K-State improves to 3-0 after hammering Arizona 31-7

The Kansas State Wildcats conquered the Arizona Wildcats on Friday night, winning the battle of top-25 Wildcats 31-7.

Friday’s game looked far different in the first quarter than it did in the next three. Arizona took its first possession 73 yards over 14 plays for a touchdown, which K-State followed with a 15-play, 75-yard drive of its own.

That was it for Arizona’s scoring, meanwhile Kansas State was just getting started.

Sophomore running back Dylan Edwards returned a punt for a touchdown in the second quarter, giving No. 14 K-State a 14-7 lead at halftime. The Manhattan-based Wildcats scored another pair of touchdowns in the third quarter, including a touchdown pass from sophomore quarterback Avery Johnson to sophomore tight end Brayden Loftin and a one-yard touchdown plunge for junior running back D.J. Giddens.

A late field goal for senior kicker Chris Tennant capped K-State’s third win in as many games.

Johnson went 14-of-23 passing in Friday’s victory, throwing for 156 yards and two touchdowns. He also led all players in rushing with 17 carries for 110 yards, the first 100-yard rushing game of his career.

Loftin and senior tight end Will Swanson caught the two passing scores, while Giddens added 86 yards on 17 rushes alongside his touchdown.

Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita threw for 268 yards on 26-of-42 for the 20th-ranked Wildcats in the losing effort, also throwing an interception in the second quarter. His top target, wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan, had another huge game, leading all pass catchers with 11 receptions for 138 yards.

Even though both programs are in the Big 12, this was a nonconference game in order to fulfill a previous scheduling arrangement.

K-State will hit the road next Saturday, Sept. 21 for its Big 12 opener against the BYU Cougars. That game is set for a 9:30 p.m. kickoff.

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