Cats Defense Dominates, Offense, Special Teams Contribute in 40-12 Win
Four consecutive possessions by Missouri ended with Kansas State intercepting passes and Phillip Brooks returned a punt 76 yards after a nearly hour-long lightning delay Saturday as the Wildcats cruised to a 40-12 win over the Tigers.
K-State had already built a 14-3 lead before the delay behind rushing touchdowns from Deuce Vaughn and Adrian Martinez and a defensive unit that didn’t allow positive passing yardage until late in the second quarter.
Mother Nature put the game on pause just before a third-and-thirteen snap for the Tigers outside of seven minutes to play in the first half. After Felix Anudike-Uzomah stopped Mizzou QB Brady Cook on a scramble, the Tigers punted…
Brooks did the rest.
This is what we do
@Pbrooks124 pic.twitter.com/qdJFsTQs4b
— K-State Football (@KStateFB) September 10, 2022
After the half, it became a tad ugly in that K-State’s offense bogged down a number of times, failing to score touchdowns. The Tigers, though, couldn’t complete a pass to anyone besides players wearing purple.
Don't try him pic.twitter.com/BGCep5tmOf
— K-State Football (@KStateFB) September 10, 2022
Make it 3 in a row pic.twitter.com/pSKSco8QF2
— K-State Football (@KStateFB) September 10, 2022
… Another one
1⃣2⃣3⃣4⃣ https://t.co/GvLKOeId4T— K-State Football (@KStateFB) September 10, 2022
The Cats cashed in two of the first three with Chris Tennant field goals, though Tennant missed the second of the trio of attempts.
The fourth interception became all K-State needed to finally get Deuce Vaughn grooving. Vaughn had been held under 60 yards as the 4th quarter began. He exploded for a 29 yard rush then finished off the quick, four play drive with a 24 yard trot and pushed himself past the 100 yard plateau for an eighth consecutive game.
2⃣ TD
Yards@C_Vaughn22 pic.twitter.com/W6eMz5PG8b
— K-State Football (@KStateFB) September 10, 2022
Vaughn finished with 24 carries and 145 yards to pace the Cats offense on the day. Martinez added 13 runs for 52 yards and a score.
Martinez went 9-20-101 with zero TD’s and no picks, targeting six different receivers on the day.
Brooks caught three passes for 57 yards.
Final stats: @KStateFB 40, @MizzouFootball 12#KStateFB #EMAW pic.twitter.com/b5naQ7yN72
— Powercat Gameday (@PowercatGameday) September 10, 2022
Missouri would score with no time remaining, cashing in a fumble by the Wildcats’ Anthony Frias. The Tigers went into hurry up mode to score and a roughing the passer penalty on the Cats with zeroes on the clock allowed them a one-yard QB run for the final points of the game and the first TD scored on K-State’s defense this season.
Next for the Wildcats is a Saturday, Sept. 17 matchup with Tulane. Kickoff is at two at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. Powercat Gameday coverage begins at ten that morning.
