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KSTATE |
TULANE |
No. 17 Kansas State defense comes up big to help Wildcats escape Tulane with a 34-27 win
NEW ORLEANS (AP) Kansas State safety Jack Fabris returned Tulane quarterback Darian Mensah's fumble 60 yards for a go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter, and VJ Payne's interception in the end zone helped the 17th-ranked Wildcats hold on for a 34-27 victory over Tulane on Saturday.
Tulane appeared to have scored a potential tying touchdown with 17 seconds left when Mensah hit Yulkeith Brown near the left pylon, but receiver Dontae Fleming was flagged for offensive pass interference for impeding a defender's path toward Brown.
Payne's interception came two plays later.
“I didn’t see the pass interference but thankfully they called it," Kansas State coach Chris Klieman said. "We found a way to get out of here.”
Tulane first-year coach Jon Sumrall avoided criticizing the call specifically, but left little doubt that he was unhappy about it.
“I didn’t get very many good explanations in the second half with the officiating,” Sumrall said. “It left a lot to be desired. That’s probably about all I want to say.”
Avery Johnson passed for two touchdowns for Kansas State (2-0). DJ Giddens rushed for 114 yards - his sixth straight 100-yard game - and had 63 yards receiving, including a 45-yard touchdown catch on fourth down to tie the game at 20 in the third quarter.
“It’s hard to be down on the road. So, we kind of had to make our own momentum shifts," Johnson said. "We had some guys step up and make some big plays.”
Tulane (1-1) led much of the game and was threatening to break a 27-all tie when Mensah was sacked and stripped by linebacker Austin Romaine. Fabris scooped and scored to put K-State in front with 8:13 left.
Mensah "probably got a little careless with the ball,” Sumrall said. “He’s got really good poise in the pocket. That’s part of what makes him special. He’s just got to understand you have to protect the ball. That was a critical play.”
Mensah, a first-time starter this season, finished 19 of 29 for 342 yards and two touchdowns to tight end Alex Bauman - only to be done in by his crucial turnovers.
Southern California transfer Mario Williams caught six passes for 128 yards for Tulane and Makhi Hughes rushed for 128 yards and a touchdown.
Williams' catches included a 47-yard gain on third and 21, setting up Mensah's fade to Bauman to put Tulane up 27-20.
Dylan Edwards tied it with a 13-yard TD run, caping a 75-yard drive that Johnson ignited with a 33-yard pass.
“It definitely wasn’t pretty at all and we know tomorrow we’re going to get our butts ripped in the film room," K-State linebacker and defensive captain Austin Moore said. "But we’re happy with how we finished and how hard we played.”
Tulane, an 8 1/2-point underdog, led 7-3 lead on Hughes' 3-yard run, set up by Mensah's 53-yard pass to Fleming.
Mensah's 36-yard connection with Bauman gave the Wave a 14-3 lead before Kansas State put together its first touchdown drive, highlighted by Giddens' 51-yard run.
Johnson capped it, rolling left to buy time before finding Will Swanson for a diving catch in the back of the end zone on third down.
Tulane drove inside the K-State 20 twice more in the second quarter, only to lose yards both times and settle for Jacob Barnes field goals of 40 and 41 yards to make it 20-10 at halftime.
Kansas State: A strong second half on both sides of the ball helped the Wildcats beat Tulane for the first time in three tries and avenge a 17-10 loss to the Wave in Manhattan, Kansas, two seasons ago.
“That’s something we talked about last night in our captains’ meeting,” defensive end Brendan Mott said. "They came into our house in 2022 and kind of shut us up. To be able to come here and do the same to them definitely felt nice.”
Tulane: Considering the Green Wave has a new coach and new starting QB, this was a strong showing that bodes well for Tulane's prospects in the American Athletic Conference. But it also was a lost opportunity to strengthen its College Football Playoff credentials.
Kansas State hosts new Big 12 member Arizona on Friday night in what is technically a non-conference game because it was scheduled about two years ago.
Tulane has an arguably tougher game when it visits No. 15 Oklahoma on Saturday.
