Kalani Sitake Issues BYU Verdict as Bear Bachmeier Reveals Locker Room Feeling on 4-Way QB Battle

Wow, Portland State got demolished by BYU in their first home game. The Cougars completely dominated the Vikings, with 468 rushing yards and 606 total yards, controlling the game from start to finish. PSU showed some early promise, moving the ball on their first two drives, but a blocked 56-yard field goal returned for a touchdown by Jack Kelly shifted the momentum. BYU then exploded, scoring 35 points in the second quarter and holding the Vikings to only 44 yards by halftime.

While BYU’s freshman QB Bear Bachmeier got a lot of pre-game hype, it was their running game that did the real damage to Portland State. LJ Martin led the charge with 131 yards on eight carries, while Bachmeier threw for 97 yards and three touchdowns. The Vikings’ offense struggled, managing only 51 total yards on 44 plays. PSU’s CJ Jordan tried to spark something, completing 8 of 14 passes for 58 yards, but it wasn’t enough. All this left Kalani Sitake nothing but satisfied as he praised his team and staff saying, “I’m proud of the guys. I’m proud of the guys that came in second half and still pitch aside out. So you know, hats off to all the coaches. They got these guys ready and prepared. So I’m lucky. I’m around really good players and really good coaches, and it was a great night tonight.”

After a huge win in game one, @kalanifsitake gives his first thoughts on the overall performance from the Cougars. pic.twitter.com/L5BDSWhLRm

— BYUtv Sports Nation (@BYUSportsNation) August 31, 2025

And why wouldn’t he be proud? Portland State’s defense struggled to contain BYU’s relentless attack. Isaiah Green spearheaded the Vikings with 15 tackles, supported by Jerome Roberts and Jaxton Helmstetler, who notched nine and ten stops, respectively. PSU’s chances were further hampered by the absence of starters Delon Thompson and Terence Loville. BYU’s advantage in plays and clock control left Portland State reeling, resulting in an 0-2 start to the season. The Vikings will look to bounce back on the road against North Dakota after this tough loss.

But what turned heads is Bachmeier was dominant in the first half alone, throwing a 22-yard pass to Carsen Ryan. He also showed off his running skills, with five carries for 32 yards and two rushing touchdowns. In that single half, Bachmeier helped BYU score 49 points, the program’s highest first-half total since 2019, setting the stage for a complete offensive thrashing of Portland State. And despite the 4-way QB battle he’s pretty satisfied with situation. “Yeah, it was fun. I mean, those guys are my brothers and and, you know, my sense is there versus so in that room is second to none. So it was special watching the play,” he said. That’s a grit we are talking of.

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