Wildcats Roar Back to Stun Buffaloes in Thriller
Kansas State Rallies Past Colorado, 31-28
The Kansas State Wildcats battled back from a 14-point deficit to pull off a thrilling 31-28 victory over the Colorado Buffaloes on Saturday afternoon at Folsom Field. The Wildcats' offense, led by quarterback Will Howard, found their rhythm in the second half, scoring 24 unanswered points to secure the win.
The Buffaloes jumped out to a quick lead, scoring touchdowns on their first two possessions to take a 14-0 advantage. But the Wildcats' defense stiffened in the second quarter, holding Colorado scoreless for the rest of the half. The score remained 14-0 at the half, but the feeling was definitely different.
The second half saw Kansas State come out with a vengeance. Howard connected with Malik Knowles for a touchdown early in the third quarter, cutting the lead to 14-7. After forcing a Colorado punt, the Wildcats drove down the field and scored on a short run by Deuce Vaughn. A successful extra point tied the score at 14, and the Wildcats were back in the game.
After trading field goals, K-State took their first lead of the game when Howard found Knowles again for a touchdown. A successful two-point conversion gave Kansas State a 22-17 lead.
The Buffaloes responded with a touchdown of their own, regaining a 24-22 lead, but Kansas State answered with a field goal to take a 25-24 lead. The Wildcats added another field goal later in the fourth quarter, and with just over 2 minutes remaining in the game, a 28-24 lead.
Colorado drove down the field and scored a touchdown with under a minute left, but a failed two-point conversion gave the Wildcats the victory.
Howard, Knowles Power K-State Offense
Howard finished the game with 318 yards passing and two touchdowns, with 151 of those yards going to Knowles. The two were incredibly effective, seemingly finding each other at will, despite an early deficit. Knowles finished the game with six catches for 151 yards and two scores, while Vaughn also had a strong performance, running for 118 yards and a touchdown.
The Wildcats' defense was also a key factor in the victory, holding Colorado's offense to just 28 points. The Buffaloes were averaging over 30 points per game coming into the contest.
The win is a huge boost for Kansas State, who are now 2-0 on the season. The Wildcats will look to continue their momentum next week against their in-state rivals, the Kansas Jayhawks.
