2024-11-03 13:05:03
Does Willie Fritz have Kansas State football’s number? It sure looks that way.
Fritz, in his first year as Houston coach, picked up his second major upset of the Wildcats in three years Saturday when his Cougars stunned No. 15-ranked K-State, 24-19, at TDECU Stadium in Houston.
In 2022, Fritz’s Tulane team also beat K-State in Manhattan.
In a game delayed for an hour by lightning, K-State struggled mightily on offense, especially in the running game, managing just 89 yards on the ground. Quarterback Avery Johnson also threw two fourth-quarter interceptions, one leading to a Houston touchdown and another derailing a drive after the Cougars took the lead.
K-State finished with 327 yards total offense to 232 for Houston, but lost the turnover battle, 2-1. Johnson was 23 of 238 yards and a touchdown to Keagan Johnson. DJ Giddens rushed for 51 yards and a score.
Houston quarterback Zeon Chriss was a perfect 11 of 11 passes for just 103 yards, but the Cougars capitalized on explosive plays, winning the game on Chriss’ 41-yard touchdown run with 2:31 left.
K-State now has an open week before returning home to face Arizona State on Nov. 16 at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. The Wildcats then play host to Cincinnati before closing the regular season at Iowa State.
Related:How Kansas State football rediscovered the formula for finishing close games
Related:Here is Kansas State football’s clearest path to the expanded College Football Playoff
Houston quarterback Zeon Chriss scores on a 41-yard run to give the Cougars a 24-19 lead with 2:31 left. The Wildcats need a touchdown to win.
Zeon Chriss finds tight end Maliq Carr for a 1-yard touchdown to get Houston back within two points, 19-17, with 10:58 left.
The score was set up by Jeremiah Wilson’s interception of Avery Johnson and return to the Wildcat 9-yard line. Horrible time for a pick by K-State.
Chris Tennant’s 47-yard field goal makes it a two-possession game as the third quarter ends.
Kansas State’s offense has not been good to start the second half. The first possession ended in a botched field goal attempt and the second in a three-and-out. Fortunately for the Wildcats, the defense has shut Houston down as well.
Houston has the ball back at its 27-yard line with 5:42 left in the third quarter.
Kansas State gets 13 points in the last two minutes of the half to get the lead. Houston will half the ball to start the second half.
After Tobi Osunsanmi sacks the quarterback and Des Purnell recovers, K-State goes 48 yards in five plays to regain the lead, 16-10 on Avery Johnson’s 7-yard TD pass to Keagan Johnson.
Kansas State puts together a nice 14-play, 77-yard drive to score on DJ Giddens’ 2-yard run, but the Wildcats fail to tie it when a mishandled snap leads to a blocked extra point.
Houston still leads, 10-9, with 1:48 left in the half.
After shutting down K-State’s offense for a second straight time, Houston drives 55 yards in nine plays before settling for a 22-yard Jack Martin field goal, extending its lead to 10-3 with 8:37 left in the half.
Donovan Smith scores on a 1-yard QB keeper and Houston goes up 7-3 on the first play of the second quarter.
Houston knocking on the door, but K-State leads 3-0 after one.
After Houston picks up a pair of first downs, K-State gets three straight lost-yardage plays, capped by a Brenda Mott, to force a Cougar punt. Wildcats lead 3-0.
Kansas State takes the opening kick and drives 70 yards in 10 plays before stalling at the Houston 5. Chris Tennant kicks a 23-yard field goal to cap the drive, which took 6:48 off the clock.
Kansas State and Houston have started about an hour behind schedule. The Wildcats lost the coin toss but got the ball first after Houston deferred to the second half.
The countdown is on, and the projection now is a 3:40 p.m. start for K-State at Houston. The teams should take the field shortly.
A countdown clock has started, which means K-State and Houston should still be on the field for warmups after a lightning delay at TDECU Stadium. That is, barring any more lightning strikes within 15 miles. Stay tuned.
Lightning in the area around TDECU Stadium has caused a delay to Kansas State’s game against Houston. No word yet on when we’ll kick off.
Game lines and odds from BetMGM as of Saturday:
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Arne Green is based in Salina and covers Kansas State University sports for the Gannett network. He can be reached at agreen@gannett.com or on Twitter at @arnegreen.
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