Kansas State football coach Chris Klieman acknowledged the need for improvement in all areas of the game after the Wildcats’ close win against Tulane last week. This time, they delivered on that front.
Quarterback Avery Johnson spearheaded a strong second-half performance, the defense effectively neutralized one of the premier passing attacks in the nation, and Dylan Edwards shined on special teams.
Edwards was pivotal in providing K-State its first lead, scoring a 71-yard touchdown on a punt return early in the second quarter, putting the Wildcats ahead 14-7.
K-State built on its halftime lead with two extended scoring drives. The first concluded with a 9-yard touchdown pass from Johnson to tight end Brayden Loftin, while the second was capped by a 1-yard touchdown run from DJ Giddens.
On defense, Keenan Garber made a significant interception in the end zone during the second quarter, and the Wildcats successfully minimized Arizona’s explosive plays—a major concern from the previous week.
The final tally showed K-State achieving 391 total yards of offense compared to Arizona’s 324. Johnson completed 14 of his 23 passes for 156 yards and two touchdowns while also rushing for 110 yards on 17 carries. Giddens contributed with 86 yards on the ground.
For Arizona, Noah Fifita completed 26 of 42 passes for 268 yards, with 11 completions going to Tetairoa McMillan for 138 yards.
K-State will engage in its first Big 12 matchup next Saturday against Brigham Young.
In the closing moments of the game, Kansas State increased its advantage to 31-7 with a 35-yard field goal from Chris Tennant, which came after a 46-yard drive consuming nearly five minutes off the clock.
After three quarters, K-State led Arizona 28-7, having outscored them 14-0 in that period. This lead was bolstered by another impressive drive, including a 1-yard touchdown run from Giddens, marking his first rushing touchdown of the season.
Tight ends excelled throughout the game, with Loftin catching a 9-yard touchdown pass from Johnson and Will Swanson also scoring.
The first half saw K-State and Arizona nearly level on statistics, though the Wildcats benefitted from Edwards’ punt return touchdown and Garber’s interception, giving K-State a 14-7 halftime lead.
The game started with Arizona scoring first, driving 73 yards for a touchdown, but K-State responded effectively with a 75-yard drive, culminating in a touchdown pass to Swanson.
K-State won the coin toss and chose to defer, allowing Arizona to receive the opening kick. The atmosphere prior to kickoff was lively, featuring the popular Harley Night at Bill Snyder Family Stadium, with clear skies and temperatures around 86 degrees providing an ideal setting for football.
In pregame news, K-State’s left guard Hadley Panzer and right tackle Carver Willis were suited up and participated in warm-ups, signaling positive developments after their injuries the previous week.
The game against Arizona was aired on FOX, with kickoff set for 7 p.m. on September 13 at Bill Snyder Family Stadium in Manhattan.