Chris Tennant tied his career long with a 51-yard field goal in the final two minutes, helping No. 16 Kansas State to a 29-27 victory over in-state rival Kansas on Saturday in Manhattan, Kan.
K-State extended its winning streak over Kansas to 16 games.
Avery Johnson was 19-of-34 for 253 yards and two touchdowns for the Wildcats (7-1, 4-1 Big 12). Johnson also had a rushing touchdown.
K-State opened the second half with a quick scoring drive, capped by Johnson’s 10-yard run. The big play on the drive was a 54-yard run by DJ Giddens.
Kansas (2-6, 1-4) answered with Devin Neal’s 24-yard rushing touchdown. The extra-point attempt hit the upright, making the score 23-20. Neal’s touchdown was the 44th of his career, making him the all-time TD leader in Kansas history.
Jalon Daniels then put Kansas ahead 27-23 on an 8-yard touchdown run up the middle with 36 seconds left in the third quarter.
Kansas State drew within 27-26 on a 28-yard field goal by Tennant early in the fourth quarter.
Kansas State went for it on fourth-and-12 from the Kansas 42 with just over four minutes left. An incomplete pass gave the ball back to the Jayhawks. But Daniels fumbled and K-State got the ball at the KU 48 with 3:44 left. The Wildcats’ drive lasted 2:02 and ended with Tennant’s 51-yard field goal with 1:42 left.
Daniels’ rush on fourth down with a minute left was short, and the Wildcats held on.
Kansas opened the scoring with an 11-play, 75-yard drive on its opening possession. Sevion Morrison bounced around the right end for a 38-yard touchdown to cap the drive.
K-State answered with a 13-play, 95-yard drive. Johnson hit tight end Will Anciaux with a 24-yard touchdown pass.
On the ensuing kickoff, Kansas returner Jameel Croft Jr. caught the ball at his own 1-yard line before stepping out of bounds. On the next play, Neal was stopped in the backfield for a safety. On the next drive, Johnson found another tight end, Garrett Oakley, on a 2-yard touchdown on a jump pass for a 16-7 lead.
Kansas responded with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Daniels to Luke Grimm to cap a 75-yard drive. The Jayhawks appeared to be driving for a go-ahead score late in the first half when Daniels threw an interception in the end zone.
