Tyler Lockett tied a K-State bowl record with three receiving touchdowns to lead K-State to a 31-14 win over Michigan in the 25th Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl. The win snapped a five game bowl losing streak for the Wildcats, who hadn’t won a bowl game since the 2002 Holiday Bowl.
Lockett ended the night with 10 catches for 116 yards and the three TD’s, all of which came in the first half when K-State built a 21-6 lead, and quarterback Jake Waters completed 21 of 27 passes for 271 yards.
“Looking at everybody’s faces from 12:00 in the afternoon to just getting ready to play this game,” Lockett said. Everybody was on the same page, everybody was ready to play.
Lockett was named the offensive MVP and his roommate, safety Dante Barnett, was the defensive MVP after returning a late interception 51 yards and racking up a team-high eight tackles.
Michigan freshman quarterback Shane Morris, thrust into the starting lineup with a turf toe injury to junior quarterback Devin Gardner, held his own and completed 24 of 38 passes for 196 yards. The problem for the Wolverines was only adding 65 rushing yards to compliment the passing game.
The win for K-State capped off the biggest turnaround of a season in school history. The Wildcats went 6-1 in the final seven games of the season after starting 2-4.
“I hope it sets a foundation for the younger players in our program,” K-State head coach Bill Snyder said. “It will be up to them.”
