Two Big Defensive Plays Help Kansas State Hang On For 34-27 Victory Against Tulane
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For years, Kansas State has been known for scoring touchdowns or making plays outside of offense.
That once again was the case Saturday.
Linebacker Jack Fabris returned a fumble 60 yards for the go-ahead score and VJ Payne had a late interception in a 34-27 victory against Tulane in New Orleans. The Wildcats rallied from a 10-point, first-half deficit to avoid a second loss in three years to the Green Wave.
Tulane thought it had tied the game when Dontae Fleming caught a one-yard touchdown that was overturned after he was called for pass interference. Two plays later, Payne sealed it with the interception.
The Wildcats grabbed the lead when linebacker Austin Romaine sacked Tulane quarterback Darian Mensah midway through the fourth quarter. The ball was then scooped up by Fabris.
The plays helped K-State improve to 2-0 and offset a first half of struggles by the offense and defense. Quarterback Avery Johnson didn't get going until the second half. Trailing 20-13, he hit running back DJ Giddens for a 45-yard score to tie it.
After another Tulane score, the Wildcats once again rallied. This time, Johnson started a drive with consecutive passes to Keagan Johnson (33 yards) and Will Swanson (11 yards) before running back Dylan Edwards finished with a 13-yard touchdown run.
Shandel Richardson is the publisher of Kansas State Wildcats On SI. He can be reached at shandelrich@gmail.com
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Shandel has covered the NBA since 2010, with previous stops at The Athletic and South Florida Sun-Sentinel. He has covered six NBA Finals, one Super Bowl, the NCAA basketball tournament. He has also been a beat writer for the Miami Hurricanes and contributed on every major beat in South Florida since 2003, including the Miami Dolphins and Miami Marlins. He can also be read in the Sportsbook Review for gambling coverage from around the NBA. A native of Bloomington, Illinois, Shandel attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. He's also worked for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and Kansas City Star. TWITTER: @ShandelRich EMAIL: shandelrich@gmail.com You can subscribe to our YouTube channel here Follow all of our Miami Heat coverage on Facebook here