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A. Johnson
2 QB 181 PaYds, 2 PaTDs, 40 RuYds |
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D. Mensah
10 QB 342 PaYds, 2 PaTDs, INT, -9 RuYds |
Team Stats | ||
---|---|---|
1st Downs | 20 | 20 |
Rushing | 9 | 4 |
Passing | 9 | 13 |
Penalty | 2 | 3 |
3rd Down Conv | 2-10 | 5-13 |
4th Down Conv | 1-1 | 1-2 |
Total Net Yards | 396 | 491 |
Total Plays | 56 | 66 |
Avg Gain | 7.1 | 7.4 |
Net Yards Rushing | 215 | 149 |
Rush Attempts | 33 | 37 |
Avg Rush Yards | 6.5 | 4.0 |
Yards Passing | 181 | 342 |
Comp. - Att. | 15-23 | 19-29 |
Yards Per Pass | 7.9 | 9.0 |
Penalties - Yards | 8-65 | 9-80 |
Touchdowns | 3 | 3 |
Rushing TDs | 1 | 1 |
Passing TDs | 2 | 2 |
Other | 0 | 0 |
Turnovers | 0 | 2 |
Fumbles - Lost | 0-0 | 2-1 |
Int. Thrown | 0 | 1 |
Punts - Avg | 5-39.0 | 4-43.3 |
Return Yards | 0 | 2 |
Punts - Returns | 0-0 | 1-2 |
Kickoffs - Returns | 0-0 | 0-0 |
Int. - Returns | 1-0 | 0-0 |
Safeties | 0 | 0 |
|
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
A. Johnson
2 QB
|
A. Johnson | 15/23 | 181 | 2 | 0 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
D. Giddens
31 RB
|
D. Giddens | 19 | 114 | 0 | 51 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Edwards
3 RB
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D. Edwards | 4 | 54 | 1 | 27 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Johnson
2 QB
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A. Johnson | 8 | 40 | 0 | 18 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Johnson
10 WR
|
K. Johnson | 1 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
D. Giddens
31 RB
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D. Giddens | 6 | 4 | 63 | 1 | 45 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
K. Johnson
10 WR
|
K. Johnson | 3 | 3 | 51 | 0 | 33 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
W. Swanson
83 TE
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W. Swanson | 2 | 2 | 18 | 1 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Brown
1 WR
|
J. Brown | 2 | 1 | 17 | 0 | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
T. Spivey
12 WR
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T. Spivey | 2 | 2 | 12 | 0 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
B. Loftin
87 TE
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B. Loftin | 1 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
G. Oakley
86 TE
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G. Oakley | 3 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Cephas
14 WR
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D. Cephas | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
S. Lockett
6 WR
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S. Lockett | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Edwards
3 RB
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D. Edwards | 1 | 1 | -2 | 0 | -2 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
A. Romaine
45 LB
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A. Romaine | 2-0 | 2.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Ilalio
56 DT
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D. Ilalio | 1-0 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Mott
38 DE
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B. Mott | 1-0 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
G. Meyers
40 LB
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G. Meyers | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
V. Payne
19 S
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V. Payne | 0-0 | 0.0 | 1 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
C. Tennant
17 K
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C. Tennant | 2/3 | 48 | 4/4 | 10 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
