AUSTIN, Tex — For a while, it looked like Kansas State may get boat-raced for a second straight week. Considering the weather conditions, it would have been fitting.
To the Wildcats’ credit, they refused to give in to Texas like they did to Oklahoma a week earlier. But a lack of offensive firepower proved costly once again as K-State fell to 3-4 on the season with a 23-9 loss to the Longhorns on Saturday afternoon.
With multiple chances to tie the game in the 4th quarter, the Wildcat offense, aside from Charles Jones, was inept. Jones finished with 122 yards rushing, over half of his team’s total output.
Texas took a 16-0 lead midway through the second quarter, and recovered a short kickoff immediately after. The Longhorn rushing attack was dominant early in the contest, which was drenched by rain throughout.
But K-State buckled down defensively from that point on, holding Texas on downs after the recovered kickoff, and never allowed a sustained drive the rest of the way.
Unfortunately, with the way things have gone on the other side of the ball, a 16-point deficit appeared to be, and ultimately was, insurmountable.
Joe Hubener found Dominique Health for a seven-yard touchdown with less than a minute before halftime, and Jack Cantele made a field goal in the third quarter to get the Wildcats within seven, but K-State never got inside the Texas 35 yard line from that point on.
Jones did what he could, reading blocks as well as he ever has and finding holes for multiple runs of 10-20 yards. But Hubener was unable to complete passes when he absolutely had to.
He finished the game 10 of 22 passing for 97 yards. His interception into double coverage with 4:22 to play ended any comeback hopes, and Texas’ Tyrone Swoopes iced the game with a 10-yard touchdown run three plays later.
Longhorn quarterback Jerrod Heard was held in check after halftime. He passed for just 99 yards, while adding 61 on the ground.
K-State will get some extra time off before it returns to the field. The Wildcats host No. 2 Baylor on Thurs., Nov. 5, hoping to avoid a five-game skid to begin league play.
