RATE BOWL: Kansas State 44, Rutgers 41

Dylan Edwards set a K-State bowl record and Rate Bowl record with 196 yards on the ground, and the Cats survived a disastrous second quarter before reloading as the Kansas State Wildcats posted a 44-41 victory over the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in Rate Bowl at Chase Field in Phoenix, Arizona.

The Wildcats trailed by 17 in the third quarter, but outscored Rutgers 27-7 after that point as both coordinators found the adjustment buttons and shut down a Scarlet Knight offense that had driven for 149 yards in the first half, limiting them to just 15 inches. the second, and just 82 total yards in the half. In the process, Avery Johnson became only the second K-State quarterback ever to lead the team to consecutive bowl victories, following in the footsteps of Jonathan Beasley.

K-State won the draw, punted and forced a 3-and-out on the opening Rutgers drive. The Wildcats demonstrated their ability to run from the start as Dylan Edwards picked up ten yards on two carries early. Then a 43-yard run by Edwards got the Cats into the red zone, but then K-State decided to pass the ball three straight times, all incomplete. Chris Tennant came in and hit a 29-yarder to at least get on the board.

Rutgers responded with a patented K-State drive, churning downfield and eating clock. During the drive, Athan Kaliakmanis pulled off a fake so convincing it fooled the cameraman and Austin Moore had to visibly pull up and not tackle the running back when he realized he didn’t have the ball. The drive ended with a 2-yard Antwan Raymond rush into the end zone and a 7-3 Rutgers lead.

The Cats were again effective in space, with a pair of big connections between Avery Johnson and Jayce Brown and a 17-yard pickup by Johnson on the ground. But things again stalled in the red zone shortly before Johnson scored on a 2-yard run.

Kaliakmanis found Jae Strong for a 60-yard gain, but Rutgers had to settle for a 31-yarder by Jai Patel to tie the game 10-10. The Cats then went 3-and-out and a 65-yard run by Raymond put the Scarlet Knights back in the red zone. Two plays later, Ja’shon Benjamin scored from three yards out to give Rutgers a 17-10 lead.

K-State fought back; a 34-yard run on a jet sweep by Brown was followed by a 26-yard touchdown pass to Edwards to tie the score again. But six plays later — two incompletions and four plays of at least 14 yards — Raymond scored on a 24-yard run to give the lead back to Rutgers.

Approaching half-time, Johnson threw a pick at midfield, a perfect strike to Robert Longerbeam. That led to a 48-yarder by Patel that extended the Scarlet Knights lead to 27-17 with a minute left in the half, where things ended as time expired.

A holding call and no offense forced the Cats to 3 and out after halftime, and then Rutgers just plowed down the field and scored on a 7-yard pass to Benjamin to go up 34-17. After both teams traded punts, Edwards broke free for a 65-yard rushing touchdown, after which K-State missed the two-point conversion.

Two plays later, Daniel Cobbs picked off Kaliakmanis; a flag on the return pushed K-State back but did not erase the turnover. Johnson picked up 27 on a third-down tie, got back into the red zone, then threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Garrett Oakley to get back within five, where they remained after another missed 2-pointer when Dante Cephas bubbled. ball.

For the third straight drive, Rutgers failed to reach the sticks and had to punt again, but K-State also went 3-and-out, miraculously avoiding another Johnson interception on third down. Christian Dremel returned the punt 67 yards to the 18, and even the announcers saw several blocks in the back on the return. A few plays later, Raymond scored from a yard out to push the score to 41-29.

On a 4th and 3 short of midfield, a scrambling Johnson dumped a pass to Cephas for 35 yards. After a team set up 1st and 20, Joe Jackson scooted forward to the 16. Ty Bowman took a first down rush, then Johnson hit Joe Jackson on a 9-yard touchdown pass.

A Chiddi Obiazor sack forced another Rutgers 3-and-out. Johnson found Jackson for 25, then Edwards scampered 36 yards to put the Cats on top; Johnson hit Oakley for two to make it 44-41 K-State.

After two minutes, K-State forced a 4th and 7 and held. On 3rd and 6, Johnson kept it and dived for the line; the officials chose to bring the sticks out for a measurement. Johnson was a foot past the marker, with 1:32 left and no Rutgers timeouts, sealing the deal.

STATISTICS

K-State outgained the Scarlet Knights 542-401 after trailing 319-258 at the half. Johnson finished 15-30 for 195 yards with three touchdowns and an interception; he added 57 yards on the ground on 11 carries.

Edwards had 223 yards of offense as he hit two catchers for 27 yards on his 18 carries for 196. He scored twice on the ground and once through the air. Joe Jackson also had a good day, rushing seven times for 50 yards and catching three balls for 37 and a touchdown.

Brown led the team with five catches and 60 yards. Cephas was two for 42 and Oakley was two for 16 and a score. Turnovers were even, one interception apiece, while K-State’s advantage in time of possession was solely a result of the clock running out. The Cats were penalized five times for 47 yards; Rutgers was flagged just once for five.

WHAT WE LEARNED

Not much, guys. It’s a bowl game. We learned that this team has resilience, which hadn’t been very evident most of the season. But we already knew that Joe Klanderman is a master of halftime adjustments, which was a big part of the difference in this game.

PLAYERS OF THE GAME

Dylan Edwards obviously gets the nod on offense, but our defensive star today — despite Austin Moore getting the “official” award from the bowl itself — was a name we’ve never even mentioned in a game recap this season. Zashon Rich, a true freshman cornerback from Minneapolis, was all over the place tonight. He was credited with two pass breakups, and most people don’t understand how hard it is to get credited with those — K-State only had five the entire game. He also had four tackles and provided effective coverage all game.

NEXT

FARMAGEDDON. Again. In Ireland. A whole nine days before September begins, much less ends.