BYU forces 3 turnovers, gets 90-yard punt return TD in 38-9 rout of No. 13 Kansas State
BYU defensive end Tyler Batty, center, celebrates his forced turnover with teammates during an NCAA college football game against Kansas State, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Provo, Utah. Credit: AP/Tyler Tate
PROVO, Utah — BYU's defense forced three turnovers, Jake Retzlaff threw for 149 yards and two touchdowns and Parker Kingston had a highlight reel 90-yard punt return touchdown in a 38-9 victory over No. 13 Kansas State on Saturday night.
Sione Moa added a career-high 76 yards and a touchdown on the ground. The Cougars (4-0, 1-0 Big 12) snapped a five-game losing streak to Big 12 opponents in emphatic fashion.
Avery Johnson piled up 204 yards of total offense for the Wildcats but also threw a pair of interceptions. DJ Giddens rushed 93 yards on 19 carries as Kansas State (3-1, 0-1) dropped to 0-4 all-time in Provo despite totaling 224 rushing yards.
BYU scored a pair of touchdowns 39 seconds apart before halftime after forcing turnovers on back-to-back Kansas State drives.
Jack Kelly stripped the ball from Giddens on a third-down run and Tommy Prassas took the fumble 30 yards to the house, giving the Cougars their first lead, 10-6. Tyler Batty intercepted Johnson two plays later at the Wildcats 29. His takeaway set up a 23-yard touchdown catch by Chase Roberts that gave BYU a 17-6 lead going into halftime.
Johnson tossed his second interception to Harrison Taggart on Kansas State’s opening drive of the second half. Taggart’s pick and a subsequent 24-yard sprint by Moa set up a 3-yard TD catch by Darius Lassiter and extended BYU’s lead to 24-6.
After the defense forced a three-and-out, Kingston nearly fumbled the ensuing punt but managed to scoop up the ball, cut over to the opposite sideline and race 90 yards for a touchdown. His score put BYU up 31-6 less than five minutes into the third quarter.
BYU linebacker Jack Kelly, bottom center, forces Kansas State running back DJ Giddens (31) to fumble the football during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Provo, Utah. Credit: AP/Tyler Tate
A 22-yard touchdown run by Moa early in the fourth capped the night for the Cougars.
The takeaway
Kansas State: The Wildcats gashed BYU with long runs on their first two drives, totaling 117 rushing yards and averaging 6.9 yards per carry, but only came away with a pair of field goals before the wheels fell off on offense.
BYU: Forcing turnovers on three straight Kansas State drives helped the Cougars turn a close game into a blowout early in the second half. BYU scored 31 unanswered points in a 6 1/2-minute span bridging the second and third quarters.
Poll implications
A lopsided loss to BYU could send Kansas State tumbling out of the AP Top 25 on Sunday. BYU could also work its way into the rankings.
BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff (12) passes the football during an NCAA college football game against Kansas State, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, in Provo, Utah. Credit: AP/Tyler Tate
Up next
Kansas State hosts Oklahoma State on Saturday.
BYU is at Baylor on Saturday.
