From The Couch – K-State Football Winning Streak Against Kansas Hits 18 Games
K-State’s football winning streak over rival Kansas has now reached the age to legally vote. Approximately 2.4 billion people have been born in the last 18 years. Therefore 29% of the world’s population has never seen K-State lose to KU in football. It’s true. I looked it up, and Google doesn’t lie. Throw that one out to your favorite KU fan at work tomorrow morning.
While the game didn’t quite go quite as well as K-State fans wanted it to, the Wildcats beat Kansas 35-24 on a spectacular fall day in Manhattan, Kansas on Saturday. K-State dominated the game statistically, outrushing Kansas 359 yards to 168 and outgaining them through the air 209 yards to 151. Total yards? 568 to 319 in favor of K-State. I’d call that domination, but in a rivalry game sometimes the numbers don’t tell the whole story. KU led most of the first half and retook the lead with a touchdown on the first drive of the second half. K-State fans were nervous much of the game, and I was nervous right along with them.
K-State started the scoring on the first drive of the game, capped off by a four-yard touchdown run by Rodney Fields.
JM: The play was set up by Avery Johnson’s 59-yard run on the previous play. Johnson was banged up on the play, and when he didn’t get up, the entire stadium gasped in unison.
JM: Luckily, Johnson was okay. But KU was able to run the ensuing kickoff back for a touchdown to tie the game. It was the first kick for touchdown given up by K-State since 2013, which was the longest streak in the nation. I’m okay with that streak being broken as long as K-State won but now let’s start another one.
Kansas gained the momentum after the kick return, scoring a touchdown and a field goal while K-State’s offense struggled to get going. The field goal was scored after tight end Linkon Cure fumbled after a reception in their own territory. KU led 17-7.
“Can’t have the kick return. That’s something that’s normally the ace in our pockets, and we have to make sure we get that tightened up so we’re on the right end of those special teams difference-maker plays. I’m very proud of the competitive maturity in a physical ballgame, but there’s a lot to still clean-up to reach our potential.”…K-State head coach Collin Klein, post-game
JM: K-State was able to answer with a couple of field goals to cut the deficit to 17-13 before forcing a muffed KU punt in their own endzone to get a safety.
JM: If the punter hadn’t dropped the ball, this one might have been blocked for a K-State touchdown, but at the time I was happy with the two points and getting the ball back. K-State was able to kick a field goal near the end of the first half to take an 18-17 lead at halftime.
After Kansas scored on their first drive of the second half, K-State answered the touchdown with one of their own to retake the lead, 25-24.
JM: After holding Kansas to a three and out, K-State drove down the field again and faced a 4th and goal. Joe Jackson was stuffed by the Kansas defense and the Jayhawks took over. Kansas drove down the field, and I thought the K-State defense looked tired. On first and 10, from the 17, Kansas quarterback Isaiah Marshall threw into the endzone and was picked off by K-State safety Logan Bartley.
JM: The interception was the play of the game and gave all the momentum back to K-State. Cue K-State running back Joe Jackson, who ran for 64 yards on the next play, setting up K-State with a first and 10 on the Kansas 20. Three plays later, Avery Johnson hit Jaron Tibbs on a nine-yard touchdown pass to put K-State up eight points.
K-State’s defense held the rest of the game and the Wildcats added a field goal for good measure for the 35-24 final score.
“I want to say thank you to our fans. That environment today was unbelievable, and our students were absolutely amazing.”…Collin Klein, post-game
JM: It was a great environment, and I saw very few KU fans in the stands. In fact, I’d say the KU band outnumbered the KU fans in attendance. Nice job, K-State nation!
JM: Why would KU players talk smack on a podcast and social media prior to the game? You’ve lost 17 times in a row! Since 1993, K-State has won 29 times and KU has won FOUR! Well, I guess it was a good thing to motivate the K-State players. Need another “water cooler” talking point? Avery Johnson became the all-time K-State leader in career offensive yardage. And he’s undefeated against Kansas. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.
Saw this in the parking lot on the way to the car after the game…
JM: There is not a high school student on earth that has ever witnessed KU beating K-State in football.
JM: Thank you, John, for inviting us over to your tailgate before the game. This is a good group of K-State superfans that really needed a “feel good” victory over Kansas after what has been a disappointing football season thus far. While the game was nerve-racking, it always feels good after a victory. Onward and upward!
