No. 14 BYU uses a 27-3 run to top Arizona for its sixth straight win

PROVO – Once again, the middle frames for the BYU football team were anything but “mediocre.”

Jake Retzlaff completed 18 of 32 yards for 218 yards and two touchdowns and Parker Kingston had a passing and receiving touchdown as No. 14 BYU outscored Arizona 27-3 in the second and third quarters and won 41-19 on Saturday. Victory came afternoon in front of a sellout crowd of 64,420 fans at LaVell Edwards Stadium.

Folau Ropati ran for 65 yards on nine carries and LJ Martin added 47 yards on eight carries in his return from injury as the Cougars (6-0, 3-0 Big 12) advanced just six games into the 2024 season Bowl eligibility secured 5-7 a year ago.

Jakob Robinson and Tanner Wall each had an interception, and Harrison Taggart had a team-high nine tackles and a fumble recovery to pace a BYU defense that had five tackles for loss.

Noah Fifita threw for 275 yards and a touchdown but also had three interceptions for Arizona – including a late pick-six throw. Tetairoa McMillan caught five passes for 78 yards, and former Utah Tech running back Quali Conley ran for 39 yards and a touchdown for the Wildcats – who took an early lead.

Arizona (3-3, 1-2 Big 12) took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter when Fifita capped an 11-play, 95-yard drive with a 14-yard touchdown to Montana Lemonious-Craig.

However, Kingston was just warming up.

The sophomore scored his first offensive touchdown of the year in the second quarter, nullifying a 20-yard score from Retzlaff with 13:30 left in the half.

After Tanner Wall's first career interception, the former Roy High dual-threat quarterback then showed off his arm. The left-hander lauded Martin for a 33-yard touchdown that flew through the air nearly twice as far, giving the Cougars their first lead of the game, 14-7, with 6:30 left.

Retzlaff threw for 142 yards and a touchdown as BYU added 259 yards to the Wildcats' 207 yards in the first half.

But the Cougars were helped by the defense, including Tanner Wall's interception at the 1-yard line that helped set up the 99-yard drive that ended in Kingston's passing touchdown.

Jakob Robinson opened the second half – no, literally on the first play of the game – and intercepted Fifita.

Five seconds later, Retzlaff hit Chase Roberts in the end zone for a 9-yard score, making the lead 21-7.

Two plays later, BYU linebacker Isaiah Glasker strip-sacked Fifita, who fumbled the ball toward the charging Harrison Taggart for another turnover that gave up Will Ferrin's 33-yard field goal and a 24-7 lead less than two minutes into the third quarter.

Arizona got within 27-13 on Tyler Loops' second field goal to open the fourth quarter – capping an 18-play, 72-yard drive over nearly eight minutes.

But Retzlaff responded with a six-play, 75-yard drive and Martin pounced from inside the 1-yard line to put BYU back ahead 35-13 and help the Cougars tie the game with 5:38 to play remaining minutes to bring to the ice.

This story will be updated.