Highlights, key plays and photos from BYU’s 38-9 win over No. 13 Kansas State

The Deseret News is providing live coverage of Saturday’s game between BYU and Kansas State. Check back for updates throughout the game.

Final score

BYU 38, Kansas State 9

It won’t be difficult for BYU fans to remember the 21st night of September.

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The Cougars flat-out dominated No. 13 Kansas State in 38-9 fashion Saturday night in Provo, notching a 4-0 start to 2024 and earning their first Big 12 win of the young campaign.

BYU excelled in every phase of the game, scoring touchdowns on offense, defense and special teams in the same game for the first time since 1996.

Additionally, Jay Hill’s defense didn’t allow a single touchdown in the contest for the second time this season.

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Fourth quarter

BYU 38, Kansas State 9

12:02 — BYU is piling it on.

Sione Moa powered forward to break through a number of Kansas State tacklers and find the end zone on a 21-yard touchdown run — his first career score. BYU 38, Kansas State 9.

Third quarter

BYU 31, Kansas State 9

5:12 — After 31 straight points from BYU, Kansas State has scored again.

The Wildcats failed to find the end zone once again but did manage a third field goal on the night to pull within 22 points. BYU 31, Kansas State 9.

10:45 — These Cougars can’t be stopped.

Even when Parker Kingston initially seemed to have trouble fielding a Kansas State punt, he still managed to find the football — and a whole lot more — en route to a 90-yard return touchdown to perhaps bury the Wildcats for good. BYU 31, Kansas State 6.

Kingston’s punt heroics — which came just a week after Keelan Marion returned the second half kickoff for a touchdown of his own — is BYU’s first since 2013 and tied for the third-longest return in school history.

13:01 — The rout may be on.

In the second play following Taggart’s interception, Jake Retzlaff fired a slant bullet to Darius Lassiter for a 3-yard touchdown. BYU 24, Kansas State 6.

Lassiter’s score came immediately following a 24-yard run by Sione Moa to bring the Cougars to the goal line.

13:54 — BYU’s defense just can’t stop making plays.

The Cougars snagged their third consecutive takeaway on a Harrison Taggart interception just a minute into the second half. BYU 17, Kansas State 6.

The pick marked Taggart’s first in his collegiate career and gave BYU the ball back at the Kansas State 27-yard line.

Avery Johnson — who had thrown just one interception in his career prior to tonight — has now tossed two against the Cougars.

Halftime

BYU 17, Kansas State 6

Talk about a wild way to end the half.

Trailing 6-3 with under two minutes to play, BYU’s defense managed a scoop-and-score to take the lead, an interception to get the ball back in Kansas State territory and, finally, a 23-yard touchdown to Chase Roberts to make it a two-possession ballgame.

To say the LaVell Edwards Stadium whiteout crowd is hysterical would be an understatement. Late night kickoffs in Provo tend to get crazy, but never anything of this sort.

The Wildcats have already racked up 124 rushing yards, yet have no end zone trips and two turnovers to show for it.

Jake Retzlaff ended the half 11 of 16 in passing for 125 yards and a touchdown to go with a 155.0 rating. While the Cougars have just 10 yards on the ground thus far, Retzlaff has connected with seven different receivers already, including Roberts twice for a team-high 47 yards.

Kansas State will receive the second half kickoff as BYU’s defense looks to continue its recent success.

Second quarter

BYU 17, Kansas State 6

0:29 — Now it’s the BYU offense’s turn to play hero.

Capitalizing on prime field position following the Batty interception, Jake Retzlaff connected with Chase Roberts for a 23-yard touchdown to pad the Cougars’ lead even further. BYU 17, Kansas State 6.

0:57 — BYU’s defense strikes again.

Immediately following the fumble recovery touchdown from Prassas, Wildcats QB Avery Johnson attempted to throw the ball away only for Cougars defensive end Tyler Batty to snag an unlikely interception. BYU 10, Kansas State 6.

1:08 — BYU’s biggest defensive play of the year couldn’t have come at a better time.

On a critical third down just before halftime, Jack Kelly forced a fumble which freshman safety Tommy Prassas scooped up and returned for a touchdown to give the Cougars their first lead of the ballgame. BYU 10, Kansas State 6.

2:10 — Will Ferrin puts the Cougars on the board with a 31-yard field goal. Kansas State 6, BYU 3.

BYU had moved the ball all the way down to the Kansas State 13-yard line, only for Jake Retzlaff to lose 12 yards on a sack and derail the promising drive.

While the sack was untimely, Retzlaff is still 10 of 15 in passing on the night for 102 yards and a 123.8 rating, having made a pair of impressive throws to Chase Roberts and Darius Lassiter prior to the field goal.

9:07 — The Wildcats add another field goal to their lead. Kansas State 6, BYU 0.

Kansas State leaned heavily on its run game once again, drawing the drive out to 16 plays and 87 yards over a more than eight minute span. The Cougars, however, managed another late stop on the possession to force the field goal try and keep their offense in the fight.

The Wildcats have now eaten 13:41 of clock while running for 117 yards, while BYU will now look for its first score of the game.

First quarter

Kansas State 3, BYU 0

8:02 — Kansas State strikes first.

The Wildcats capped off a 12-play, 53 yard drive with a Chris Tennant field goal from 32 yards out to open the night’s scoring. Kansas State 3, BYU 0.

BYU’s defense struggled to stop the run initially but clamped up late in the drive to prevent surrendering anything more than three points.

How to watch the game

BYU’s late night clash with Kansas State will be televised on ESPN and can also be streamed on the ESPN app.

Pregame prep

Here are a few stories to get you ready for BYU’s game against Kansas State.