BYU football notes: Alfrey gets special teams redemption with kickoff return
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- BYU junior Talan Alfrey returns an onside-kick attempt for a touchdown during the Big 12 game against Houston in Provo on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024.
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- BYU junior quarterback Jake Retzlaff runs the ball during the Big 12 game against Houston in Provo on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024.
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- BYU junior kicker Will Ferrin kicks a field goal during the Big 12 game against Houston in Provo on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024.
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- BYU mascot Cosmo performs a stunt during the Big 12 game against Houston in Provo on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024.
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- BYU defenders try to make a tackle during the Big 12 game against Houston in Provo on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024.
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- BYU freshman LJ Martin carries the ball during the Big 12 game against Houston in Provo on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024.
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- BYU freshman Tommy Prassas tries to break up a pass during the Big 12 game against Houston in Provo on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024.
In a game where BYU was celebrating its past Academic All-Americans, it seemed more than appropriate that Cougar defensive back Talan Alfrey gained some redemption by returning a Houston onside kick attempt 58 yards to the house to put BYU on the scoreboard on its way to a 30-18 win over Houston.
The redemption part of Alfrey’s score was that he was victimized against Arizona State when it attempted a squib kick as he was struck by the football allowing the Sun Devils to gain possession which led to a score and a 21-0 Cougar deficit.
The appropriate part comes from the fact that Alfrey is a tremendous student and was named the Big 12 First Team All-Academic team in 2023 and a co-captain for this year’s team. In his young life Alfrey has mastered the piano, is fluent in Spanish while also being a former pig farmer. He is also majoring in Exercise Science with a minor in Business.
His contribution to the Cougar victory was not lost on his head coach Kalani Sitake.
“I think Talan Alfrey was the one that had the ball hit him on the kickoff in the Arizona State game. We practiced that same situation because we know they like to squib it and try to get it in the way of the front line. But obviously it didn’t go the same way in the game that it went in our practice,” Sitake said. “But it went way better tonight (against Houston) than it did against Arizona State. But after that hit him, it just makes sense that he would be the one to get the ball and take it the other way for a touchdown. I’m really happy for him.”
Alfrey himself felt ready if the situation presented itself again and obviously was ecstatic to actually score on the play.
“The coaches prepared us,” Alfrey said, relating how he expected that Houston might try some trickeration after gaining 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct on BYU after their touchdown. “Whenever there’s a penalty like that, there’s a shorter field so there is a little more risk of onside kicks. Once we saw the kickoff team kind of converge on the kicker and the kickers approach, we knew the middle dribble was coming.”
“Obviously it was super awesome to score a touchdown in LaVell Edwards Stadium. It was a super memorable moment, especially after last week. The ball bounced my way this week, so I’m thankful for the opportunity to help the seniors win tonight.”
Alfrey’s kickoff return for a touchdown gave BYU its third of the season and first since Paul Allen had three in the 1961 season. With his two returns for touchdowns earlier in the season, Keelan Marion is on the Jet Award watch list for best kickoff returner in the country.
Footbrawl time
Yesterday had two really ugly moments and at least two more that could have potentially been ugly including one toward the end of the Houston vs. BYU game.
Most of the media attention has centered around the Michigan vs. Ohio State game, where after the Wolverines earned a stirring 13-10 victory over their rivals, “planted” the Michigan flag inside the “O” in the middle of the Ohio State field. This created a melee that lasted about ten minutes involving dozens of players and coaches with law enforcement officers using pepper spray to try to break up the fisticuffs.
The other ugly brawl happened after North Carolina State beat rival North Carolina, 35-30.
But two other incidents that still had some ugliness didn’t escalate thanks to some quick-thinking coaches.
In the Arizona State vs Arizona game, a Sun Devil player “planted” the fork in the “A” in the middle of Arizona’s field after their team’s victory. Some pushing and shoving occurred but a Sun Devil coach grabbed the offending player and things cooled down shortly after that.
Then in the BYU game, after Jake Retzlaff scored the clinching touchdown, a tight end excitedly pushed aside Houston’s A.J. Haulcy to pick his quarterback off the ground. The Houston defensive back took exception and this led to players on both sides pushing and shoving with some punches thrown. Haulcy and BYU’s Darius Lassiter ended up being ejected.
But as ugly as this incident was, both BYU and Houston coaches should be commended for not allowing the situation to get any worse as both held their players on the sidelines preventing it from becoming a bench-clearing brawl. Since the incident was closer to BYU’s sideline, some of its coaches alertly went down and started pulling their players back toward their sideline while the rest made sure no other players joined in the fray.
This response is much in contrast to Ohio State’s head coach Ryan Day, whose stupefied look during the altercation has already made headlines, and this along with four straight losses to their arch rival, has his detractors calling for his dismissal.
Will Ferrin ties BYU kicking record
Will Ferrin kicked a short 22-yard field goal that tied the school record for most field goals made in a season at 21.
At the very end of the game BYU faced a fourth down deep in Houston territory but elected to run a play instead of giving Ferrin a shot to break the record.
Game standouts
Jake Retzlaff rushed for his fifth and sixth touchdowns on the season and 9th of his career. Retzlaff had 57 yards rushing on nine carries.
Logan Lutui and Blake Mangelson had key fumble recoveries while Tyler Batty and Jack Kelly secured interceptions. BYU has had 13 different players secure interceptions this year and with 20 picks and is the leader in the country in this statistic after 12 games.
With three catches for 76 yards Chase Roberts went over 800 yards receiving for the season with 843.
Game officials get shoutout
Credit to BYU’s game management staff and camera crew, when after Houston was penalized for roughing the passer, found some fans holding an orange sign that said “Respect the Big 12 Referees”
This was likely one last light-hearted humorous jab for BYU fans in the 2024 season toward its rival Utah in light of the meltdown by their athletic director Mark Harlan after BYU’s 22-21 victory.
Another 10-win season
With the win over Houston, BYU secured its third 10-win season in the last five. It was BYU’s 19th season where it has earned 10 or more wins in a season, all coming in the last 46 years.
It was Sitake’s third 10-win plus seasons as the head coach. To put this in perspective, the first 10-win season in Indiana and Iowa State history didn’t happen until this year.
Extra points
- Several former BYU Academic All-Americans lit the Y before the game including Andy Boyce, Ben Cahoon, Kellen Fowler, Bruce Jenne, Scott Johnson, Chad Lewis, and Ty Mattingly. Fowler (DB, 2002-03, 2006-2009, Jenne (DS, 1988-92) and Johnson (DB 2006-2009) also carried out the Alumni flags prior to the game.
- Team flags were carried by members of the BYU ROTC unit. Frankel Avary carried the U.S. flag, Kinghorn Grace carried the state of Utah flag and the ROC flag was carried by Miller Bennett.
- During the game, the BYU’s men and women’s cross-country teams were honored for winning NCAA titles. It was the sixth title earned by the women and second for the men.
- Captains for the coin toss were Tyler Batty (DE), Connor Pay (OL), Chase Roberts (WR) and Jakob Robinson (CB). Houston won the toss and elected to defer receiving the ball to the second half.
- BYU brought back the drones for Senior Night and made numerous images including “Thank You Seniors”, “Go Cougars”, the ROC emblem, an image of a BYU helmet, and a tribute to BYU being established in 1896 among others.
- Attendance was announced at 59,213. Perhaps due to the Thanksgiving break, it was the first time BYU didn’t draw at least 60,000 for one of its six home games in 2024.
