Cowboys Escape Wildcats In Manhattan

No. 18 Oklahoma State improved to 7-2 with a 43-37 comeback win over Kansas State in the final stretch at Bill Snyder Family Stadium Saturday evening in Manhattan, Kansas.

Kansas State set the tone with an early 6-0 lead on a nine-yard run by Jesse Ertz, but the PAT was missed.

With the Cowboys off to a cold start on both sides of the ball, especially struggling to get something going in the passing game, the Wildcats elevated their advantage 13-0 with a ten-yard scoring run by Winston Dimel.

Mason Rudolph started finding his rhythm late in the quarter when he connected with Jhajuan Seals for a major gain that put OSU in scoring range.

Jalen McCleskey finished the drive with a score off a 12-yard pass from Rudolph to make it a six-point ball game.

The Cowboys continued to rally, taking their first lead of the game (14-13) after Rudolph found Blake Jarwin wide open.

But the Wildcats answered with a 43-yard field goal to reclaim the lead.

With 3:44 left before intermission, Rudolph located James Washington who made an end zone appearance to end a 75-yard drive.

Going into halftime, OSU led 21-16.

After a misjudged ball by Barry J. Sanders early in the third quarter, Kansas State failed to take advantage of the possession and was stopped by the Cowboy defense.

The Wildcats made up for failing to score with a pick six on an overthrown pass by Rudolph to take a 23-21 lead with 8:20 before the fourth quarter.

And they didn't stop there.

Another score from Ertz extended K-State's lead, 30-21.

At this point, OSU looked rattled offensively and couldn't contain the Wildcats' running game.

But OSU got the boost it needed when Rudolph beat the blitz and found Austin Hays for a touchdown to put OSU within two points of K-State just before the start of the final quarter.

Ertz was uncontainable for the Cowboys, punching it in early with 12:21 left to play to boost the Wildcats' lead 37-28.

After the score, the K-State defense snagged an interception to give the Wildcats another opportunity to elevate their lead.

But the Cowboys got a stop with an urgent need to score. And that's exactly what they did when Rudolph bought time in the pocket and found James Washington for an 82-yard touchdown to make it a two-point game.

In the final stretch, Chris Carson scored a huge touchdown to put the Cowboys ahead. They then went for two and got in to take a 43-37 lead with 1:46 to play.

OSU held its lead with an interception by Jordan Sterns in the final seconds to seal a comeback victory on the road.

After the game, the Cowboys celebrated in Oklahoma State fashion. Take a look:

Up Next: OSU will face Texas Tech at Boone Pickens Stadium on Nov. 12 at 2:30 p.m.