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89-year-old Keith Mason (center) is with family after lighting the Y before the BYU-UCF football game at LaVell Edwards Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025. Mason was a member of the BYU sideline chain crew for 53 years.

Jacob Nielson, Daily Herald

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BYU football coach Kalani Sitake greets fan outside of LaVell Edwards Stadium before a Big 12 game against UCF on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025.

Courtesy BYU Photo

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UCF head football coach Scott Frost had plenty of effusive praise for the BYU football program in general and Cougar head coach Kalani Sitake in general after his team’s 41-21 loss to the Cougars on Saturday.

“I thought the fight today was a good fight against a really good team,” Frost said. “They’re a class act like Coach Sitake, he’s one of the good guys in the business.”

While some of the Cougar faithful are quick to criticize Sitake and other assistant coaches, outside of Provo the Cougar head coach is well respected.

“He’s just a guy that’s real,” added Frost. “You know I like genuine people and he’s a genuine guy. I think he stands for the right things and I’m happy for him getting to the (Big 12) championship game.”

Sitake and his coaching staff and players truly deserve this high praise that comes from Frost and a lot of other coaches.

With the win against UCF, Sitake has run his overall coaching record to 83-44, meaning that the Cougar head coach wins over 65 percent of his games. On top of that Sitake has led the football program through its last years of independence into a transition of joining the Big 12. And after a 5-7 season in its inaugural year in the conference, Sitake has led BYU to two consecutive double-digit win totals. This season was the fourth one where BYU has won 10 or more games with Sitake as head coach.

Coaches, like players, are not static and to improve their prowess, there is a bit of a learning curve. Early in Sitake’s career there were some silly coaching decisions, particularly a fake put on a third and 18 on your own 3-yard line against Boise State. But over time, Sitake has become comfortable in his coaching skin. He has truly become a steadying force, much like two of his mentors in LaVell Edwards and University of Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham.

This element of Sitake’s coaching persona was truly evident in the game against UCF. While many Cougar fans were in utmost panic after giving up two early touchdowns against the Golden Knights, the players and the coaching staff he directed didn’t panic and made the necessary adjustments that led to a comfortable 41-21 win.

The other element of Sitake’s leadership is that his players just have fun playing the game. That becomes very evident between the third and fourth quarters of home games when the players are jumping around enjoying the music and the fire dancers. Sitake and his players seem to thrive off the interaction with the fans, especially the student section.

What BYU has done this season after losing quarterback Jake Retzlaff to Tulane is remarkable. Sitake and his coaching staff inserted a true freshman quarterback in Bear Bachmeier and provided an environment where he could succeed, not just long term but right away. Now BYU is just one game away from earning an automatic bid into the college football playoff and success like this doesn’t come without great leadership from the top.

An incredible legacy: Keith Howard Mason has perhaps seen more BYU football home games than any other person. Yes, he currently has season tickets but before that he worked on the chain gang for 53 years. Since a typical college football season will have six home games, Howard was there for over 300 home games up close and personal. All total, Mason has attended 373 straight home games.

It was totally apropos, and perhaps long overdue that the 89 year-old Mason got to ceremonially light the Y before the contest. Mason hasn’t missed a BYU home game for over 62 years.

“It was one of the biggest highlights of his life,” said his daughter Merilee Mason, who added being there to see her father have this honor was “priceless.”

Mason’s son Mark said simply, “it was pretty awesome. He’s always been such a fan of BYU.”

Lighting the Y has been a way for the football program to honor those that have contributed to the program, and honorees have included former players, past administrators, faculty members, benefactors, and super fans like Keith Howard Mason. And it often, as in this case, brings family and friends back together.

“This is a huge family affair,” Merilee Mason said, noting family members have driven up from Las Vegas and San Diego. “We just couldn’t be prouder of Dad and we have an attitude of gratitude. We love our family and friends and they’ve always been there for us.”

The Kingston trio: Parker Kingston arguably had his most productive game as a Cougar against UCF. His 55-yard punt return for a touchdown in the third quarter gave the Cougars complete control of the contest. It was Kingston’s third punt return for a touchdown in his career and the first of the 2025 season.

Kingston had temporarily lost his job as punt returner to Tiger Bachmeier after a couple of fumbles early in the season but earned the duties back and is making the most of it.

Kingston took the return up the middle of the field. One UCF dove at him around the 40-yard line then it was left up to Golden Knight punter Anthony Venneri to prevent the touchdown. Kingston ran right through his tackle attempt to take it to the house.

Kingston also added 126 yards receiving for 181 all-purpose yards, a career high for the redshirt junior.

Extra points

• Captains for the coin toss were defensive tackle Keanu Tanuvasa, kicker Will Ferrin, safety Tanner Wall and linebacker Jack Kelly.
• Since it was Senior Day, no alumni carried flags. The USA flag was carried by safety Talan Alfrey, the State of Utah flag by running back Enoch Nawahine, the Big 12 flag by defensive tackle Kaufusi Pakofe while other team flags were carried by tight end Carsen Ryan, cornerback Jayden Dunlap and long snapper Garrison Grimes.
• BYU won the coin toss and elected to defer, a moved that played a factor in the game. After Central Florida took a 14-0 lead, BYU rallied to take go up 17-14 at halftime. The Cougars got the ball to open the second half and scored on LJ Martin’s third touchdown of the day. Then BYU’s defense forced a CFU punt and Kingston returned a punt 55 yards for a touchdown. So within eight minutes of game time BYU scored 17 points and never looked back..
• Evan Johnson secured his fourth interception of the season and sixth of his career. BYU is now ranked 16th in the nation securing interceptions.
• Kelly recorded his ninth sack of the season to lead the team and forced his second fumble on the season. This led to Raider Damuni getting the first fumble recovery in his BYU career.
• Attendance was announced at 60,389 but there was a sizable number of no-shows, especially in the student section since it was Thanksgiving break.