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 charging back as the Kansas State Wildcats posted a 44-41 win over the Rutgers Scarlet Knights in the 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 which had run for 149 yards in the first half, limiting them to only 15 in the second, and only 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 wins, following in Jonathan Beasley’s footsteps.

K-State won the toss, deferred, and forced a 3-and-out on the opening Rutgers drive. The Wildcats demonstrated their ability to run from the outset, as Dylan Edwards picked up ten yards on two carries early. Then a 43-yard scamper by Edwards got the Cats in the red zone, but then K-State decided to pass the ball three straight times, all incomplete. Chris Tennant came on and slotted 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 that it fooled the cameraman and Austin Moore had to visibly pull up and not tackle the running back once he realized he didn’t have the ball. The drive ended with a two-yard Antwan Raymond push into the end zone, and a 7-3 Rutgers lead.

The Cats were again effective in space, with a couple 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, briefly 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 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 struck back; a 34-yard run on a jet sweep by Brown was followed by a 26-yard touchdown pass to Edwards to knot 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.

Nearing halftime, Johnson threw a pick at midfield, a perfect strike to Robert Longerbeam. That led to a 48-yarder by Patel to extend the Scarlet Knights lead to 27-17 with a minute to go in the half, which is where things ended as time expired.

A holding call and no offense forced a 3-and-out for the Cats after the break, and then Rutgers just plowed downfield, scoring 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 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 draw on third down, getting back into the red zone, and 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 bobbled the ball.

For the third drive in a row, 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 multiple 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 hold set up 1st-and-20, Joe Jackson bulled forward for 16. Ty Bowman picked up a first down rushing, 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 raced 36 yards to put the Cats on top; Johnson hit Oakley for two to make it 44-41 K-State.

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

STATS

K-State outgained the Scarlet Knights 542-401 after being behind 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 tacked two catches for 27 yards onto his 18 carries for 196. He scored twice on the ground and once through the air. Joe Jackson also had a nice 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 had two for 42, and Oakley had two for 16 and a score. Turnovers were even, an interception apiece, while K-State’s advantage in time of possession was solely a result of running out the clock. The Cats were penalized five times for 47 yards; Rutgers was only flagged once for five.

WHAT WE LEARNED

Not much, guys. It’s a bowl game. We learned this team’s got resiliency, which hadn’t been much in evidence most of the season. But we already knew Joe Klanderman is a master at halftime adjustments, which was a great deal 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 having gotten the “official” award from the bowl itself — was a name we have 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 had four tackles as well, and provided effective coverage the entire game.

NEXT

FARMAGEDDON. Again. In Ireland. Nine whole days before September even starts, much less ends.