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The 10 highest-rated players from BYU’s comeback win over Oklahoma State
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The 10 highest-rated players from BYU’s comeback win over Oklahoma State

Late Friday night, BYU used a miraculous game-winning drive to maintain an undefeated record. Here are the 10 highest-rated players from BYU’s win over Oklahoma State (minimum 10 snaps).

Despite the ups and downs in the first half, BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff was the highest rated player against Oklahoma State. Retzlaff had 304 total yards and 3 total touchdowns. He also had a pair of interceptions in the first half.

Retzlaff had the highest rushing rating for BYU on Friday night. Retzlaff was credited with three big throws and PFF also counted three drops, so his adjusted completion percentage was 72.7%.

Most importantly, Retzlaff had the clutch when BYU needed it most, leading a 75-yard touchdown drive in 62 seconds to secure the win.

It’s fitting that the two players who connected for the game-winning touchdown were the two highest-rated players. Darius Lassiter was great from the start. On the first play of the game, Lassiter and Retzlaff connected for a 50-yard gain, setting up a touchdown on the opening drive.

Lassiter finished with 6 catches for 129 yards, none more important than the game winner with 11 seconds left. Lassiter caught the ball from the 15 and made not one, but two Oklahoma State defenders miss for the winning touchdown.

BYU ran the ball at will on Oklahoma State and BYU tight end Mata’ava Ta’ase was a big reason why. Ta’ase played a total of 36 snaps and 78% of his snaps were run-blocking assignments. He finished with the team’s best run-blocking grade.

BYU’s offense is simply better with LJ Martin on the field. Martin ran for a career-high 120 yards on 20 carries, an average of 6.0 yards per carry. Martin had two rushing touchdowns. His second run touchdown in particular was a great individual effort where he stiff-armed an Oklahoma State defender and found the gain.

Of Martin’s 120 rushing yards, 61 came after contact. His ability to get yards after contact was great. His ability to navigate blocks and find running lanes was even better. That was Martin’s best game in a BYU uniform.

BYU had 262 rushing yards on the season against Oklahoma State.

Tommy Prasses was the highest rated defenseman and is only one of two defensemen in the top ten. It was an atypical performance from the BYU defense on Friday night, but Tommy Prassas stepped in and made some key tackles in space.

His most important play came in the second half, when he made a diving catch after a tipped pass. Those turnovers turned into points for the BYU offense.

Prassas had the best coverage grade for BYU on Friday night.

BYU’s offensive line was great against Oklahoma State and Brayden Keim rated the best of them all. Keim allowed one quarterback pressure in 31 pass-blocking snaps.

BYU may have found their future starting point in the past two games. Bruce Mitchell was great replacing Connor Pay against Arizona and Oklahoma State. Mitchell had the best pass-blocking grade by a wide margin: 85.3. Mithcell didn’t allow a single pressure in 31 pass-blocking snaps.

A third offensive lineman? You bet. Austin Leausa was the highest-rated run blocker along the offensive line. He was particularly effective when BYU ran zone running schemes.

The second and last defender to reach the top 10. Safety Crew Wakley had two stops and he didn’t allow a reception in coverage.

Keelan Marion had his best game of the season against Oklahoma State, finishing with 56 receiving yards on two catches. One of his two catches was a 34-yard touchdown pass from Jake Retzlaff. Marion left his defender in the dust on that play – he was wide open.