Blocked Field Goal Results In First BYU Football TD Of 2025
Aug 30, 2025, 6:43 PM
BYU football linebacker Jack Kelly returns a blocked field goal for a touchdowns in the 2025 season-opener against Portland State. (Courtesy of BYU Photo/Jaren Wilkey)
(Courtesy of BYU Photo/Jaren Wilkey)
PROVO, Utah – The BYU Cougars looked flat in the opening minutes against Portland State, but a defensive stand followed by a blocked field goal gave the Cougars their first lead in 2025.
The BYU Cougars began the 2025 season by hosting the Portland State Vikings at LaVell Edwards Stadium on Saturday, August 30.
BYU vs. Portland State: Live Updates, Analysis, And More From Provo
he's a JACK of all trades 😎
📺 ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/NgNGaEhUZE
— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) August 31, 2025
Jack Kelly made a big hit on third down, forcing the Vikings to attempt a 57-yard field goal. Mathias Uribe’s attempt came out low and struck defensive end Bodie Schoonover in the facemask.
Kelly scooped the loose ball up and sprinted untouched into the end zone for a 7-0 lead.
Before Jack Kelly's return tonight, BYU's last blocked field goal that was returned for a touchdown occurred in 2001, against San Diego State, by Ryan Denney. pic.twitter.com/iHjzM5lc1M
— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) August 31, 2025
It was the program’s first blocked field goal returned for a touchdown since Ryan Denney in 2001 against San Diego State. Justin Ena was credited with the block on the play.
First TDs of a BYU Football season in the Kalani Sitake Era
2016: Bracken El-Bakri, 1-yard TD run vs. Arizona
2017: Neil Pau’u 28-yard TD reception from Tanner Mangum vs. Portland State
2018: Squally Canada 1-yard TD run vs. Arizona
2019: Ty’Son Williams 10-yard TD run vs. Utah
2020: Tyler Allgeier 34-yard TD run vs. Navy
2021: Tyler Allgeier 15-yard TD run vs. Arizona
2022: Puka Nacua 75-yard TD run vs. USF (First play of the season)
2023: Kedon Slovis 5-yard TD run vs. Sam Houston
2024: Hinckley Ropati 1-yard TD run vs. Southern Illinois
47 days until BYU football!
Next in our touchdown countdown is the 1st touchdown of the 2022 season.
Puka Nacua takes the first snap of the season 75 yards for a TD versus USF! #BYUFootball pic.twitter.com/OYMHLWyCU2
— House of BYU (@HouseofBYU) July 18, 2023
Atlanta Falcons running back Tyler Allgeier is the only Cougar to score the first touchdown of the season more than once.
BYU Cougars 2025 Schedule (0-0, 0-0)
- Saturday, August 30 – Portland State Vikings @ BYU Cougars | Kickoff 6 p.m. MT
- Saturday, September 6 – Stanford Cardinal @ BYU Cougars | Kickoff 8:15 p.m. MT
- BYE
- Saturday, September 20 – BYU Cougars @ East Carolina Pirates | Kickoff TBA
- Saturday, September 27 – BYU Cougars @ Colorado Buffaloes | Kickoff 8:15 p.m. MT
- Friday, October 3 – West Virginia Mountaineers @ BYU Cougars | Kickoff 8:30 p.m. MT
- Saturday, October 11 – BYU Cougars @ Arizona Wildcats | Kickoff TBA
- Saturday, October 18 – Utah Utes @ BYU Cougars | Kickoff TBA
- Saturday, October 25 – BYU Cougars @ Iowa State Cyclones | Kickoff TBA
- BYE
- Saturday, November 8 – BYU Cougars @ Texas Tech Red Raiders | Kickoff TBA
- Saturday, November 15 – TCU Horned Frogs @ BYU Cougars | Kickoff TBA
- Saturday, November 22 – BYU Cougars @ Cincinnati Bearcats | Kickoff TBA
- Saturday, November 29 – UCF Knights @ BYU Cougars | Kickoff TBA
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Find BYU’s entire 2025 football schedule here.
Mitch Harper is a BYU Insider for sports.ksl.com and hosts the Cougar Tracks Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and Cougar Sports Saturday (12–3 p.m.) on KSL Newsradio. Follow Mitch’s coverage of BYU in the Big 12 Conference on X: @Mitch_Harper.
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Brian Preece is a sports.ksl.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball here. Find Brian on X, Instagram, and BlueSky at @bpreece24.
