712 Digital Group - top

K-State rallies for wild 20-19 victory over Iowa State

Sports

November 25th, 2017 by Ric Hanson

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Skylar Thompson scrambled from pressure and threw a touchdown pass to Isaiah Zuber on the final play of the game, giving Kansas State a stunning 20-19 victory over Iowa State on Saturday night.

Thompson threw for 152 yards, none bigger than the one yard that he needed on the final play. The freshman quarterback took the snap with 11 seconds left, rolled to his left, then headed back to his right as the Cyclones gave chase and zipped a dart to Zuber for the touchdown.

The 10-play, 87-yard drive took every second of the 1 minute, 55 seconds left in the game. The Wildcats (7-5, 5-4 Big 12) rallied from a 19-7 fourth-quarter deficit to beat the Cyclones (7-5, 5-4) for the 10th straight time. They also likely improved their bowl destination with the win.

Kyle Kempt threw for 264 yards and two touchdowns for Iowa State, but he was unable to complete a pass on third-and-6 at the Kansas State 49 that would have allowed his team to put the game away. The game lived up to its “Farmageddon” nickname: Two old-school, ground-and-pound teams going at it, a slobber-knocker reminiscent of when these teams met in the old Big Eight days.

Iowa State wrapped up the season losing three of its last four games, though the seven wins was a big step in the right direction. UP NEXT: Iowa State awaits its first bowl bid since the 2012 Liberty Bowl.