BYU capitalizes on turnovers, upsets No. 13 Kansas State 38-9

BYU scored three touchdowns off Kansas State turnovers in a three-minute span as the Cougars knocked off the No. 13 Wildcats 38-9 on Saturday night in Provo, Utah.

Jake Retzlaff was 15-of-21 passing for 149 yards and two touchdowns for BYU (4-0, 1-0 Big 12), which had just 241 yards of total offense but scored 31 unanswered points over 6:25.

Kansas State (3-1, 0-1) was hurt by six pre-snap offensive penalties.

After a 14-point burst to close the first half, BYU scored another touchdown off a K-State turnover early in the second half. Harrison Taggart picked off Avery Johnson at the K-State 42 and returned it 15 yards. Two plays later, Retzlaff found Darius Lassiter for a 3-yard touchdown and a 24-6 lead.

After a three-and-out, BYU got a 90-yard punt-return touchdown by Parker Kingston.

K-State got a 28-yard field goal from Chris Tennant, but Sione Moa's 21-yard touchdown run put BYU up 38-9 early in the fourth quarter.

The first half was filled with time-consuming drives and missed opportunities until the end of the half.

Kansas State got a 32-yard Tennant field goal for a 3-0 lead after a 12-play drive. A penalty on third down in the red zone was costly for the Wildcats.

K-State then marched 87 yards on 16 plays, but once again, the drive stalled because of a penalty. Tennant booted a 27-yard field goal.

BYU got on the board with 2:10 left in the half with a 31-yard field goal by Will Ferrin, capping a 13-play, 62-yard drive. A 12-yard sack on first-and-10 from the K-State 13 hurt the Cougars' chances of a touchdown.

But a huge play from the BYU defense changed the momentum. K-State running back DJ Giddens fumbled and Tommy Prassas picked it up and ran it in for a 30-yard touchdown and a 10-6 lead.

On the ensuing drive, Tyler Batty intercepted a tipped pass at the K-State 29-yard line. Two plays later, Retzlaff found Chase Roberts on a 23-yard touchdown pass and the Cougars led 17-6 at the half.

--Field Level Media