Kansas State staged another dramatic comeback to defeat Rutgers 44-41 in the Rate Bowl on Thursday in Phoenix, Arizona. Dylan Edwards led the Wildcats with 196 rushing yards and two touchdowns, adding a third score on a reception, as Kansas State rallied from a 17-point deficit midway through the third quarter. This marks their fourth win this season after trailing in the fourth quarter.
The Wildcats (9-4) amassed 542 yards of total offense. Quarterback Avery Johnson completed 15 of 30 passes for 195 yards and three touchdowns while adding 57 rushing yards and another score.
Rutgers (7-6) was powered by quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis, who went 14-of-32 for 237 yards and a touchdown. The Scarlet Knights opened with a punt but then scored on six consecutive possessions, including a 7-yard touchdown pass from Kaliakmanis to Ja’shon Benjamin early in the second half, extending their lead to 34-17.
Kansas State’s rally began with a 65-yard touchdown run by Edwards, trimming the deficit to 34-23. On Rutgers’ next possession, Daniel Cobbs intercepted Kaliakmanis, setting up a 13-yard touchdown pass from Johnson to Garrett Oakley, narrowing the gap to 34-29.
Rutgers responded with a 1-yard touchdown run by Antwan Raymond following a 67-yard punt return by Christian Dremel, increasing their lead to 41-29 with 14:02 left. However, the Wildcats stormed back. Johnson connected with Joe Jackson for a 9-yard touchdown, cutting the margin to 41-36. Edwards then broke free for a 36-yard rushing touchdown, giving Kansas State its first lead since the second quarter. A two-point conversion pass to Oakley pushed the score to 44-41 with 4:15 remaining.
Kansas State’s defense held strong, stopping Rutgers on a fourth-and-7 at the Scarlet Knights’ 44-yard line with under two minutes left to secure the victory.
The game featured back-and-forth scoring in the first half. Kansas State opened with a 29-yard field goal by Chris Tennant before trading touchdowns with Rutgers. A 26-yard screen pass from Johnson to Edwards tied the game at 17, but Rutgers regained the lead with a 24-yard touchdown run by Raymond and a 48-yard field goal by Jai Patel before halftime.
The win caps a resilient performance by Kansas State, showcasing their ability to overcome adversity and close games under pressure.
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