Rally Comes Up Short at OU, 42-30

NORMAN, Okla. - Senior Brandon Banks tied the K-State school record with 351 all-purpose yards, including 98 on his fifth career kickoff return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter, but it wasn't enough as the Wildcats fell to No. 22 Oklahoma, 42-30, on Saturday night at Memorial Stadium.

Banks totaled 195 yards on six kickoff returns to go with nine catches for 156 yards against the Sooners.  The 351 all-purpose yards tied Darren Sproles' school record, which he set against Louisiana on Sept. 18, 2004.  Banks, who helped the Wildcats' close the gap with his return, increased his Big 12 and school records with his fifth career kickoff return and fourth this season.

"Brandon played well in a lot of different ways," head coach Bill Snyder said. "...You begin to expect him to do some things with kickoff returns. But I thought he went up and competed well and made some catches in coverage."

K-State (5-4, 3-2 Big 12) fell behind 21-0 to Oklahoma (5-3, 3-1 Big 12), but rallied to within five points on two occasions, including 35-30 after Banks' 98-yard return.  However, the Sooners put the game away with a 3-yard run by DeMarco Murray with 6:27 remaining in the fourth quarter.

The Sooners stopped Kansas State on downs at the K-State 41 with 4:10 left and Quinton Carter intercepted a pass from Grant Gregory at the Oklahoma 2 with 42 seconds left.

Despite the loss, the Wildcat offense totaled 30 points on the stingy Sooner defense, which previous opponent high was 21 points against Miami.  The squad tallied 364 yards of total offense, including 215 through the air, and posted 20 first downs.  K-State also remained atop the conference's North Division.

Senior quarterback Grant Gregory was solid on the night, completing 19-of-30 passes for 174 yards to go with 46 yards on the ground on nine carries.  It marked season-high for Gregory in passing yards, completions and attempts. 

Junior running back Daniel Thomas, who is 98 yards from 1,000 yards this season, rushed for 88 yards on 16 carries.  He also completed one pass for 41 yards and had a 2-point conversion to Jeron Mastrud on the Wildcats' second touchdown.  Senior running back Keithen Valentine had just four carries, but two of those went for scores, including a 14-yard scamper on fourth-and-one in the third quarter.

Oklahoma was led by redshirt freshman quarterback Landry Jones, who completed 26 of 37 passes for 294 yards and four touchdowns.  DeJuan Miller, who had 11 catches all season entering the game, led the Sooners with nine for 94 yards, while Ryan Broyles had eight for 91 yards and two touchdowns.

Running backs Chris Brown and DeMarco Murray combined for 145 yards rushing for the Sooners, including 83 from Brown on 15 carries.

Oklahoma has won 28 straight home games, the longest active streak in the Bowl Subdivision.