Bear Bachmeier runs for 2 TDs as No. 10 BYU overcomes loss of LJ Martin to beat TCU 17-10

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier ran for two touchdowns, the second a clinching 21-yarder with 2:06 left, and the No. 10 Cougars overcame an injury to running back LJ Martin in a 17-10 victory over TCU on a rainy Saturday night.

“That was a gritty win,” coach Kalani Sitake said. “I liked ending the game how we did, which was a long drive, getting in the end zone, and Bear just took over.”

Both teams had trouble moving the ball, with 72 of the 216 total yards by BYU (4-0, 2-0 Big 12) coming of the late 10-play drive that took nearly six minutes. Bachmeier bounced off one of his teammates at the line, then ran through several TCU defenders inside the 10 to make it 17-7.

“There’s nothing stopping him from getting in the end zone,” center Bruce Mitchell said.

“It’s fun to see Bear just do what he does,” Sitake said.

Martin had two carries for 16 yards in the first quarter, but that was it because of an apparent lower leg injury. The AP Big 12 offensive player of the year last season was averaging 109.3 yards rushing while the Cougars were scoring 44 points a game.

Sitake didn’t provide much of an update on Martin afterward, or injured linebacker Isaiah Glasker, but said “it wasn’t like those guys were on crutches or anything like that. So I’m encouraged with that.”

After Bachmeier’s late TD, the Horned Frogs (2-3, 0-2) got a 44-yard field goal from Nate McCashland with 32 seconds left. But they were unable to recover an onside kick.

Matthias Bunn kicked a 49-yard field on BYU’s first drive after halftime to snap a 7-all tie. Bachmeier twice converted on third down with runs, including an 8-yarder after a fumbled snap.

TCU had only 259 total yards. Jaden Craig, the Harvard transfer who was averaging 303.3 yard passing per game, completed 18 of 25 passes for 187 yards with a touchdown and a costly interception that was the game’s only turnover.

“We have to find a way to score points,” said TCU coach Sonny Dykes, whose team has scored 33 total points in three games against Power Four opponents. “We knew it would be tough sledding, and BYU is a good team, but we have to work on getting better.”

The Cougars had to go only 16 yards in six plays after Faletau Satuala had a fourth-down interception and returned it 59 yards midway through the second quarter. That set up Bachmeier’s 9-yard keeper when he lunged into the end zone on third-and-goal.

On the play before the TD, Bachmeier chased down a bad snap that got by him and was able to throw the ball away to avoid a huge loss.

TCU tied the game on Craig’s 13-yard TD pass to Kari Ashley with 27 seconds left in the half. That eight-play, 76-yard drive came after the Frogs had only 75 total yards on their 22 plays in the game before that.

Unusually close

After BYU joined the Big 12, the first two Big 12 matchups were lopsided home wins. BYU won 44-13 last year after losing 44-11 in its last trip to Fort Worth in 2023. There were only two one-score games in the previous 13 series games before Saturday.

The takeaway

BYU: Without Martin in the backfield with him, Bachmeier gutted this one out for the Cougars. He finished with 66 yards rushing on 15 carries while completing 11 of 24 passes for 62 yards.

TCU: The Frogs are 0-2 in Big 12 play for the first time since 2013, their second year in the league when they finished 4-8 overall. That is still their only eight-loss season since a 1-10 record in 1997.

Up next

BYU is home for a Friday night game against Iowa State (3-2, 1-1)

TCU has an open date before playing at instate rival Baylor on Oct. 17.

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