K-State rallies for big home win over Oklahoma State

Manhattan, Kan. (westernkansasnews.com)–Kansas State came in to Saturday’s game on a three-game losing streak, in hopes to right the ship. After trailing 6-3 to Oklahoma State at the break, the Wildcats scored on their first four possessions of the second half, and knocked off the Cowboys 31-12 Saturday afternoon at Bill Snyder Family Stadium in front of 50,245.

The first half saw both teams score on field goals. Oklahoma State scored first on a Matt Ammendola 48-yard field goal with 5:10 left in the first quarter to give the Cowboys the early 3-0 lead. On the next drive, K-State came down the field and tied the game early in the second quarter. Andrew Hicks knocked in a 31-yard field goal to tie the game a three with 13:32 left before halftime. Oklahoma State would answer back later in the half. With 7:23 to go in the second period, Ammendola knocked home a 22-yard field goal to give the Pokes a 6-3 lead. The Cats had one shot to tie or take the lead at the end of the first half, but Skylar Thompson was sacked on the final play of the half, as Oklahoma State took a 6-3 lead into the locker room.

Kansas State put together their most impressive second half of the year, and it started on their opening drive. They took the lead for good on an Alex Barnes nine-yard run with 8:44 left in the third quarter to lead 10-6 after the Hicks PAT. They’d score one more time in the third quarter on a Barnes one-yard run out of the “Wildcat” to extend the lead to 17-6 heading into the fourth quarter.

Oklahoma State would pull closer in the first minute of the fourth quarter. With 14:23 remaining in the game, quarterback Taylor Cornelius would rush in from a yard out to pull to within 17-12. The Cowboys would miss the two-point conversion. The Wildcats would put the game away on their next two drives. Their next drive would go nearly five minutes, as Alex Barnes would score from eight yards out, his third rushing score of the day, with 9:41 left to put K-State up 24-12 with the Hicks kick. The dagger would be delivered on a five-minute, 32-second drive with 235 left on a Barnes three-yard run out of the “Wildcat”. Andrew Hicks booted in the PAT to make the score 31-12, and that would be the final.

Skylar Thompson was 11-22 passing for for 130 yards. Alex Barnes would lead the team in receiving with three catches for 51 yards. He would also have a career-high 34 carries for 181 yards and four touchdowns, while Thompson would rush for 80 yards on 12 carries. Kansas State had 421 yards of offense, with 291 yards coming on the ground.

Oklahoma State saw Taylor Cornelius go 17-35 passing for 184 yards and two interceptions. He also led the team in rushing with 55 yards on 11 carries and a touchdown. Tylan Wallace had five receptions for 90 yards. Justice HIll was held to 41 yards on 11 carries in the game. The Cowboys rushed for 127 and finished with 311 yards of offense.

With the win, Kansas State has now won two straight in the series, the first since the end of a nine-win streak in 1999 and 2002, and held Oklahoma State to a season-low 12 points. Alex Barnes has 2,049 yards in his career, and that has moved him into 10th place in school history.

K-State is now 3-4 on the year, 1-3 in Big 12 play, and will have a bye week before traveling to Oklahoma on Saturday, October 27. Oklahoma State has dropped two straight, and are now 4-3 on the year and 1-3 in Big 12 play, as they will also have a bye week before hosting Texas on Saturday, October 27.

Head Coach Bill Snyder