Kansas State’s Avery Johnson threw a touchdown pass, Joe Jackson ran for one in the fourth quarter, and the Wildcats won 14-6 over the Oklahoma State Cowboys in a Big 12 matchup on Saturday afternoon in Stillwater, Okla.
The Wildcats (5-5, 4-3) saw Johnson throw for 177 yards and a score by completing 15 of 28 passes with one interception. Jayce Brown caught three balls for 82 yards and a TD.
Jackson had 14 carries for 69 yards and scored, while cornerback Zashon Rich recorded an interception and a fumble recovery as the Wildcats won in Stillwater for the second time in 26 years.
The last-place Cowboys (1-9, 0-7) moved the ball but could not finish drives. They totaled 373 yards but committed five turnovers.
Zane Flores went 24 of 36 for 233 yards with two interceptions.
The Cowboys were able to tally on their second series. Logan Ward capped it with a 47-yard field goal to make it 3-0 at 8:37.
The Cowboys’ defense continued to be stout and kept the Wildcats scoreless in the first quarter, marking the first time the home side had done that to an opponent this season. Ward added a center-cut 47-yarder on the first play of the second quarter.
Kansas State forced the first turnover when a strong rush led to Flores being hit on a deep pass attempt. The fluttering throw was hauled in by Rich for an interception.
While the Cowboys outplayed the visitors most of the first half, leading 193-133 in yardage, Kansas State took a 7-6 edge at 7:07 of the second quarter when Johnson hit Brown on a 34-yard slant.
Ward fell short on a 55-yard attempt, and the Wildcats’ Luis Rodriguez missed from 38 yards in the half’s closing minutes.
In the third quarter, the teams traded turnovers in the first five minutes as the Cowboys squandered a scoring chance, but the Wildcats moved into scoring position when Ryan Davis sacked Flores, forcing a fumble that Rex Van Wyhe recovered.
Jackson gave Kansas State breathing room with a 15-yard TD run on fourth down with 12:31 left to end a 70-yard series.
The Wildcats’ Daniel Cobbs picked off Trent Howland’s halfback pass to end a scoring drive with 8 1/2 minutes left.
The visitors’ defense made a defensive stop in the red zone in the final minute to preserve the victory.
