Comfortable wins are hard to come by in the unpredictable Big 12, particularly for teams on the road. That’s what made Kansas State’s impressive 45-18 victory over West Virginia at Milan Puskar Stadium on Saturday so noteworthy. The Wildcats, playing in a different time zone, dominated the game in front of 54,327 enthusiastic fans. The crowd was heavily in favor of Kansas State by the fourth quarter, showcasing their overwhelming performance. Coach Chris Klieman’s team has now secured back-to-back prime-time road victories, which boosts their position in the Big 12 standings. With an overall record of 6-1 and 3-1 in conference play, the Wildcats are performing at a high level. “I commend what our players accomplished over the last two weeks,” Klieman said. “Playing late like we did without much scheduling support was tough, but we managed to pull off two significant wins, which is quite impressive. This experience will aid our growth as the season continues.” Kansas State’s next game will be against rival Kansas in the Sunflower Showdown at Bill Snyder Family Stadium on Saturday at 7 p.m. Here are some key takeaways from the game against WVU:
AVERY JOHNSON SHOWCASED HIS ARM
K-State quarterback Avery Johnson didn’t rely on his legs for this victory, as he didn’t attempt any runs against West Virginia. He appeared somewhat limited by injuries sustained in the previous week’s game against Colorado. However, this didn’t hinder his performance; he exploited a favorable matchup against the Big 12’s weakest pass defense, completing 19 of 27 passes for a career-high 298 yards and three touchdowns. “Avery’s development as a passer has been remarkable,” Klieman noted. “He showed great poise today, and our receivers made plays for him. It was exciting to see our passing game thrive.” Despite doubts about his ability to throw deep, Johnson excelled, connecting with Jadon Jackson for a 60-yard touchdown and DJ Giddens for 53 yards. His strong chemistry with K-State tight ends continued as he found Garrett Oakley and Will Anciaux for scores. While Johnson’s dual-threat capability poses a challenge for defenses, his performance proved he can also lead with his arm. “Their plan was to stop the run, so (offensive coordinator Conor Riley) focused on passing, and that’s how we approached it,” Johnson said.
JADON JACKSON WAS KEY FOR A K-STATE DRIVE
Wide receiver Jadon Jackson made a significant impact on K-State’s first touchdown drive against West Virginia, accounting for both plays in an 84-yard drive. Johnson first found Jackson for a 24-yard gain before hitting him for a 60-yard touchdown pass. Before Saturday, Jackson had just eight receptions for 83 yards, making his performance notable.
WEST VIRGINIA CONTAINED K-STATE’S RUNNING GAME
Kansas State’s top running backs, DJ Giddens and Dylan Edwards, faced challenges against West Virginia’s defense. Giddens, who led the Big 12 in rushing yards before this game, finished with 57 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries. Edwards added 27 yards on three attempts, much of which came in the second half when the game was already decided. The Wildcats managed only eight rushing yards in the first half, likely due to facing a tough WVU run defense without Johnson as a running threat. Despite this, Giddens did make an impactful play with a 53-yard catch in the third quarter.
K-STATE’S SECONDARY STEPPED UP
Kansas State’s pass defense, which has struggled this season, was strong against West Virginia, limiting them to just 143 passing yards. The WVU quarterbacks, Garrett Greene and Nicco Marchiol, completed less than half of their passes, allowing K-State to focus on stopping the run. K-State also secured two interceptions, including one by redshirt freshman Jack Fabris and a pick-six by Marques Sigle, making the Wildcats tough to beat when they score on defense.
KANSAS STATE’S CRUCIAL GOAL-LINE STAND
Though the final score may suggest a straightforward win, K-State faced a tense moment at the end of the second quarter with West Virginia threatening to score. Up 17-10, the Wildcats allowed the Mountaineers to drive to the K-State 3-yard line. However, they held strong with a key stop on fourth down, with linebacker Austin Moore pressuring Greene into an incomplete pass. This play not only secured their lead at halftime but also sidelined Greene due to injury, giving K-State a significant advantage for the second half.
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