LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Kansas State climbed quickly into the Top 25 on the back of three straight wins to start the season, then the Wildcats plummeted just as quickly from the poll after three straight losses to open Big 12 play.
Now, they’re on the climb again.
Deuce Vaughn had a career-high 162 yards rushing and three touchdowns, Skylar Thompson shredded Kansas through the air before a cheap shot knocked him out of the game in the fourth quarter, and the Wildcats cruised to a 35-10 victory over the Jayhawks on Saturday that wasn’t as close as the final score.
“We’re bowl-eligible, we have won three games in a row. It tells you an awful lot about the character and resolve of our guys the way we started off in conference,” Kansas State coach Chris Klieman said. “There was always continued belief in that locker room, continued belief in our leaders that we could turn it around.”
Thompson was 19 of 24 for 244 yards and a touchdown before he was hit by the Jayhawks’ Gavin Potter out of bounds along the Kansas State sideline. Thompson remained on the ground for several minutes before finally getting up.
The personal foul put the ball just outside the goal line, and Vaughn plowed in for his final rushing TD of the day.
“Some of it’s bang-bang stuff,” Klieman said, “but (Thompson) is fine. He’s ready to come back next week and get after it.”
Vaughn also caught five passes for 60 yards, and Malik Knowles had 94 yards receiving and a touchdown, as the Wildcats (6-3, 3-3 Big 12) beat their rival for the eighth consecutive time at Memorial Stadium and 13th straight overall.
