Grace Parks
Junior tight end Garett Oakley leaps over UCF player in an attempt to rush towards the end zone. Oakley scored a touchdown two plays later during the third quarter.
With the ball at the 38-yard line, Kansas State lined up to kick a game-winning field goal. However, Baylor had other plans as they were able to block the kick and preserve the victory.
This came after Baylor kicker Connor Hawkins made a 53-yard field goal to take the lead with 31 seconds remaining in the game.
The Wildcats played well throughout the duration game, leading by 14 points in the 4th quarter before they collapsed, allowing Baylor to come back.
In the fourth quarter, Baylor scored a touchdown and converted a two-point conversion. K-State, with the ball back, was driving while trying to gain momentum back. However, with just over four minutes left, Baylor sent pressure and forced an off-platform throw by quarterback Avery Johnson, leading to a 66-yard pick-six.
“Our kids battled,” K-State head coach Chris Klieman said. “We made a couple mistakes, and Baylor probably made a couple mistakes, too. That’s what happens in this league. It’s a really good league, as we all know.”
The pick was the lone mistake by Johnson on the day as he threw for 339 yards while also adding 72 yards on the ground and totaling three touchdowns. His plays kept the Wildcats in the game.
Johnson’s counterpart, Baylor quarterback Sawyer Robertson, who came into the day as the nation’s leading passer and touchdown thrower, continued his terrific season as he threw for 345 yards and two touchdowns.
The Wildcats started the game off strong, taking their opening drive down the field and scoring a touchdown on a 30-yard scamper by Avery Johnson. Baylor answered with a field goal on their opening drive to open up the scoring at 7-3.
In what ended as a high-scoring game, the first quarter and parts of the second quarter saw both offenses stall. Baylor turned the ball over twice, once via an interception and once via a fumble, but the ‘Cats were unable to take advantage of either turnover.
Both offenses were able to find their footing in the second quarter, with a two-minute drive by K-State, capped off by a Garrett Oakley touchdown, the game was tied 17-17 at halftime.
Out of half, K-State was playing complementary football, having long, successful drives on offense and getting big stops on defense. Two touchdowns by K-State out of the half put them up 31-17, which lasted into the fourth quarter.
When Baylor needed a play the most, they looked to their big tight end Micahel Trigg, who had a huge day against the Wildcats. Down multiple scores in the fourth, Robertson hit Trigg for a 40-yard play and then followed it up with a 29-yard play where Trigg caught the ball with one hand. In a matter of seconds, Baylor was down the field and threatening to make it a game again.
“The Trigg kid was a difference maker,” Klieman said. “He’s an NFL kid who made so many acrobatic catches. We did a good job on him for a while.”
After Baylor scored, K-State was driving until a pick-six happened, but even after all that, K-State had the ball in their hands with four minutes to go, giving them a chance to win the game.
K-State put their faith in Avery Johnson and he delivered as he hit wide receiver Jayce Brown down the sideline for a big play, which included a ripped off facemask of Brown. Unfortunately for the ‘Cats, the helmet of Brown being torn off stopped the play, which stopped the chance for Brown to score, which it appeared he was going to do on the play.
“We had to be aggressive on offense, and I thought we were,” Klieman said. “If [Brown’s] helmet doesn’t come off on the facemask he probably scores.”
K-State got inside the five-yard line but were unable to punch it in, having to settle for three, but getting the lead back. Baylor, with their dynamic offense and two minutes to go, drove down the field quickly, but the K-State defense held strong and forced a 53-yard field goal.
Baylor kicker Hawkins made the 53-yard kick and gave Baylor a one-point lead with 31 seconds left. K-State had two timeouts and were able to give their kicker, Luis Rodriguez a shot, but the defensive front of Baylor pushed through, blocking the kick and securing the win 35-34.
K-State, after a crushing defeat, will come back home and face off against TCU on homecoming week. The Wildcats will need to regroup quickly as TCU, like Baylor, is a strong offensive team and could take over if the Wildcats don’t remain focused.
Kickoff next week will be at 2:30 pm from Bill Snyder Family Stadium and will be televised on FOX.