Daniel Sams and Jake Waters scored two touchdowns apiece and Ty Zimmerman overcame injuries with a signature interception return for a score as the Kansas State Wildcats won their third consecutive game with an impressive 49-26 victory over 25th-ranked Texas Tech before 54,609 on Saturday at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock.
After Texas Tech’s opening drive resulted in a field goal, the Wildcats needed just two plays to grab the lead when John Hubert scored on K-State’s longest run from scrimmage this season on a 63-yard scamper to make the score 7-3. After the Red Raiders regained the lead 10-7, the Cats began a run of 28 unanswered points late in the first quarter when Waters scored from one yard out for the 14-10 advantage.
Sams then got into the scoring column just a few short minutes later when he scored from five yards out to make the score 21-10. Waters continued the scoring frenzy with a 13-yard run then after the Wildcats recovered a Tech fumble by connecting with Tramaine Thompson from 20 yards out and K-State marched into the locker room with a 35-10 halftime lead.
Texas Tech pulled to within 35-19 with a touchdown and a field goal in the third quarter, but K-State seized momentum right back with a pair of touchdowns 49 seconds apart early in the fourth quarter. After Sams scored his second touchdown of the day and 10th of the season from a yard out, Safety Ty Zimmerman who had been shaken up a couple of times during the game, picked off a B.J. Mayfield pass and returned the interception 43 yards for a score. The Red Raiders added a late touchdown to provide the final margin of 49-26 leaving the Wildcats just one win from bowl eligibility.
While the Wildcats were outgained by Tech 459-367, K-State did not turn the ball over while forcing three Red Raider miscues. K-State’s defense, which has improved every week as the season has moved along, registered five quarterback sacks including three by Ryan Mueller who is the reigning Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week. Hubert had his best game of the season with 157 yards rushing. K-State Head Coach Bill Snyder became just the third coach in Big 8/12 history to win 100 Conference games at one school joining Barry Switzer and Tom Osborne.
Kansas State (5-4, 3-3) returns home next Saturday to face TCU which is coached by K-State alum Gary Patterson. The Horned Frogs squeezed out a 21-17 win on the road at Iowa State on Saturday. Kickoff next Saturday at Bill Snyder Family Stadium is set for 2:30 p.m.
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