S. McClannan
35 K
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S. McClannan | 5 | 39.0 | 1 | 47 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
J. Brown
1 WR
|
J. Brown | 1 | 10.0 | 10 | 0 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
D. Mensah
10 QB
|
D. Mensah | 19/29 | 342 | 2 | 1 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
M. Hughes
21 RB
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M. Hughes | 21 | 128 | 1 | 39 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Barnes III
20 RB
|
A. Barnes III | 5 | 18 | 0 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Thompson
7 QB
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T. Thompson | 1 | 9 | 0 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. Clayton-Johnson
2 RB
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S. Clayton-Johnson | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Mensah
10 QB
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D. Mensah | 8 | -9 | 0 | 15 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
M. Williams
4 WR
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M. Williams | 8 | 6 | 128 | 0 | 47 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Fleming
1 WR
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D. Fleming | 4 | 4 | 97 | 0 | 53 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A. Bauman
87 TE
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A. Bauman | 6 | 2 | 49 | 2 | 36 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Hughes
21 RB
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M. Hughes | 6 | 5 | 37 | 0 | 26 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Y. Brown
5 WR
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Y. Brown | 4 | 2 | 31 | 0 | 28 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
J. Barnes
35 K
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J. Barnes | 2/2 | 41 | 3/3 | 9 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
W. Karoll
49 P
|
W. Karoll | 4 | 43.3 | 1 | 62 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
S. Clayton-Johnson
2 RB
|
S. Clayton-Johnson | 6 | 25.3 | 44 | 0 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
D. Fleming 1 WR
|
D. Fleming | 1 | 2.0 | 2 | 0 |
1st | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
12:04 | KSTATE 34 | 0:56 | 3 | 6 | Punt |
9:04 | KSTATE 12 | 5:59 | 12 | 58 | FG |
0:49 | KSTATE 7 | 1:29 | 3 | 5 | Punt |
2nd | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
13:20 | KSTATE 25 | 3:04 | 6 | 75 | TD |
4:57 | KSTATE 25 | 1:12 | 3 | 2 | Punt |
1:01 | KSTATE 25 | 1:01 | 7 | 40 | FG Miss |
3rd | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
15:00 | KSTATE 25 | 1:56 | 3 | 8 | Punt |
11:27 | KSTATE 25 | 3:38 | 7 | 65 | FG |
5:16 | KSTATE 34 | 2:50 | 5 | 66 | TD |
4th | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
14:01 | KSTATE 25 | 2:41 | 6 | 75 | TD |
5:10 | KSTATE 20 | 1:59 | 3 | 2 | Punt |
0:05 | KSTATE 10 | 0:05 | 1 | -1 | Game |
1st | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
15:00 | TULANE 24 | 2:56 | 7 | 42 | Downs |
11:08 | TULANE 19 | 2:04 | 5 | 41 | Punt |
3:05 | TULANE 27 | 2:16 | 5 | 73 | TD |
2nd | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
14:20 | KSTATE 38 | 1:00 | 2 | 38 | TD |
10:16 | TULANE 21 | 5:19 | 11 | 57 | FG |
3:45 | TULANE 32 | 2:44 | 7 | 45 | FG |
3rd | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
13:04 | TULANE 20 | 1:37 | 3 | 2 | Punt |
7:49 | TULANE 25 | 2:33 | 3 | 1 | Punt |
2:26 | TULANE 44 | 3:25 | 6 | 56 | TD |
4th | POSS | PLAYS | YDS | RESULT | |
11:20 | TULANE 24 | 2:49 | 5 | 36 | Fumble |
8:13 | TULANE 19 | 3:03 | 6 | 19 | Punt |
3:11 | TULANE 40 | 3:06 | 8 | 44 | INT |
- Downs (7 plays, 42 yards, 2:56 poss)
Result | Play |
