Sluggish Wildcats fall at Iowa State
AMES, Iowa — Chris Singleton made two key interceptions, Alexander Robinson ran for two touchdowns and Iowa State stunned Kansas State 31-20 Saturday to snap a six-game losing streak.
Austen Arnaud, a freshman seeing his first dose of significant playing time, was 5-of-7 passing for 130 yards to lead the Cyclones (2-8, 1-5 Big 12), who had lost their first five conference games by an average of 23 points.
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Arnaud shared time with Bret Meyer, who was 12-for-19 for 98 yards. Meyer also had a touchdown pass and an interception.
Down 11 with 4:15 left, Kansas State (5-4, 3-3) went for it on fourth-and-1 at the Iowa State 1. Quarterback Josh Freeman tried to leap over the pile, but was stood up by the Cyclones.
Kansas State made a stop and quickly got the ball back to the Iowa State 28, but Daniel Gonzalez let a Freeman pass slip through his hands. Singleton picked it off to seal coach Gene Chizik's first Big 12 win.
Jordy Nelson had 13 receptions for 194 yards and a touchdown for Kansas State. Freeman was 28-of-44 passing for 347 yards and a touchdown, but was done in by two costly interceptions.
With the Wildcats trailing 21-10 midway through the third quarter, Freeman tried to force a pass to Jerod Mastrud. Linebacker Alvin Bowen tipped the ball before Singleton hauled it in and ran 21 yards for the score.
Brooks Rossman connected on a 35-yard field goal, and James Johnson's 5-yard TD run brought Kansas State within eight late in the third quarter. Kansas State had a drive stall at the Iowa State 28 with 12:10 left, and Rossman missed from 45 yards out.
Arnaud then found Todd Blythe for a 51-yard reception, setting up a 25-yard field goal by Bret Culbertson that put Iowa State ahead 31-20 with 8:12 to go.
Iowa State scored touchdowns on three of its first four possessions.
Robinson, who had 25 carries for 61 yards, finished off a 90-yard drive in the first quarter with a 3-yard run to give the Cyclones a 14-0 lead. His 2-yard plunge in the second made it 21-3.
Facing an 18-point deficit, by far its largest of the season, Kansas State rallied just before halftime. Freeman found Nelson for a 13-yard TD pass with 2:42 left.
Johnson led Kansas State with 95 yards rushing, but he fumbled away the opening kickoff. The Cyclones jumped ahead 7-0 on a 1-yard TD catch by Derrick Catlett.
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