BYU football vs. Cincinnati grades: Second half showing elevates performance marks

BYU football beat writer Jared Lloyd gives his grades for the Cougar position units and coaches for Friday's game against Cincinnati.

BYU football had a challenging start in their game against Cincinnati at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo. Kedon Slovis initially had difficulty finding his rhythm in the passing game, but eventually found his groove. He completed 13-of-24 passes for 223 yards, throwing two touchdowns and no interceptions. Slovis' presence played a crucial role in keeping the Cougars confident despite offensive struggles.

In the running game, LJ Martin stood out with two touchdowns, including a 29-yard run on a third-and-long play. He carried the ball 16 times for 66 yards. Miles Davis also made a positive impact with four carries for 17 yards. Martin even completed his first pass, a two-yard gain on a throwback to Slovis, and had a short reception.

Chase Roberts had a standout performance, recording six catches for 131 yards and a touchdown. He also secured Cincinnati's last-gasp onside kick. Keanu Hill contributed with three catches for 41 yards, and Darius Lassiter caught another touchdown. However, limited plays and Cincinnati's defensive pressure prevented this unit from making a significant impact.

The offensive line had a decent performance, as they did not allow any sacks, although the Bearcats managed to record five quarterback hurries. The run game was more effective than in previous games, with BYU gaining 89 yards on the ground. However, the offensive line struggled when it had the opportunity to put the game away, which is an area for improvement.

Defensively, BYU faced challenges in stopping Cincinnati's run game for the second consecutive week. The Bearcats rushed for 242 yards, exposing gaps in BYU's defense. Tyler Batty had a notable sack in the fourth quarter and finished with seven total tackles. However, the defense had difficulty containing Cincinnati's quarterback, Emory Jones, who rushed for 94 yards on 14 carries. There were missed opportunities and a lack of urgency in rallying to the ball on the QB draw.

Jakob Robinson made a significant impact with an interception return for a touchdown early in the game. He also made several impressive plays on the ball in the air. However, the Cougar pass defense gave up too many big plays through the air, particularly in the later stages of the game. Despite this, the pass defense played a role in helping BYU build their lead.

Special teams had two crucial plays, with Cougar players in position to recover both a muffed punt and an onside kick attempted by Cincinnati. Austin Riggs fell on the mishandled kick, while Marcus Mackenzie prevented the Bearcat returner from recovering it. Punter Ryan Rehkow performed well, averaging 51 yards on six punts. However, kicker Will Ferrin missed a 44-yard field goal that could have sealed the win earlier.

Despite the early struggles on both sides of the ball, the coaches deserve credit for making key adjustments. Jay Hill's defense had difficulties positioning themselves on critical third downs, while Aaron Roderick's offense struggled in the first half until the end. However, there were improvements in terms of procedure and communication issues. Overall, the coaches played a role in helping the team overcome challenges and secure the victory.

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