Jake Retzlaff passed for 167 yards and added two rushing touchdowns as No. 19 BYU used a stifling defensive performance to earn a 30-18 win over the Houston Cougars on Saturday in Provo, Utah.

Retzlaff scored on runs of 13 and 7 yards, the latter with 2:52 left in the game, helping BYU (10-2, 7-2 Big 12) regain its two-possession lead. Houston (4-8, 3-6) had fought to within six points early in the fourth quarter before Jack Kelly and Blake Mangelson combined for BYU’s best defensive performance of the contest.

With Houston facing fourth-and-seven at the BYU 44, Kelly sacked Houston quarterback Zeon Chriss and forced a fumble. After a mad battle, Mangelson recovered at the Houston 18.

Five plays later, Retzlaff scored in the third period to seal the victory for BYU, which was eliminated from the Big 12 title game when Iowa State previously beat Kansas State.

Chriss passed for 156 yards and, like Retzlaff, ran for two scores. He was intercepted once.

After securing a 10-7 lead, Houston entered an extended offensive drought. Including a one-play drive to close the first half, Houston accumulated 55 yards on six possessions. BYU turned a three-point deficit into a 14-point lead before Houston suddenly responded.

Chriss capped a 12-play, 69-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown run. His subsequent pass to Mekhi Mews led to a successful two-pointer that put Houston up 24-18 with 8:34 to play. When BYU followed with three incomplete passes and a 17-second possession, Houston had the chance.

Chriss gave Houston a 7-0 lead with his 3-yard touchdown run at 1:47 of the first quarter. But Houston squandered the momentum of its 10-play, 80-yard drive by attempting an onside kick that BYU’s Talan Alfrey returned 58 yards for a touchdown seven seconds later.

After trailing 10-7 early in the second quarter, BYU rallied with two touchdown drives en route to a 21-10 halftime lead. Sione I Moa and Retzlaff had scoring runs of 6 and 13 yards, respectively, with Retzlaff capping a six-play, 80-yard drive that lasted just 50 seconds.

Houston, which ranked last in the FBS in scoring offense, totaled just 250 yards.

–Field level media