Wildcats Overcome Tulane
Avery Johnson sets school record with 152 rushing yards as Kansas State defeats Tulane.
Anonymous
Key Points
1
Avery Johnson became the first Kansas State quarterback to record more than 200 passing yards and 150 rushing yards in the same game. He carried 12 times for 152 yards, averaging 12.7 yards per rush.
2
Kansas State’s third-down success came despite poor early-down performance: the Wildcats averaged 5.3 yards to go on third down and converted only three of six third-and-short situations, including a failed attempt from the 1-yard line.
3
Coach Collin Klein attributed the struggles in the non-quarterback rushing game to problems with gap-scheme execution, blocking targets and running tracks, saying those details need to be cleaned up to improve efficiency.
4
Wide receiver Jaron Tibbs praised Johnson as “one of the most dangerous dual-threat quarterbacks in the country,” particularly for his ability to make plays with his legs when passing opportunities break down.
5
The victory begins a more demanding stretch for Kansas State: five of its final nine regular-season games are scheduled on the road, according to coach Collin Klein’s postgame assessment.
Kansas State improved to 3-0 with a 31-20 victory over Tulane on Saturday, overcoming a 7-0 first-quarter deficit in its final nonconference game under first-year coach Collin Klein. Quarterback Avery Johnson set a school record by rushing for a career-high 152 yards and two touchdowns while completing 21 of 28 passes for 227 yards, becoming the first K-State quarterback ever to record 200+ passing yards and 150+ rushing yards in the same game Sports Source.
The Wildcats dominated total yardage 428-260 and converted 10 of 16 third-down attempts, though the defense allowed its first offensive touchdown of the season. Johnson's 66-yard scramble and two rushing touchdowns proved decisive as Kansas State heads into Big 12 play at Cincinnati, where five of the remaining nine regular-season games will be played away from home Associated Press.
Johnson Becomes Two-Way Threat in Dominant Performance
Avery Johnson carried 12 times for 152 yards, averaging 12.7 yards per rush with two touchdowns. His 66-yard run was the longest scramble of his college career. Johnson told reporters afterward: "When I get long-run opportunities, I've just got to score the ball so that we can all go to the sideline and rest." Coach Klein praised the quarterback after the game, saying "Avery is a spectacular player... He's a spectacular competitor, and he's getting better." Sports Illustrated
K-State's Running Game Struggles Despite Win
The Wildcats' traditional running backs managed only roughly 49 yards on 25 carries, a stark contrast to Johnson's rushing success. Coach Klein attributed the weakness to poor gap-scheme execution and blocking issues. "Those details need to be cleaned up to improve efficiency," Klein said ESPN. Wide receiver Jaron Tibbs caught nine passes for 114 yards and praised Johnson's dual-threat abilities, calling him "one of the most dangerous dual-threat quarterbacks in the country" for his ability to extend plays with his legs ESPN.
Kansas State's third-down success masked early-down inefficiency. The Wildcats faced an average of 5.3 yards to gain on third down and converted only three of six third-and-short situations, including a failed attempt from the 1-yard line On3.
Tulane Opens with Touchdown Before Defense Tightens
Tulane struck first with a 90-yard scoring drive capped by a 9-yard touchdown run from quarterback Kadin Semonza, marking the first offensive touchdown K-State's defense allowed in 2026. The Hurricanes kicked a school-record 58-yard field goal before halftime to cut the deficit to 17-10 Yahoo Sports. Will Hall, Tulane's head coach, acknowledged the loss afterward: "I thought the difference in the game was the explosive plays. Their ability to make them and our inability to make a lot of explosive plays."
K-State Looks Ahead to Demanding Big 12 Schedule
Kansas State now shifts focus to Big 12 Conference play against Cincinnati, where the road test begins. Coach Klein emphasized the urgency of fixing early-down execution and interior rushing before facing tougher conference opponents On3. The Wildcats' defense recorded six sacks against Semonza while allowing 95 rushing yards, showing strength on the perimeter despite the offensive struggles on the ground game ESPN.
Sentiment
Mostly PositiveNEGATIVENEUTRALPOSITIVE
Publishers
40
Articles
70
Reach
110
A
AnonymousAuthor
