BYU’s Parker Kingston Completes Wild Punt Return For Touchdown

PROVO, Utah – What a difference seven minutes of game time can make. BYU trailed 6-0 before Will Ferrin hit a 31-yard field goal with 2:10 left in the first half.

Since that moment, the Cougar’s defense has forced three turnovers, the offense has gotten rolling, and Parker Kingston got the special teams involved with a 93-yard punt return for a touchdown.

RELATED: BYU Football Capitalizes On Back-To-Back First Half Turnovers

Parker Kingston returns a punt for a touchdown! pic.twitter.com/UpmKR5EH1x

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) September 22, 2024

Already leading 24-6, and with all the momentum, Kingston appeared to muff the K-State punt near the Cougar’s own goal line. Rather than panic, Kingston picked up the football and weaved through the Wildcats for the first BYU punt return touchdown since JD Falslev did it in 2013 against Middle Tennessee State.

It was the first special teams TD given up by Kansas State since 2018.

BYU vs. Kansas State: Live Updates, Analysis, And More From Provo

BYU’s defense has made the difference, forcing a fumble that Tommy Prassas returned for six late in the first half. Immediately after, Tyler Batty picked off an Avery Johnson pass, leading to a 23-yard TD pass from Jake Retzlaff to Chase Roberts.

The Cougar defense came up big after halftime when Harrison Taggart intercepted a Johnson pass on the Wildcats’ first possession of the half. Retzlaff turned that INT into a three-yard TD pass to Darius Lassiter, giving BYU a 24-6 lead.

First punt return for a touchdown from #BYU since JD Falslev in 2013 against Middle Tennessee.#BYUFootball

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 22, 2024

Despite the deficit, K-State has outgained BYU 259 yards to 162.

What channel is BYU football on?

The BYU football game against No. 13 Kansas State will be broadcast on ESPN. Dave Flemming, Brock Osweiler, and Stormy Buonantony will be on the call.

How to Watch:

Television

ESPN

Mobile/Streaming Devices

ESPN App (Available on Apple App Store, Google Play Store, Apple TV, Roku, Xbox, Google TV, and Amazon Fire TV)

How to Listen

Radio

KSL NewsRadio (102.7 FM & 1160 AM)

• Cougar Sports Saturday preview show from Noon to 3 p.m. (MDT)

Online

sports.ksl.com

KSLNewsRadio.com

Mobile

KSL Sports app

KSL NewsRadio app

Postgame Show

BYU vs. Kansas State recap on KSL Sports Zone (97.5 FM), sports.ksl.com, and the KSL Sports app.

For more information on BYU football, follow our BYU insider Mitch Harper. Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (Saturday from 12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU in the Big 12 Conference on Twitter/X and Threads: @Mitch_Harper.

BYU Cougars 2024 Schedule (3-0, 0-0)

• Southern Illinois Salukis @ BYU Cougars  (41-13 W)
• BYU Cougars @ SMU Mustangs (18-15 W)
• BYU Cougars @ Wyoming Cowboys (34-14 W)
• Kansas State Wildcats @ BYU Cougars
• Saturday, September 28 – BYU Cougars @ Baylor Bears | Kickoff TBA
• BYE
• Saturday, October 12 – Arizona Wildcats @ BYU Cougars | Kickoff TBA
• Friday, October 18 – Oklahoma State Cowboys @ BYU Cougars | Kickoff 8:15 p.m MT
• Saturday, October 26 – BYU Cougars @ UCF Knights | Kickoff  TBA
• BYE
• Saturday, November 9 – BYU Cougars @ Utah Utes | Kickoff TBA
• Saturday, November 16 – Kansas Jayhawks @ BYU Cougars | Kickoff TBA
• Saturday, November 23 – BYU Cougars @ Arizona State Sun Devils | Kickoff TBA
• Saturday, November 30 – Houston Cougars @ BYU Cougars | Kickoff TBA

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Brian Preece is a sports.ksl.com insider covering Locals in MLB and Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball coverage here.

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