PROVO — It was named a “play of the year candidate” by ESPN’s SportsCenter and gave some momentum to BYU’s wild 38-9 win over No. 13 Kansas State.

But Parker Kingston’s 90-yard punt return, which capped a 31-0 run in the middle eight minutes of the second and third quarters, probably shouldn’t have happened. Or at least, there’s a world in which it’s not even possible for the former Roy High star to run 150 yards while weaving through packs of Kansas State defenders.

Of course, the Cougars are happy that Kingston made the decision to do what he did, helping them get off to a 4-0 start for the first time since 2021. But then again, it probably shouldn’t have happened.

“It was supposed to be a safe run,” said linebacker Isaiah Glasker, who had three tackles and a tackle for loss and was on the field on the play. “I thought he was going to catch it, but I turned around and the ball fell to the ground. I tried to find the first guy I could block, and you see an open lane and he came up the sideline … and from there we celebrated in the end zone.”

Defensive end Tyler Batty added: “It was just insane. And we were on the punt safe; the defense was on the field. To give that back for a touchdown on the punt safe, I don’t think you could ask for a better play.”

In a flash, thanks to a former all-state sprinter and quarterback/running back/athlete from Roy High, the Cougars went from a 6-0 deficit to a Big 12 title contender to a 31-6 lead with about 6 1/2 minutes of playing time.

After being held scoreless for nearly two quarters, Will Ferrin opened the scoring with a 31-yard field goal with 2:10 left in the half. A minute and 2 seconds later, Tommy Prassas picked up a fumble forced by Jack Kelly and rumbled 30 yards into the end zone for a defensive touchdown.

On the next play, Jake Retzlaff converted an interception with a 23-yard TD strike to Chase Roberts to lead 17-6 at the break. The Cougars came out of the locker room with another turnover, and Retzlaff found Darius Lassiter for a 3-yard score just under 2 minutes into the third quarter.

Then came Kingston’s moment — captured by ESPN’s live game broadcast, by SportsCenter and in dozens of media outlets Sunday morning. Before backpedaling, weaving and weaving through K-State defenders, the 5-foot-11, 180-pound redshirt sophomore from Layton dropped the ball after attempting to catch the kick around his own 15-yard line.

Instead of diving for the recovery, Kingston scooped up the loose change, squirted out of the grasp of two defenders and backed toward the BYU goal line. No fewer than three K-State defenders slammed into each other before Glasker picked up a block near the Cougars’ sideline and began guiding the returner toward the goal.

“I felt like I had a personal escort to the end zone,” Kingston told BYUtv of Glasker. “I told him afterward, ‘Thanks, bro; he was the reason I got there.'”

They both got some help too.

Jakob Robinson threw himself on a block around midfield. Jack Kelly pushed aside an onrushing defender for another save, then held on to guide the youngster into the end zone. And Kingston nearly dropped the ball before the goal line before running to the corner of the end zone, near the Roar of Cougars student section, with his arms outstretched and BYU’s first punt return for a touchdown since J.D. Falslev ran 71 yards for a score against Middle Tennessee in 2013.

With Kingston’s punt return, Prassas’ fumble return and a trio of offensive scores, capped by Sione I. Moa’s 21-yard scoring run with 12:02 left in the game, BYU scored on all three phases for the first time since a 45-17 win over Utah State in 1996. That night, Shay Muirbrook took a fumble 45 yards for a score and James Dye returned a punt 79 yards for a touchdown.

It was fitting on a night when the Cougars honored the 1996 team with a 14-1 score — throwback uniforms, drop shadow Y logo and all — in their first game against Kansas State since Steve Sarkisian beat the Wildcats in the Cotton Bowl on New Year’s Day.

Kingston also made a little bit of history with his own name on Saturday night, even if it was a mistake at first.

“I saw a mistake, and I saw a mistake made right. We can block him without the dream … but another great play tonight,” BYU head coach Kalani Sitake said. “(Special teams coordinator) Kelly Poppinga did a great job with the special teams, making them believe they can make big plays and have an impact in the game.”