BYU defense forces 7 tackles for loss to snap 2-game skid en route to win over Houston

PROVO — When the break had hit no. 19 in BYU’s regular-season finale Saturday night against Houston, the host Cougars had been eliminated as a Big 12 championship contender by Iowa State’s 29-21 victory over Kansas State.

BYU’s defense didn’t get the memo.

Jake Retzlaff threw for 167 yards and ran for 57 yards and two touchdowns, and BYU’s defense forced four turnovers and seven tackles for loss to snap a two-game skid with a 30-18 victory over Houston in front of an announced crowd of 59,213 fans at LaVell Edwards Stadium.

LJ Martin ran for 87 yards on 22 carries for BYU (10-2, 7-2 Big 12), which finished with a double-digit win total in three of the past five years. Chase Roberts caught three passes for 76 yards to lead BYU on a night the redshirt junior celebrated as his senior night.

Houston sophomore Zeon Chriss threw for 156 yards with an interception and ran for two touchdowns.

But BYU’s defense, led by 13 tackles from Tanner Wall and nine tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and an interception from Tyler Batty, held the visiting Cougars to 250 yards of offense, including 94 on the ground.

Houston (4-8, 3-6 Big 12) struck first after both sets of Cougars traded turnovers on the first possession and Zeon Chriss guided a 10-play, 80-yard drive that ended with a 3- yard quarterback keeper went up. 7-0.

The lead lasted just seven seconds, however, when the visitors attempted an onside kick and Talan Alfrey picked up the loose change and returned it 58 yards for a touchdown.

It was BYU’s third kick return touchdown of the year, tying the program’s most with Paul Allen’s three kick return touchdowns in 1961.

But the hosts weren’t done on defense and special teams.

Jack Kelly and Batty each had an interception, bringing BYU’s total to 20 on the year and tied for the most in the country, and Isaiah Glasker had a sack among the host’s seven tackles for loss.

Retzlaff completed 6-of-12 passes for 110 yards, including a 52-yarder to Chase Roberts in the final two minutes of the first half to set up his own 13-yard TD rush that gave BYU a 21-10 halftime advantage.

It could also have been more.

BYU outgained the visiting Cougars 90 yards to 32 in the third quarter. But Retzlaff fumbled a high snap just four yards from goal and Parker Kingston muffed a punt at midfield as the only scoring of the period came on Will Ferrin’s 22-yard field goal.

Houston pulled within eight on Chriss’ second touchdown run — and a 2-point conversion — with 8:34 left in the game.

But BYU’s defense again saved the game as Kelly picked up his fifth sack of the season and Blake Mangelson recovered a fumble to set up Retzlaff’s second rushing score with 2:52 left.

This story will be updated.