Kansas State’s grip on the Sunflower Showdown held firm again Saturday, and the way it happened looked familiar once the Wildcats settled in. After spotting Kansas an early 17-7 edge in Manhattan, Kansas State powered back for a 35-24 win and stretched its run over the Jayhawks to 18 straight games.
Kansas came out swinging and briefly looked like it might break the pattern for good, but that first-quarter lead didn’t stick. Kansas State took over at the line of scrimmage, leaned hard on the run game and steadily turned the game in its favor.
The numbers tell the story of how thoroughly the Wildcats controlled the middle and late stages. Kansas State finished with 357 rushing yards and 568 total yards, averaging 7.6 yards per play.
Joe Jackson led the ground attack with 159 yards and a touchdown on 27 carries, while Avery Johnson added 132 rushing yards on just 12 attempts. Johnson also threw for 209 yards and a touchdown.
Kansas State’s first-half comeback was built in pieces. The Wildcats used three field goals and a safety in the second quarter to turn the early deficit into an 18-17 halftime lead.
Kansas answered right away after the break. Dylan Edwards scored on a three-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter to put the Jayhawks back in front, 24-18. But Kansas State responded almost immediately, with Jackson punching in an eight-yard touchdown run to swing the lead back the Wildcats’ way at 25-24.
That was the last time Kansas had the upper hand.
Johnson later found Jaron Tibbs for a nine-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter, and Luis Rodriguez added a late field goal to seal it.
Kansas quarterback Isaiah Marshall did damage with his legs, rushing for 117 yards, but the passing game never caught up. He completed just 12 of 26 throws for 151 yards, with one touchdown and one interception.
The victory gave Kansas State its first Big 12 win of the Collin Klein era and kept the rivalry streak alive. Kansas still hasn’t beaten Kansas State since 2008.
Kansas State moved to 4-2 overall and 1-2 in Big 12 play and heads to Arizona State next week. Kansas fell to 2-4 and 0-3 in the league and will host Baylor next week.
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