By Tim Everson
After a nightmarish trip to Utah last week, No. 23 Kansas State got the bounce-back game it needed in a 42-20 demolishing of No. 20 Oklahoma State at home on Saturday.
After a bit of a slow start defensively, K-State smothered the Cowboys, keeping them out of the end zone until Oklahoma State’s final drive of the game.
K-State’s offense ended the game with 559 total yards, the most since racking up 589 in a 41-3 win over TCU last season.
Here are four takeaways from Saturday’s win:
Return of the pass
After struggling with a largely one-dimensional offense through the first four games of the season, K-State’s passing game shined on Saturday.
The Wildcats ended the game with 259 yards passing and three touchdowns, including a 55-yard reception to sophomore Jayce Brown, the first TD catch by a wide receiver this season.
Sophomore quarterback Avery Johnson set new career highs in passing yards, passing touchdowns and completions (19). His five total touchdowns also tie a career-high for the Maize native who rebounded in a big way after struggling in K-State’s loss at BYU last week.
The sophomore quarterback wasn’t perfect, throwing one interception midway through the second quarter, but he bounced back from that with a passing TDs on K-State’s next two drives, including the Brown score and a 19-yard throw and catch to sophomore tight end Garrett Oakley.
Johnson also connected with freshman tight end Will Anciaux, a Wichita native, for his first TD of his career. The Wildcats have thrown touchdowns to four tight ends (Oakley, Anciaux, Will Swanson and Brayden Loftin) this season.
Tired: Ollie Gordon. Wired: DJ Giddens
Oklahoma State star running back Ollie Gordon has had his struggles this season, and they did not end on Saturday in Manhattan. The Heisman finalist had not eclipsed 50 yards rushing in a game versus an FBS opponent this season, but had 72 yards by the end of the first quarter, including two chunk plays of 26 and 24 yards.
The Wildcat defense did tighten up, allowing just three yards through the final three quarters of the game.
Meanwhile, K-State junior running back DJ Giddens was dominant, putting up 187 yards on 15 carries for a 12.5 average. He only scored once, but it was a big one, breaking loose for 66 yards after making the first defender miss. The TD was Giddens’ longest rush of his collegiate career.
Winning the turnover battle
K-State won the turnover margin by two, 3-1, snagging two interceptions and snagging a fumble.
Oklahoma State quarterback Alan Bowman was a liability for the Cowboys all day, throwing for 364 yards on 26-of-50 passing with two interceptions and a touchdown. Of those 364 yards, 77 of them came off the Cowboys’ lone passing score of the game, a flea flicker to De’Zhaun Stribling.
K-State snagged two interceptions, one each for cornerback Jacob Parrish and safety Marques Sigle, the first of the season for both players.
Strong safety Colby McCallister also picked up a botched Oklahoma State snap for the Wildcats’ lone fumble recovery.
Up-and-down third downs
While it was a pretty good day for the Wildcats offensively, perhaps the worst part of their performance was their play on third down.
K-State only converted on 3-of-12 chances. The silver lining, however, is that the Wildcats were 2-for-2 on fourth down.
Defensively, K-State held Oklahoma State to 6-of-17 and stopped the Cowboys on their lone fourth-down attempt of the game.
Up next
The Wildcats head into their first off-week of the season. They will be back in action on October 12, at Colorado. It’s K-State first trip to Boulder since 2010.
