Bear tracks.
They’re becoming more clear, trackable and meaningful.
BYU true freshman Bear Bachmeier’s leadership and playmaking proved key in the 25th-ranked Cougars coming from behind in a 24-21 win over Colorado at Folsom Field Saturday night.
It was his first Big 12 game, on the road, in front of a hostile crowd. Pressure? The needle on the gauge was buried in the red from his first play Saturday, his team down 7-0.
Colorado couldn’t rattle him.
He never panicked.
When he absolutely needed to make a play, it was baked and served.
In completing 70% of his passes, he was as calm as a just-fed camel.
He was never intimidated.
He’s as focused as a Hubble telescope.
He’s not a QB who’s going to slide after a run. It’s not in his DNA.
“In between the lines, you gotta get the first down,” he says.
His designed runs weren’t drag-racer style, but were turbocharged diesel jaunts, breaking tackles and plowing his way down the field.
He runs with torque. And velocity.
His 18-yard run on a third-and-19 will likely become his signature clip. He took a knee the final two plays of the game for losses of five, or he’d have rushed for more than a hundred.
The 17-straight points Bachmeier helped put on the board when down 14-0 were a straight-up alarm response.
“He’s a very competitive guy. I’ve seen him grow in many aspects of football. I’ve seen him lead the team and make plays. He is very coachable, which is awesome. He’s easy to rally around and get along with. It’s been fun to get to know him on a personal level.”
— BYU receiver Chase Roberts on Bear Bachmeier
His defense started by giving up a quick 14. His go-to run guy LJ Martin got off to a slow start and finished with 15 carries for 58. He didn’t have injured Sione Moa alongside Martin. Bachmeier needed to help, with arm and legs.
Done.
So far, Bachmeier has helped BYU get off to a 4-0 start with two road wins. The competition has been very average, even Colorado is considered a lower-tier Big 12 team right now at 2-3 overall, 0-2 in league play.
Bachmeier will face far more capable defenses in coming weeks including Texas Tech, TCU, Iowa State and Utah. In those games, he will feel more pressure, and the front-sevens and secondaries will be better.
But don’t let the future take away from what this remarkable rookie has accomplished all season and last Saturday night in Boulder.
He wasn’t sacked.
He didn’t throw an interception — and hasn’t the entire season.
He threatened to lose his first turnover in the second half when a high snap out of the shotgun hit his hands and bounced in the air as two defenders tried to grab it. Since he couldn’t bring it in, he batted it slightly backwards and to his left side toward running back LJ Martin, who recovered the fumble.
His poise and skills under pressure were on full display on a 10-play, 98-yard scoring drive to close the Cougars to 14-10 with 46 seconds left in the first half. He completed five straight passes on that drive, part of a streak of 12-of-15 completions and two touchdowns to Chase Roberts in the middle of this game as BYU took a 17-14 lead in the third.
Anyway, you get the picture.
Bachmeier is as cool as lemonade on the rocks.
“Bear is Bear,” said Roberts, BYU’s senior do-all receiver.
“He’s a very competitive guy. I’ve seen him grow in many aspects of football. I’ve seen him lead the team and make plays. He is very coachable, which is awesome. He’s easy to rally around and get along with. It’s been fun to get to know him on a personal level.”
Roberts said when Bear is running like he does, throwing like he does, “You just get confident in the guy.”
With a 4-0 start, Roberts sees only more progress coming for the true freshman.
“To battle adversity, to be so poised, so young, to be so calm in the huddle, you have to have a guy like that. When he goes out and balls and wins games for us, we rally behind him. He’s been awesome for us.”
The Bear.
Track him.
It’s an impressive trail so far.
