing for 256 yards and three touchdowns while adding 94 yards on the ground. Despite rushing for an impressive 242 yards and accumulating 498 total yards, the Bearcats (2-3, 0-2 Big 12) suffered their third consecutive loss.
Cincinnati coach Scott Satterfield acknowledged the importance of making plays when they matter most, highlighting BYU's ability to capitalize on critical moments in the game.
The first half of the game saw BYU struggling to find its footing on offense, with a mere 38 total yards until their final drive before halftime. Nevertheless, they managed to take an early 7-0 lead when Jakob Robinson returned an interception for a 42-yard touchdown.
Cincinnati answered back in the second quarter when Jones connected with Chamon Metayer for a 27-yard touchdown pass. The Bearcats displayed their offensive prowess, covering 90 yards in 17 plays and taking a 10-7 lead after a Carter Brown field goal.
BYU regained momentum just before halftime, with Slovis completing three consecutive passes, including a 22-yard touchdown strike to Darrius Lassiter. This put the Cougars ahead 14-10 at the break.
After halftime, BYU continued to roll. LJ Martin's 29-yard rushing touchdown extended their lead to 21-10 early in the third quarter. Slovis then delivered a 59-yard TD pass to Roberts, pushing the score to 28-13 in favor of BYU.
While Cincinnati made efforts to cut the deficit, with Metayer securing his second touchdown catch, a muffed punt provided BYU with excellent field position, leading to Martin's one-yard rushing touchdown. This extended the Cougars' lead to 35-20 with 12:41 remaining.
In retrospect, Cincinnati struggled to convert their early drives into points, despite amassing 154 rushing yards by halftime. BYU, on the other hand, capitalized on Cincinnati's mistakes, scoring touchdowns off an interception and a muffed punt while committing zero turnovers. BYU coach Kalani Sitake commended his team for taking care of the ball and his defense for seizing crucial opportunities.
Cincinnati, despite controlling the ball for 35 minutes and running 84 total plays, couldn't finish drives efficiently. Coach Satterfield lamented their inability to convert their early dominance into a halftime lead.
Looking ahead, Cincinnati is set to host Iowa State on October 14th, while BYU will visit TCU on the same date. Both teams will aim to build on their performances and continue their journeys through the competitive Big 12 conference.
