Avery Johnson threw for 231 yards and two touchdowns, as Kansas State defeated Kansas 42-17 for its 17th straight victory in the Sunflower Showdown rivalry Saturday in Lawrence, Kan.
The Wildcats (4-4, 3-2 Big 12), who won the prior two games in the series by a combined six points, forced four turnovers by the Jayhawks which led to 13 points. Kansas State has a plus-10 turnover margin in its last five games.
Johnson also ran for two touchdowns while completing 11 of 17 passes.
Jalon Daniels was 17-of-35 passing for 129 yards and an interception for Kansas (4-4, 2-3). He was sacked four times.
Leading 21-14 at halftime, Kansas State got the first break of the second half when Daniel Cobbs intercepted a deflected pass, giving the Wildcats the ball at the Kansas 42. DeVon Rice capped the seven-play drive with a 1-yard touchdown run.
Kansas responded with a 12-play drive, but only gained 45 yards. The Jayhawks settled for a 47-yard field goal by Laith Marjan.
On Kansas State’s first play after the kickoff, Johnson found Jayce Brown for a 78-yard touchdown down the left sideline. Johnson’s second touchdown run gave the Wildcats their final points. Brown accounted for four of Johnson’s 11 completions for a career-high 160 receiving yards.
Things started poorly for the Wildcats on the opening kickoff, when Bryce Noernberg fumbled at his own 25-yard line and it was recovered by Ezra Vedral of Kansas. Five plays later, Daniels ran it in from the 6-yard line for a touchdown. Daniels was bobbling the ball as he crossed the goal line, but review upheld the call.
Kansas State responded with a seven-play, 82-yard touchdown drive, with Johnson scoring the tying touchdown. Kansas then went three-and-out on the next possession. Punter Finn Lappin couldn’t handle the snap, and K-State’s Ralph Ortiz returned it 20 yards for a score.
The Wildcats added to their lead with a five-play, 72-yard drive capped off with a 27-yard touchdown catch by Jaron Tibbs to make it 21-7 with 12 seconds left in the opening quarter.
Kansas then went 85 yards on 18 plays, taking 8:34 of the final 9:04 of the first half to draw within 21-14 at halftime. Daniel Hishaw Jr. scored from 3 yards out.
