No. 11 BYU beats UCF 37-24, remains undefeated in Big 12 heading into second off week

ORLANDO — No. 11 BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff threw for 228 yards and two touchdowns and added another on the ground to lead the Cougars to a 37-24 win over UCF on Saturday to remain undefeated and in the College Football Playoff picture.

BYU (8-0, 5-0 Big 12) controlled the clock, holding the ball for nearly 40 minutes. The Cougars used that possession to capitalize on their opportunities to score, especially in a few pressure moments during the game.

BYU scored the first 17 points of the game but broke the game open on a 62-yard touchdown pass from Retzlaff to Chase Roberts with 27 seconds left. The Cougars beat Oklahoma State on Oct. 18 on a late touchdown, and this one gave BYU a 14-point lead heading into halftime.

“We love it. We take advantage of the two-minute drill every way we can," Retzlaff said. "I don’t think I completed that route one time all fall camp. Completing it in the game is always fun. Just knowing we're prepared for anything that comes to us. That was fun."

The Cougars then came out of the locker room with a 10-play, 72-yard touchdown drive capped with a one-yard throw from Retzlaff to tight end Mata'ava Ta'ase.

BYU outgained UCF (3-5, 1-4) 480-379. That included winning the battle on the ground against the run-heavy Knights.

BYU running back LJ Martin rushed for 101 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries, and Hinckley Ropati rushed for 83 yards on 13 carries to lead BYU's ground attack and keep control of possession against the usually fast-paced Knights.

“We've wanted to work these two guys from the very beginning of the year,” BYU coach Kalani Sitake said. “Having them as a 1-2 punch is really good. I just like the way that they are playing overall. It's good to have them both healthy.”

The only bright spot for UCF came from running back RJ Harvey.

The senior back rushed for 127 yards on 16 carries, including a 54-yard carry to the two-yard line that he finished with a touchdown on the next play. He added another two-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.

Harvey eclipsed 1,000 yards for the second straight year, becoming the first UCF player to do so since Marquette Smith in 1994-95.

But the Knights could not complement their ground attack, and quarterback Jacurri Brown threw two second-half interceptions and finished with only 96 yards on 8-for-17 passing.

Freshman Dylan Rizk replaced Brown in the fourth quarter and finished the game with 102 yards on 6-for-10 passing, including a 29-yard touchdown pass to Jacoby Jones.

Trick play

BYU had the highlight of the game, faking a field goal in the second quarter with holder Sam Vander Haar throwing the ball between his legs to kicker Will Ferrin for an eight-yard gain and a first down.

The drive ended with a field goal, one of three kicks for Ferrin in the game.

Major loss

UCF played the majority of the game without leading wide receiver Kobe Hudson.

Hudson made a catch on UCF’s first play for a six-yard gain but was tackled awkwardly. He was assisted off the field and put little weight on his right leg but did not return to the game.

Hudson has 27 catches for 509 yards and three touchdowns this season.

The takeaway

BYU: The Cougars continue to make their case to be included in the College Football Playoff as they sit undefeated heading into their final bye week and a rivalry matchup with Utah in two weeks.

UCF: The Knights have now lost five straight games. Their hopes of making a bowl game depend on winning three of their final four games.

Up next

BYU is off next week and returns to action at rival Utah on Saturday, Nov. 9, while UCF hosts its annual Space Game next week against Arizona.