Cougars defeat West Virginia, move to 5-0 – Deseret News

The Deseret News is providing live coverage of Friday’s game between BYU and West Virginia. Check back for updates throughout the game.

Final score

BYU 38, West Virginia 24

Fourth quarter

BYU 38, West Virginia 24

1:14 — The Mountaineers add a late touchdown to make the final score appear a bit more respectable. BYU 38, West Virginia 24.

Khalil Watkins connected with Cam Vaughn for a 29-yard bomb into the end zone for the score.

West Virginia has now put up 291 total yards tonight in Provo.

8:50 — LJ Martin finds the end zone once again.

Martin scored his second touchdown of the night from 1-yard out, capping a 12-play, 75-yard drive for the Cougars. BYU 38, West Virginia 17.

BYU has now racked up 482 yards of offense tonight, averaging 7.8 yards per play.

The Cougars have also extended their scoring streak to 31 consecutive quarters.

Third quarter

BYU 31, West Virginia 17

0:37 — West Virginia capitalizes on the fumble recovery with a 6-yard touchdown from quarterback Khalil Wilkins. BYU 31, West Virginia 17.

The Mountaineers have now gained 185 yards of offense tonight, though they’ve produced 14 red zone points.

2:32 — Another BYU turnover.

Jovesa Damuni’s fumble gave West Virginia the ball back at the BYU 22-yard line. BYU 31, West Virginia 10.

3:49 — After leading the team in interceptions last year, Tanner Wall finally gets his first pick of 2025.

BYU’s senior captain plucked the ball out of the air near the end zone after it bounced out of the hands of a Mountaineers receiver. BYU 31, West Virginia 10.

Wall, a former walk-on receiver turned safety, now has four interceptions in his career.

6:53 — Will Ferrin snaps his cold streak by netting a 37-yard field goal to open the second half. BYU 31, West Virginia 10.

The field goal was made a bit shorter by a fake attempt earlier in the drive, where holder Sam Vander Haar scooted upfield for a gain of 11 yards.

Halftime

BYU 28, West Virginia 10

Second quarter

BYU 28, West Virginia 10

0:19 — Bear bounces back.

Bear Bachmeier responded to his second turnover by leading a nine play, 73-yard touchdown drive, ending with him jogging into the end zone for the 2-yard score. BYU 28, West Virginia 10.

The highlight of the drive was a 35-yard connection with Parker Kingston, with Bachmeier throwing the most perfectly-placed ball of his young career.

1:58 — West Virginia immediately capitalizes on the turnover with a 3-yard rushing touchdown from Diore Hubbard. BYU 21, West Virginia 10.

It was the first second quarter touchdown allowed by BYU this season.

2:02 — Another BYU turnover.

A speed option pitch attempt from Bear Bachmeier was batted at the line of scrimmage and recovered by West Virginia on the BYU 3-yard line. BYU 21, West Virginia 3.

5:17 — LJ Martin plunges into the end zone for a 4-yard touchdown, his second of the season and 16th of his career. BYU 21, West Virginia 3.

The Cougars made it to the goal line following an 85 yard reception from Chase Roberts, with about 70 of the yards coming after the catch. It was the longest passing play at BYU since 1996.

Bear Bachmeier has now thrown for 201 yards thus far tonight.

8:19 — Bear Bachmeier’s first career turnover was an ugly one.

Bachmeier’s attempted screen pass was picked off by Mountaineers linebacker Chase Wilson, who returned it 19 yards to the West Virginia 37-yard line. BYU 14, West Virginia 3.

The interception came on Bachmeier’s 98th pass attempt of the season and was just his second incompletion of the night.

14:15 — West Virginia gets on the board with a 45-yard field goal. BYU 14, West Virginia 3.

Though they only gave up three points, the drive could be catastrophic for the Cougars. Star linebacker Jack Kelly went down with an injury and was taken to the medical tent.

First quarter

BYU 14, West Virginia 0

3:41 — Parker Kingston can’t stop scoring touchdowns.

BYU’s speedster took a short third down screen pass 54 yards to the house, outrunning every defender and going completely untouched. BYU 14, West Virginia 0.

Bear Bachmeier has now thrown seven touchdowns this season and still has yet to record any sort of turnover.

9:14 — Tre Alexander’s interception results in immediate points.

On the first play following the pick, Parker Kingston ran a yard into the end zone to open BYU’s scoring for the night. BYU 7, West Virginia 0.

The Cougars have now scored in 28 consecutive quarters dating back to November of last year.

This was Kingston’s first career rushing touchdown — he’s also thrown three touchdowns, caught two more and added another two on punt returns.

9:19 — Tre Alexander snags his first career interception and nearly takes it all the way back for a touchdown. BYU 0, West Virginia 0.

With Alexander’s pick, BYU has now forced eight turnovers on the season.

A horsecollar tackle called on West Virginia pushes the Cougars forward to the 1-yard line to begin their new possession.

9:51 — It appears Will Ferrin is human after all.

BYU’s All-American caliber kicker has missed each of his past two field goal attempts, this time failing to net a 48-yarder on the Cougars’ first drive of the night. BYU 0, West Virginia 0.

Following a 37-yard deep completion to Chase Roberts and an 8-yard carry from Cody Hagen, BYU sputtered and turned to Ferrin for the long kick.

How to watch the game

BYU’s matchup with West Virginia will be broadcast on ESPN and can be streamed through the ESPN app.

Pregame prep

Here are a few stories to get you ready for BYU’s game against West Virginia.