STILLWATER, Okla. — The biggest surprise coming out of Kansas State’s 29-21 loss to Oklahoma State on Friday night at Boone Pickens Stadium was the fact the Wildcats were still in the game until the end.
A plethora of mistakes and an uninspired effort on offense left the Wildcats in an early hole, and still they nearly climbed out.
After giving up a touchdown on an interception to trail 20-7 at halftime, the Wildcats forced Oklahoma State to settle for field goals after the break and pulled within one score on Will Howard’s 6-yard touchdown run with 8:56 remaining.
The Wildcats elected to go for two points, and wide receiver Keagan Johnson’s pass fell incomplete, leaving them with an eight-point deficit.
K-State then got the ball back and moved into Oklahoma State territory, but linebacker Nickolas Martin intercepted Will Howard, ending the threat. It was Howard’s third interception of the game.
The Wildcats had one more chance, but turned the ball over on downs.
For Oklahoma State, quarterback Alan Bowman completed 19 of 35 passes for 235 yards and Ollie Gordon rushed for 136 yards and a touchdown. The Cowboys had 412 yards of total offense.
For K-State, Howard was 15 of 34 passing for 152 yards and three interceptions, but did rush 10 times for 104 yards and a score.
Here are three takeaways from a disappointing night for the Wildcats.
First-drive failure a bad omen for K-State
Kansas State scored on its first possession in each of the first four games, so when the Wildcats won the coin toss, it made sense that they took the ball.
Only this time the Wildcats went three-and-out, and Oklahoma State answered with a 15-play, 72-yard scoring drive that took 5 minutes, 24 seconds off the clock.
The tone was set, and K-State never led in the game.
Another game, another pick — and worse
As good as Will Howard has been this season,…
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