Tulane upsets Kansas State

Manhattan, Kan. (westernkansasnews.com)–The Kansas State Wildcats played host to the Green Wave of Tulane on Saturday afternoon at Bill Snyder Stadium in their final non-conference game of the season. On Fort Riley Day, the Wildcat offense sputtered for much of the day, and the Green Wave rallied in the final five minutes to upset K-State 17-10, in front of 50,887.

In a low-scoring affair, Tulane would get the scoring started late in the first quarter on a nine-play, 91-yard drive. Tyjae Spears scored from one yard out with 3:13 left in the first quarter to go up 7-0 after the Kriston Esnard PAT.

It wasn’t until the second quarter when the Wildcats would get on the board. With 2:43 left before halftime, quarterback Adrian Martinez threw his first touchdown pass in a K-State uniform to his old teammate from Nebraska Kade Warner. The 21-yard touchdown pass tied the game at 21 with the Ty Zentner PAT. Kansas State would intercept quarterback Michael Pratt, and take it down to the Green Wave 23 yard line. And on the final play of the half, Chris Tennant kicked a 22-yard field goal to give the Cats a 10-7 halftime lead.

Tulane took advantage of short field to tie the game up on their opening drive of the second half. Esnard kicked in a 30-yard field goal to tie the game at 10 with 8:51 left in the third frame.

Kansas State tried to march down the field to go ahead in the fourth quarter, and were stuffed on fourth and two at the Tulane 45 yard line. The Green Wave would march down the field with ease and take the lead. With 4:27 left in the game, Michael Pratt found Tyrick James on a four-yard touchdown pass to put them up 17-10, with the Esnard PAT.

Kansas State got to their own 48 before having to punt. Tulane picked up a first down on fourth and inches at their own 25, and secured the win 17-10.

Michael Pratt was 13-26 passing for 176 yards, with a touchdown and two interceptions. Deuce Watts had three catches for 60 yards. Pratt also lead Tulane in rushing with 87 yards on 13 carries. The Green Wave finished with 336 yards of offense, and had 160 rushing yards.

Adrian Martinez was 21-31 passing for 150 yards and a touchdown. Deuce Vaughn rushed for 81 yards on 20 carries, snapping a streak of eight straight 100-yard games. Malik Knowles had 52 yards on five catches, as the Wildcats finished with 336 yards of offense, with 186 on the ground.

With the win, Tulane leads the all-time series 2-0, winning in New Orleans against Kansas State in 1988.

Kansas State is 2-1, and begins Big 12 play at No. 6 Oklahoma Saturday at 7 pm. The Sooners pounded Nebraska 49-14 in Lincoln on Saturday. Tulane is 3-0, and hosts Southern Miss to begin conference play on Saturday at 6 pm.

Coach Chris Kleiman