By Brenden Dougherty
STILLWATER – Kansas State pulled off the upset as Oklahoma State’s late game comeback fell short Saturday afternoon in a Big 12 football matchup at Boone Pickens Stadium.
The Wildcats’ red-shirt freshman quarterback Skylar Thompson dominated the Cowboys’ defense as he lead K-State with 204-yards passing, 93-yards rushing and four total touchdowns in a 45-40 victory.
However, the score doesn’t show how the game truly played out. OSU started off just as cold as the weather, with K-State holding a 28-point advantage with just over five minutes left in the third quarter. That’s when OSU would then make it a game as they rattled off four touchdowns towards the end.
Prior to the comeback, K-State was in complete control. They picked off senior quarterback Mason Rudolph twice, special teams scored on a kick return touchdown and the offense ran all over the cowboy defense; which set up their passing game and their three first-half touchdowns.
Starting the third quarter 28-13, Thompson and the K-State offense quickly extended their lead with two touchdown passes to junior receiver Byron Pringle, one for 46-yards and the other for 60.
With 5:22 left in the third, the Cowboy offense took the field down 42-13 and hadn’t scored in six possessions. That streak ended as sophomore running back Justice Hill dove over the pylon for OSU’s first touchdown since the first quarter.
Following Hill’s score, the entire OSU team stepped up.
The Cowboy defense held K-State to just one field goal in the fourth quarter and forced the fumble that set up red-shirt freshman receiver Dillon Stoner’s 14-yard touchdown catch that put OSU within one touchdown from taking the lead.
However, after forcing a K-State punt with just over two minutes on the clock, the Cowboys couldn’t capitalize as they turned the ball over on downs following four consecutive incomplete passes by Rudolph.
That was the last opportunity OSU had to complete the comeback win as Thompson would kneel out the remainder of the clock and seal the unranked upset over No. 13 OSU.
Pringle lead the Wildcats in receiving with four receptions for 166-yards and three touchdowns. He also had the kick return touchdown in the second quarter.
Quietly, OSU had two 100+ yard receivers. Those being senior receivers James Washington, eight receptions for 159-yards and two touchdowns, and Marcell Ateman, six receptions for 113.
In this game, K-State played the spoiler as OSU had to win out their last two games to have a shot at the Big 12 Championship game. Following the loss, OSU will mainly be playing for Bowl placement.
Both K-State and OSU will finish up their regular season next Saturday, Nov. 25, at home for their senior days. K-State will be playing against Iowa State and OSU against Kansas.
