95-yard, 11-play drive powers BYU's 27-20 win over Arizona State

BYU football players secured a 27-20 victory over Arizona State on Saturday, extending the Cougars' streak to nine straight wins on Halloween. The final score was determined by a single, 11-play sequence that covered 95 yards in the fourth quarter. This drive marked the third-longest scoring sequence for BYU since 2016.

The sequence began with a high-pressure decision. With the Cougars leading 20-17, the team faced a fourth-and-1 situation at their own 14-yard line. Head coach Kalani Sitake called a timeout. Despite the conventional wisdom to punt, Sitake chose to keep the offense on the field to convert the down. He cited visible fatigue in his defensive unit as a primary factor in his decision-making process.

Running back Sione Moa reacted with confidence to the call. "Let's do it," Moa said. "They (coaches) call the plays. They know what we are capable of. We know what we are capable of. Whatever they call, I think, in my mind, it's 'Alright let's do it. Let's go execute it.'"

Quarterback Bear Bachmeier executed the first gamble. He took a shotgun snap and ran with his 230-plus-pound frame toward the first-down marker. Moa followed closely behind. The pair secured the first down with a narrow margin. Sitake acknowledged the tension of the moment. "I think a lot of people were nervous about the fourth-and-1," Sitake said. "The team was all for it. That was a good moment for us. I'm just glad it worked out."

Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham praised the boldness of the play. "Kudos to Kalani," Dillingham said. "It takes a lot of guts to go for it, but he did it and it was the right decision for his football team, and it ended up helping him win."

The drive gained momentum on the following snap. Bachmeier threw a deep pass to Legend Glasker, who caught the ball for a 53-yard gain. The reception moved the ball to the Arizona State 31-yard line. Glasker noted the strong chemistry between him and the quarterback. "As soon as I lined up, I knew the ball was coming," Glasker said. "Me and Bear, we just have a connection, I don't know how to explain it. When there is a deep post call, I know 90 percent of the time it's coming to me. I just run fast and go get the ball."

Glasker finished the game with four receptions for 87 yards and 14 rushing yards. His performance made him the fifth true freshman in Big 12 history to accumulate 600 receiving yards and 100 rushing yards in a single game.

BYU drove to the Arizona State six-yard line and faced another fourth down, this time a fourth-and-4. A field goal would have increased the lead to six points with 2:30 remaining. Sitake again opted for a touchdown attempt. Bachmeier threw to Roger Saleapaga at the five-yard line. Saleapaga, a 6-4, 230-pound junior, lunged into the end zone and secured the touchdown. The hard hit took him out of the game.

Running back Sione Moa scored on the next play to increase the lead to 27-17. This final score held to secure the win. The victory keeps BYU at 7-1 overall and 4-1 in the Big 12, maintaining their position in the conference championship race. Bachmeier reflected on the sequence. "It was a very rewarding, long drive and we converted on conversion downs," Bachmeier said. "It was a great drive."