Kansas State University

MANHATTAN, Kansas. – No. 14 Kansas State showed in the second year that its Wildcats mean business Avery Johnson threw and ran and delivered his best performance yet in a 31-7 victory over No. 20 Arizona that gave K-State a big win on the big stage and in front of a relentless crowd at Bill Snyder Family Stadium on Friday night.


Johnson threw for 156 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 110 yards as K-State's (3-0) defense stymied Arizona (2-1), ending Arizona's nation-leading nine-game winning streak and giving K-State its first regular-season home victory against a higher-ranked nonconference opponent since 2002.


The crowd was loud. K-State was proud. And K-State recorded one of its biggest wins in six seasons under head coach Chris Klieman.


“I've never heard The Bill this loud,” Klieman said. “When I got to the parking lot, I knew they were going to rock. They were electric tonight and helped us win the football game.”


“I can’t thank our fans and our fan base enough.”


In Big 12 history, K-State is 146-47 as a home team, the most wins of any active school in the league.


“To compete with another top-20 team in the country and finish with such a dominant win — kudos to the defense, kudos to the guys around me, it was a really nice win tonight,” said Johnson, who completed 14 of 23 passes for 156 yards and two touchdowns and ran 17 times for a career-high 110 yards in his fourth career start.


“The best thing we did tonight is we just didn't let up.”


In a rare weekday game for K-State, the purple-clad Wildcats shone before the college football universe and a crowd of 51,290 spectators, the 16^th sold out. Friday's game was not a conference game and did not count toward the Big 12 standings, but the first meeting between K-State and Arizona since 1978 certainly opened eyes to the dangers posed by K-State when it plays well in all three phases.


From Johnson’s two touchdown passes – both to tight ends – to a touchdown-saving interception in the end zone by cornerback Keenan Garber to a 71-yard punt return touchdown by Electric Dylan EdwardsK-State folded against an Arizona team that suffered its worst loss since a 34-0 defeat at Colorado on October 16, 2021.


“We can be a complete team,” said Klieman, who improved to 4-1 against non-conference Power 4 opponents during the regular season. “We're coming along. We're getting better. There's probably more in us. We can play fast on defense, we have some playmakers on offense, we're not one-dimensional like a lot of people thought. Avery turned it around pretty well today.”


“I don't know what we want to prove to everyone else. We want to prove to ourselves that we can keep it up and continue to play at a high level. Only through good preparation and training at a high level can you play at a high level. That's what I challenged the boys with. We had a great week of preparation. Now we have to repeat it.”


After K-State appeared to have questions following a 34-27 comeback win at Tulane last Saturday, the Wildcats shined after a short week against Arizona and now prepare for a 9:30 p.m. (CT) kickoff at BYU next Saturday.


It seems like the Wildcats still have plenty of fuel in the tank for the upcoming journey.


“You live for games like this,” said Wide Receiver Jayce Brownwho had three catches for 60 yards. “What else could you ask for? Friday night highlights, sold-out game. It was a good team win. We have bigger goals ahead of us. We'll continue next week.”


Arizona averaged 39 points per game during a winning streak that lasted nearly a year. Arizona suffered its first loss since a 43-41 loss at No. 9 USC in the third overtime on Oct. 7, 2023.


K-State outscored Arizona in total offense, 391 to 324. In rushing yards, K-State had a lead of 235 to 56.


Although one of the most potent quarterback-wide receiver duos in the country appeared as strong as advertised – Noah Fifita completed 24 of 36 passes for 248 yards (with one interception) and Tetairoa McMillan had 11 catches for 138 yards – Arizona incurred nine penalties and managed just 5 of 14 third down attempts against a K-State defense that forced a turnover-by-down on each of its final three possessions.


“We just worked as a unit and didn't beat ourselves,” Senior Defensive End Brendan Mott said. “In the Tulane game, we made some mental mistakes and explosive plays that we could have avoided. That was on us. We worked together and managed the game. Coach Klieman always says to 'manage the game,' and I think that's what we did.”


In the first quarter it seemed like anyone could win.


Fifita carried Arizona 73 yards on 14 plays and Quali Conley scored a 1-yard touchdown to secure a 7-0 lead in the opening drive, which lasted 7:28. Arizona converted two third downs and a fourth-and-1 to keep the opening possession alive.


Then Johnson led his own monster run – a 15-play, 75-yard run that included 58 rushing yards, including 34 from DJ Giddensand that ended with Johnson hitting the tight end Will Swanson for a 3-yard touchdown to tie the score with 1:01 left in the first quarter.


It's almost unbelievable, but each team had possession of the ball once in the first quarter.


Shortly afterwards there was a fireworks display.


When K-State forced Arizona to punt, K-State's special operations unit sprang into action. Edwards took a 48-yard punt from Tyler Loop, caught a block to find the rim, and sprinted 71 yards down the K-State sideline for a touchdown and a 14-7 lead.


That means K-State has scored three non-offensive touchdowns in its first three games – one in each game. With 134 non-offensive touchdowns since 1999, K-State leads the FBS during that time period.


“We knew they were going to come and try to punch us in the face,” Edwards said. “We kept going and you saw the result.”


Fifita tried to answer with a four-play, 45-yard drive that resulted in his first fumble. On a third-and-3 attempt at K-State's 30-yard line, Fifita threw a pass up the middle and Garber undercut wide receiver Malachi Riley in the end zone for a touchdown-saving interception. K-State's 67 takeaways are the most in the Big 12 since 2021.


“I just ran, saw the ball and knew I had a chance to catch it,” Garber said. “I had to make the crucial play when it came my way.”


K-State's other big plays came in the second half. The Wildcats were unable to build a two-point lead in the first two quarters.


Arizona’s defense held firm after K-State advanced the football, but a 48-yard field goal attempt by Chris Tennant sailed far to the left.


Arizona committed five offensive penalties on the next possession and was forced to punt. K-State began its next attack shortly before the 2-minute timeout, but one of its most balanced attacks of the first half ended in disaster.


With seconds left on third-and-15 at Arizona's 19-yard line, Johnson extended the play with his legs and ran down the field and out of bounds in front of Arizona's sideline – but not before the game clock ran out, thwarting a chance for a short field goal attempt to end the half.


“At the end of the first half, it's all on me,” Klieman said. “I have to be better in that situation and I should have just called a timeout. That's not the kid's fault. That's 100% on me and I told him that.”


Don't worry. Johnson and Co. came out of the locker room seemingly unfazed and took care of the rest of the game.


A brilliant 48-yard catch-and-run by Brown – K-State’s longest pass of the season – set up Edwards for an 8-yard run, where he handed the ball off to K-State at the 9-yard line while wearing a face mask. On the next play, Johnson found Brayden Loftin for a 9-yard touchdown in the back of the end zone for a 21-7 lead, capping an 86-yard drive, K-State's longest of the season.


K-State struck again – this time with an 11-play drive that was decisive when Johnson connected with Loftin for 21 yards, which in turn enabled a 1-yard touchdown run by Giddens that put K-State ahead 28-7 with 34 seconds left in the third quarter.


Tennant kicked a 32-yard field goal midway through the fourth quarter, while the defense posted a shutout in the second half.


Moments later, the K-State marching band belted out “Happy Trails,” their signature song to send off opposing teams after a big home win.


And this was a gigantic win as the Wildcats prepare to open Big 12 play at BYU.


“We just have to stay focused and have a great week of practice,” Johnson said. “Our success tonight is because of how well we practiced all week and how well we prepared from the end of the Tulane game to the first snap tonight. We have to continue to prepare at the highest level and just execute when we step on the field.”