The Kansas State Wildcats pulled off a 44-41 comeback win over the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in the Rate Bowl at the Arizona Diamondbacks Chase Field in Phoenix on Thursday.
The underdog Scarlet Knights had a 27-17 halftime lead, and pushed the advantage to 34-17 at 8:57 of the third quarter. The Wildcats stormed back on the strength of several chunk plays and defensive stops and eventually had the go-ahead touchdown on Dylan Edwards’ 36-yard run with 4:15 left in the fourth quarter.
"I think (Kansas State) guys were believing," Kansas State linebacker Austin Moore said, "but once we kind of started playing faster and started sending more pressure, guys really believed and bought in, and I think that’s kind of when we kind of felt that momentum start to switch."
The two-point conversion, an Avery Johnson pass to Garrett Oakley, moved the advantage to 44-41 and marked Kansas State's first lead since 10-7 in the first quarter.
Rutgers didn’t get past midfield on the next drive and had a turnover on downs with 1:55 left. Johnson had a 6-yard run for a first down and then took a knee twice to seal the victory.
Kansas State was led by Edwards' 18 carries for 196 yards and three touchdowns, Johnson (15-for-30, 195 yards, three touchdowns, one interception), Austin Romaine (seven tackles) and Moore (six tackles including 1.5 tackles for loss).
The sophomore Edwards stepped in for Kansas State's top rusher DJ Giddens, who sat out after he declared for the NFL draft. Edwards drove the Wildcats' No. 18-ranked rushing attack that had 347 yards to Rutgers' 164.
"I played the whole season," Edwards said when he was asked about his increased role in the Rate Bowl. "It wasn’t like I was waiting my time. I was just trying to do my job and my part for this team."
"I guess you could say I had more of a job to do today, so as long as I stayed focused and did what I was supposed to do, I think we was gonna be successful.”
The Scarlet Knights' top performers were freshman RB Antwan Raymond (18 carries, 113 yards, three rushing TDs), Strong (five catches, 105 yards) and quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis (14-for-32, 237 yards, one TD, one INT).
Rutgers finished 7-6, ninth in the Big Ten standings.
"I lost count of the number of season-ending surgeries, and in this day of college football, most teams would’ve folded up the tent and said, ‘We’ll worry about it next year,'" Rutgers coach Greg Schiano said. "And this group of guys fought back. They literally ripped themselves off the canvas and fought back and found a way to win seven games and do that in the Big Ten Conference."
The Wildcats ended their season 9-4. They had a 7-1 start, were ranked as high as No. 15 in the USA Today poll, but fell out of the poll in Week 11 as they lost three of their last four games. They finished eighth in the Big 12 standings after being picked by college football pundits during the preseason to contend for a conference title.
“I know that there’s some disappointment, because there’s a lot of teams that don’t win nine games, man,” Kansas State coach Chris Klieman said. “We just won nine frickin’ games and we’re gonna talk about a disappointment?
"I’m out of this business if that’s what we’re gonna do because it is frickin’ hard to win. And you look at what our guys did to win that ninth game, I’m nothing but proud of these guys.”
K-State coach roots for Arizona State in College Football Playoff
Arizona State is the only Big 12 team in the College Football Playoff after winning the conference title.
Klieman said after the Rate Bowl that he's partial to the No. 4 seed ASU in the CFP quarterfinals against No. 5 Texas in the Jan. 1 Peach Bowl because of the conference connection and more.
"We know our league plays great football," Klieman said. "I can't wait to watch Arizona State play. I'm a big (ASU coach) Kenny Dillingham fan. I got friends on that staff. They're gonna come ready to play."
ASU beat Kansas State, 24-14, on Nov. 16.
Klieman's not alone in rooting for ASU against former Big 12 school Texas, which is played its inaugural season in the SEC.
The Republic asked K-State fan Cole Copeland, who attended the Rate Bowl, his prediction.
“As for Texas, since they’re a former Big 12 school and they left the Big 12, I don’t care for them very much," Copeland said. “I hope they lose. I know they are stacked as far as talent goes, but I think anything’s possible.
"I think ASU has a good team as proven. They went 11-1 with their starting quarterback (Sam Leavitt), without him they lost ... . I think it’ll be within 12 and a half.”
Texas was favored by 13.5 points as of Thursday night.
