Taking the lead: BYU’s 63-7 win over Utah Tech showcased Cougar’s promising and exciting freshman class
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- Legend Glasker celebrates scoring one of his three touchdowns versus Utah Tech. September 5, 2026
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- BYU receiver Jojo Phillips crosses the goal line for a touchdown versus Utah Tech. September 5, 2026
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- BYU cornerback Evan Johnson celebrates an interception versus Utah Tech. September 5, 2026
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- BYU running back Preston Rex celebrates his touchdown run versus Utah Tech. September 5, 2026
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- BYU’s Cannon DeVries crosses into the endzone on his 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown versus Utah Tech. September 5, 2026
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- BYU quarterback Bear Bachmeier escapes the pocket during his team’s win over Utah Tech. September 5, 2026
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- BYU linebacker Siale Esera sacks the quarterback during his team’s win over Utah Tech. September 5, 2026
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- BYU linebacker Tausili Akana celebrates recovering a fumble versus Utah Tech. September 5, 2026
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- BYU sophomore Cannon DeVries celebrates with fans following his kickoff returned for a touchdown versus Utah Tech. September 5, 2026
Perhaps everything you need to know about BYU’s 63-7 win over Utah Tech was told by which players the team decided to present to the media during postgame interviews.
None of the usual suspects appeared.
No quarterback Bear Bachmeier, who went 16-20 through the air for 198 yards and three touchdowns while adding a touchdown run.
LJ Martin didn’t take to the podium after his very abbreviated outing.
And absent were familiar defensive stars like safety Faletau Satuala and defensive tackle Keanu Tanuvasa.
For Saturday’s season-opening win, it belonged to the freshmen and other previously obscure underclassmen.
First to the podium was former Lehi standout Legend Glasker, and for good reason. Of all the freshmen shining on Saturday, none shined more than the speedy and shifty receiver who scored touchdowns on three of his five touchdowns in the win, which included the game’s very first score on a 9-yard run off of a fly sweep.
“I told you guys (not to) worry about our receiver room,” said BYU coach Kalani Sitake just prior to Glasker’s interview. “(BYU receivers coach ) Fesi (Sitake) knows what he’s doing there. He saw the capabilities of Legend Glasker and what he can do.”
And now everyone has seen it.
As mentioned, Glasker wasn’t finished with his first touchdown. He went on to score on touchdown receptions of 33 and 26 yards to help build a big 42-0 lead at the break which all but ended just about every offensive and defensive starter’s nights.
As one could imagine, Glasker was all smiles at the podium.
“Coming into the game, I really wanted to score. So, I mean, three was a surprise, but before the game I just said it was in God’s hands, and that’s what he
wanted to happen for me, so I’m blessed,” Glasker said. “”The people around me — the coaches and the players, they bought into me a lot, and they trust me. So I feel like when they entrusted me, I can just really go out there and do this with their trust. I feel like I can do anything.”
Saturday’s win wasn’t just about Glasker, far from it. Other first year players flashing plenty of potential and future excitement were running backs Journee Tonga, who topped off his one series of reps with a 4-yard touchdown run, and Glasker’s high school teammates, DeVaughn Eka, who made his debut by leaping over a defender en route to finishing the evening as the team’s leading rusher with eight carries for 59 yards, which included an 11-yard touchdown run.
“Every time I went in, I tried to do as much as I can and do everything I can. It was a great feeling today,” Eka said.
Although he’s not a freshman, sophomore Cannon DeVries entered Saturday’s game as a somewhat obscure and unknown name to most Cougar fans, but he did away with that in fairly dramatic fashion. Playing as the team’s primary slot corner, and then as both the kick and punt returner, the Weber High product made big gains on more than several returns before breaking one all the way in the form of a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown at the start of the third quarter.
“He’s been doing that since Weber High School,” Kalani Sitake said. “You guys have seen the highlights of what he’s done. He’s an amazing returner, and he has a high IQ when it comes to knowing how the field works, and he can view the whole field in a return game. I think you either have it when it comes to returns or you don’t,
and he has it.”
“I’m just grateful for the opportunity, first of all,” DeVries added. “Once I caught the ball, I knew that, that could be a crease, and once I saw it open up, oh man, it was all out from there. It was definitely a dream come true. I’ve always dreamt of scoring a return here at (LaVell Edwards Stadium), and to make it happen, it was something I couldn’t describe.”
Of course it wasn’t all smooth-sailing for the Cougars on Saturday. One notable occurrence that could impact the rest of the season strongly was starting senior safety Raider Damuni being helped off the field after having his knee rolled up on following a play late in the second quarter.
“I don’t have an update on his injury at this time, but I didn’t like that he couldn’t walk off the field on his own,” Kalani Sitake said. “We’re praying for him and his family. Whatever it is, we hope for a speedy recovery and possibly a miracle. We are still assessing the injury, and we will try to make a decision on what they see in
the MRI and all those things.”
The qualification of Saturday’s onslaught was of course tempered by the strength of the opponent, or rather the fact that Utah Tech certainly didn’t pose much in terms of competition. But overall the game looked much like it was supposed to look like, all factors considered.
“I liked our energy. I liked the effort. I thought the guys played great,” Kalani Sitake concluded. “Everyone wanted to be on the field, and I really liked the energy I saw from the guys out there. In the second half it was hard, since we were leading by so much and we gave up a touchdown. That was hard to see, but the guys on the sideline were all bought in and excited to cheer on their teammates. There is a really great brotherhood and closeness that they have for each other.”
