BYU-Arizona football notes: Martin, Kingston make big-time contributions in Cougar win
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- BYU sophomore running back LJ Martin avoids a tackle during the Big12 game against Arizona at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024.
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- BYU sophomore wide receiver Parker Kingston catches a touchdown pass during the Big 12 game against Arizona at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024.
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- BYU sophomore running back LJ Martin carries the ball up the field during the Big 12 game against Arizona at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024.
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- BYU sophomore running back LJ Martin carries the ball up the field during the Big 12 game against Arizona at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2024.
LJ Martin returned to action Saturday and made some big contributions.
Martin carried the ball 11 times for 49 yards for a 4.5 yards per carry with one touchdown rushing. Martin’s longest run was a 16-yarder scamper.
“Even if guys are unblocked, LJ still finds ways,” BYU head coach Kalani Sitake sad. “He and Hinckley (Ropati) do a good job at that. I think all the backs do in creating runs and making people miss, but he has tons of experience and it’s just good to have him back.”
With regards to the overall Cougar ground attack, BYU had 147 yards rushing with four Cougars carrying the pigskin. Hinckley Ropati had nine carries for 65 yards, Retzlaff ran the ball from his quarterback position six times for 28 yards while wide receiver Keelan Marrion had a jet sweep run that covered five yards. Arizona had 114 yards giving BYU the edge in the running game.
But Martin also had a huge impact in the passing game with three catches for 46 yards and a score.
One of those receptions came as BYU used some trickeration as Retzlaff threw a backward pass to Parker Kingston who then found Martin behind the Arizona defenders for a 33-yard touchdown. That score gave BYU a 14-7 lead in the second quarter.
When Parker Kingston caught a touchdown pass and then later tossed one, it seemed apropos that Steve Young was in the house. Young did those two things as a quarterback in the 1983 Holiday Bowl when BYU beat Missouri 21-17. Young also ran in a score becoming the first player in college football history to throw for a score, run for a score and catch a touchdown pass in the same game.
Throwing and catching a touchdown pass has only happened seven times in BYU history and Kingston has done it twice, the last time when BYU beat Arkansas last year.
On Kingston’s touchdown pass, the play call was exactly the same as the one against Arkansas and the Cougar wide receiver said he had a “built in confidence that we would score on it and it would be open.”
However, the play did have some complications that made the touchdown really remarkable.
“I didn’t see LJ (Martin) at all,” said Kingston. “I just figured where I thought he would be and just threw it.”
Kingston was worried when he saw an Arizona defender heading toward the ball for a possible interception, and said he thought “you’ve got to be kidding,” but the Arizona defensive back couldn’t reach it and “LJ made a great grab.” Kingston also related how Martin told him that “he couldn’t see it (the ball), it was sitting in the sun.”
Kingston summed up the play by saying, “it was just crazy”
Retzlaff had another efficient day going 18-for-32 for 218 yards and two touchdowns. But perhaps more importantly, no interceptions.
BYU only had one turnover which came late in the fourth quarter. Also, the Cougars gave up zero sacks against the Wildcat defense.
Retzlaff had effusive praise for the offensive line which included Caleb Etienne, Weylin Lapuaho, Bruce Mitchell, Austin Leausa, and Brayden Keim. Mitchell was particularly singled out as he replaced starter Connor Pay but played loose and with confidence.
“Bruce (Mitchell) played incredible man, he just did,” said Retzlaff. “You would think a guy coming in like that would be for his first start at center would be nervous, trying to be too focused, you know what I mean. But that guy was making more jokes than I was on the sidelines, which is saying something. It just goes to show you that guy is so comfortable, confident in himself.”
Retzlaff continued on by also praising the work of first-year offensive line coach TJ Woods on his preparation of Mitchell and the rest of the offensive line.
“It speaks to Coach Woods and the preparation of all of his players,” Retzlaff said. “He’s a great, great O-line coach and we’re so blessed to have him.”
Big 12 standings
With the win BYU (6-0) became bowl eligible. But obviously the goals for the team are much larger than that with the great start.
BYU is also 3-0 in the conference, tied for first with Iowa State and Texas Tech. But in an interesting scheduling twist, the Cougars will not meet either this season in conference play. Texas Tech and Iowa State will meet on November 2.
BYU is definitely the surprise team of the conference so far with their undefeated record, and next week’s opponent Oklahoma State has to be considered the biggest disappointment in the Big 12 after many expected the Cowboys to compete with Utah for the league title.
Oklahoma State started off strong winning its first three games but are winless at 0-3 in conference action. Arizona State at 5-1 overall and 2-1 in league play is another feel-good story for the Big 12.
Poll update
BYU moved up one spot in both the AP and American Football Coaches Association polls and now sits at No. 13 in both polls.
Two teams in the top ten lost in Ohio State and Ole Miss. The Buckeyes came into the weekend rated No. 2 and lost at No. 3 Oregon 32-21 and just fell two spots in the AP poll and three positions in the coaches poll. However, the Rebels, after suffering their second loss on their season to LSU 29-26 in overtime, tumbled nine and seven positions respectively allowing the Cougs to move up a spot.
Interception firsts
Tanner Wall secured his first interception of his career when he picked off Arizona’s Noah Fifita just inside the one-yard line. And Isaiah Glasker had his first pick six in a Cougar uniform with a 21-yard interception return to the house to punctuate BYU’s 41-19 victory over the Wildcats.
Best of the best
Honored right before the game and receiving a rousing ovation were members of the BYU Hall of Fame with football ties including LaVell Edwards, represented by his wife Patti, Gordon Hudson (deceased), and quarterbacks Gifford Nielsen, Marc Wilson, Jim McMahon, Steve Young, and Ty Detmer. McMahon and Detmer were unable to attend the game.
Extra points
- Arizona won the coin toss and elected to defer receiving the ball to the second half.
- Carrying the Alumni flags were Gabe Reid (TE, 1999-02), Reno Mahe (WR, 1998, 2001-02) and Steve Young (QB, 1980-83).
- The American flag was carried by Faletau Satuala (S), the State of Utah flag by Orion Maile-Kaufusi (DE) and the Big 12 flag by John Taumoepeau (DT).
- The team captains for the coin toss were Jack Kelly (LB), Jake Retzlaff (QB), Tyler Batty (DE) and Jakob Robinson (CB).
- The weather was close to ideal at kickoff with the temperature unseasonably warm for mid-October at 77 degrees with light winds from the southeast at six miles per hour. As temperatures climbed a bit in the late afternoon, many fans reportedly sought refuge in the shade of the concourse areas.
- The announced attendance was 64,420 and fans were encouraged to wear royal blue.
