Second-half form helps BYU pull away from Cincinnati for first Big 12 win

PROVO — Like the second-half fire knife dancers that have become a recent hit, BYU's Big 12 home debut caught fire Friday night.

Kedon Slovis threw for 223 yards and two touchdowns, and Chase Roberts caught six passes for 131 yards and a score as BYU pulled away from Cincinnati 35-27 in front of an announced crowd of 63,834 fans at LaVell Edwards Stadium, the largest since 2009.

LJ Martin added 48 yards and two touchdowns on the ground for BYU (4-1, 1-1 Big 12) to earn the program's first win as a member of the Big 12 Conference.

"I'm happy that we won, but we know we can improve," BYU coach Kalani Sitake said. "I think you have to give credit to Cincinnati, but we did enough to win the game. … Am I happy about how we did it? No, especially not the end of the game.

"We should've gone up by three scores," the eighth-year head coach. "But fortunate that we were able to get the win with those mistakes."

Cincinnati (2-3, 0-2 Big 12) outgained the Cougars 498-295, including 242 yards on the ground. But the Bearcats, who got 256 yards and three touchdowns from quarterback Emory Jones, had two turnovers and converted in the red zone just twice despite over 33 minutes in time of possession.

BYU had just 38 yards of offense in the first half — fewer than Jakob Robinson's 42-yard interception return for a touchdown — until Slovis connected on three-straight receivers (and a pass interference penalty) en route to a 22-yard touchdown to Darrius Lassiter with 6 seconds left in the half.

That lifted the Cougars to a 14-10 halftime edge, despite Cincinnati out-gaining the hosts 254 yards to 107. BYU had just 36 yards on the ground during a first half where it punted on four-straight possessions prior to Lassiter's wide-open score to end the half.

But that final drive showed something about BYU's offense, despite the deficits and deficiencies. A run game that totaled just 9 yards in a loss to Kansas suddenly found its footing.

"I think Kedon can throw the ball," Sitake said. "I really don't care how the points show up on the scoreboard; I just want them up there. I was so proud of Miles Davis, fighting through adversity. … I never saw him let down at all. He was always working, always upbeat, always positive, and he had his opportunities. I think he's going to be a mainstay for us."

The Bearcats had 154 yards on the ground to BYU's 36, had eight more first downs, five more third-down conversions, ran 28 more plays, and more than doubled the Cougars' time of possession before the break — and trailed 14-10.

But after BYU's defense forced a three-and-out on the first drive of the series, Slovis slung the ball before Martin broke a tackle and tumbled 29 yards for a touchdown to stretch the lead to 21-10.

Suddenly, the Cougars had all the momentum.

"It was definitely building up momentum from the last drive," Martin said. "(That last drive) really opened up momentum and the playbook."

After the defense held Cincinnati to a field goal after a 14-play, 71-yard drive inside the 10, Slovis found Roberts — and the sophomore wide out from American Fork was on the case, putting a move on double coverage and rumbling 59 yards for a touchdown to stretch the lead to 28-13.

The Cougars never trailed again, as Martin scored his second rushing touchdown with 12:41 remaining to push BYU's lead to 35-20.

Jones, the Arizona State and Florida transfer quarterback, also ran for 94 yards on 14 carries, and Corey Kiner added 77 yards on the ground for the Bearcats.

Max Tooley led all defensive players with 16 tackles, and AJ Vongphachanh and Harrison Taggart — the redshirt freshman who made the first start of his BYU career in relief of the injured Ben Bywater — each made 10 stops.

Tyler Batty added seven tackles and a sack for the Cougars.

"My mentality all the time is just try to get to the ball," Tooley said. "Honestly, when I first heard I had 16 tackles, I thought they were lying; I'm pretty hard on myself and look for ways to improve. These wins have felt bittersweet, knowing there are a lot of plays left out there. I feel like I could've had 20-25."

BYU has a bye next week before traveling to TCU on Oct. 14.

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