Avery Johnson accounted for five touchdowns as No. 23 Kansas State dismantled No. 20 Oklahoma State 42-20 Saturday in a pivotal Big 12 matchup in Manhattan, Kan.
Johnson was 19-of-31 for 259 yards and three touchdowns passing. He added two touchdowns on the ground.
DJ Giddens rushed for 187 yards on just 15 carries (12.5 yards per rush) for the Wildcats (4-1, 1-1 Big 12). K-State outgained Oklahoma State 300-126 on the ground.
The Cowboys (3-2, 0-2 Big 12) were hurt by three turnovers by Alan Bowman. Bowman threw for 364 yards, but he had two picks and lost a fumble.
Giddens scored on the Wildcats’ second play from scrimmage in the second half, breaking through the line for a 66-yard touchdown to give the Cats a 28-13 lead.
Johnson then found Will Anciaux for his first career touchdown, a 2-yard jump pass.
When Johnson eluded the pass rush and then ran it in from the 13 for a 42-13 lead, the game was out of reach.
Oklahoma State scored on a 14-yard touchdown run by Trent Howland in the final two minutes.
Unlike in their previous game when they settled for three field goals in a 38-9 loss at BYU, the Wildcats found the end zone on their first drive. Johnson raced 11 yards, untouched, capping a 14-play, 75-yard drive.
Logan Ward’s 35-yard field goal put Oklahoma State on the board. The Cowboys surged down the field but stalled deep in KSU territory. The Cowboys’ second drive once again came to a halt in the red zone, and Ward’s 34-yard attempt was wide right.
Bowman then found De’Zhaun Stribling wide open on a flea-flicker for a 77-yard touchdown and a 10-7 Oklahoma State lead.
Johnson threw an interception at his own 33, but the K-State defense once again stiffened in the red zone and the Cowboys settled for a 31-yard field goal by Ward.
Johnson redeemed himself with a 19-yard touchdown pass to Garrett Oakley, putting the Wildcats up 14-13.
Bowman fumbled a snap, and the Wildcats recovered. Johnson then found a wide-open Jace Brown for a 55-yard touchdown after the defender fell down.
K-State led 21-13 at halftime.
–Field Level Media