---|---|
Kickoff | (15:00 - 1st) C.Tennant kicks 63 yards from KST 35 to the TUL 2. S.Clayton-Johnson returns the kickoff. Pushed out of bounds by C.McCalister at TUL 24. |
+5 YD | 1 & 10 - TULANE 24 (14:54 - 1st) M.Hughes rushed for 5 yards. Tackled by KST at TUL 29. |
+3 YD | 2 & 5 - TULANE 29 (14:26 - 1st) M.Hughes rushed for 3 yards. Tackled by KST at TUL 32. |
+10 YD | 3 & 2 - TULANE 32 (13:51 - 1st) D.Mensah pass complete. Catch made by M.Hughes for 10 yards. Tackled by KST at TUL 42. PENALTY on KST-J.Riley Face Mask (15 Yards) 15 yards accepted. |
+6 YD | 1 & 10 - KSTATE 43 (13:39 - 1st) D.Mensah pass complete. Catch made by M.Hughes for 6 yards. Tackled by KST at KST 37. |
No Gain | 2 & 4 - KSTATE 37 (13:32 - 1st) M.Hughes rushed for 0 yards. Tackled by KST at KST 37. |
+3 YD | 3 & 4 - KSTATE 37 (12:55 - 1st) S.Clayton-Johnson rushed for 3 yards. Tackled by KST at KST 34. |
No Gain | 4 & 1 - KSTATE 34 (12:10 - 1st) S.Clayton-Johnson rushed for 0 yards. Tackled by KST at KST 34. |
- Punt (3 plays, 6 yards, 0:56 poss)
Result | Play |
---|---|
No Gain | 1 & 10 - KSTATE 34 (12:04 - 1st) A.Johnson steps back to pass. Pass incomplete intended for D.Giddens. The Replay Official reviewed the fumble and the play was upheld. |
+6 YD | 2 & 10 - KSTATE 34 (12:01 - 1st) D.Giddens rushed for 6 yards. Tackled by TUL at KST 40. |
No Gain | 3 & 4 - KSTATE 40 (11:23 - 1st) A.Johnson steps back to pass. Pass incomplete intended for D.Giddens. |
Punt | 4 & 4 - KSTATE 40 (11:20 - 1st) S.McClannan punts 41 yards to TUL 19 Center-M.Olguin. Fair catch by D.Fleming. |
- Punt (5 plays, 41 yards, 2:04 poss)
Result | Play |
---|---|
+3 YD | 1 & 10 - TULANE 19 (11:08 - 1st) M.Hughes rushed for 3 yards. Tackled by KST at TUL 22. |
+39 YD | 2 & 7 - TULANE 22 (10:28 - 1st) M.Hughes rushed for 39 yards. Tackled by KST at KST 39. |
-1 YD | 1 & 10 - KSTATE 39 (10:01 - 1st) M.Hughes rushed for -1 yards. Tackled by KST at KST 40. |
No Gain | 2 & 11 - KSTATE 40 (9:24 - 1st) D.Mensah steps back to pass. Pass incomplete intended for A.Bauman. |
No Gain | 3 & 11 - KSTATE 40 (9:18 - 1st) D.Mensah steps back to pass. Pass incomplete intended for M.Hughes. |
Punt | 4 & 11 - KSTATE 40 (9:12 - 1st) W.Karoll punts 28 yards to KST 12 Center-E.Hudak. Fair catch by K.Johnson. |
- Field Goal (12 plays, 58 yards, 5:59 poss)
Result | Play |
---|---|
+7 YD | 1 & 10 - KSTATE 12 (9:04 - 1st) D.Giddens rushed for 7 yards. Tackled by TUL at KST 19. |
+6 YD | 2 & 3 - KSTATE 19 (8:34 - 1st) D.Giddens rushed for 6 yards. Tackled by TUL at KST 25. |
+8 YD | 1 & 10 - KSTATE 25 (8:13 - 1st) A.Johnson pass complete. Catch made by K.Johnson for 8 yards. Tackled by TUL at KST 33. |
+5 YD | 2 & 2 - KSTATE 33 (7:59 - 1st) D.Giddens rushed for 5 yards. Tackled by TUL at KST 38. |
+2 YD | 1 & 10 - KSTATE 38 (7:27 - 1st) A.Johnson pass complete. Catch made by T.Spivey for 2 yards. Tackled by TUL at KST 40. |
+10 YD | 2 & 8 - KSTATE 40 (6:47 - 1st) A.Johnson pass complete. Catch made by G.Oakley for 10 yards. Tackled by TUL at TUL 50. |
+4 YD | 1 & 10 - KSTATE 50 (6:08 - 1st) D.Edwards rushed for 4 yards. Tackled by TUL at TUL 46. |
+18 YD | 2 & 6 - TULANE 46 (5:48 - 1st) A.Johnson scrambles for 18 yards. Tackled by TUL at TUL 28. |
Penalty | 1 & 10 - TULANE 28 (5:01 - 1st) PENALTY on KST-T.Poitier False Start 5 yards accepted. No Play. |
No Gain | 1 & 15 - TULANE 33 (4:45 - 1st) A.Johnson steps back to pass. Pass incomplete intended for D.Cephas. |
+2 YD | 2 & 15 - TULANE 33 (4:38 - 1st) D.Giddens rushed for 2 yards. Tackled by TUL at TUL 31. |
+1 YD | 3 & 13 - TULANE 31 (3:55 - 1st) A.Johnson rushed for 1 yards. Tackled by TUL at TUL 30. |
Field Goal | 4 & 12 - TULANE 38 (3:14 - 1st) C.Tennant 48 yard field goal attempt is good Center-M.Olguin Holder-S.McClannan. |