Texas Tech posts 35-25 victory over Kansas State

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) -- NCAA passing leader Sonny Cumbie threw for 326 yards and two touchdowns, but Texas Tech needed big plays on defense and kicking teams Saturday night to salt away a 35-25 victory over Kansas State.

Kansas State, trailing 28-19, appeared to have a first-and-goal from the 9 but was penalized for throwing two forward passes on the same play.

On the next play, defensive end Adell Duckett intercepted Dylan Meier's pass and returned it 24 yards to the Kansas State 43.

On the next play after that, Taurean Henderson burst through a big hole up the middle and went 43 yards for a touchdown, giving the Red Raiders (5-3, 3-2 Big 12) a 35-19 lead with 5:22 to go.

Kansas State (3-5, 1-4) drove 75 yards a few minutes later, with Meier scoring on a 2-yard run. But a pass for a two-point conversion failed.

Cumbie, bidding to become the third Texas Tech quarterback in three years to pass for over 5,000 yards, was 27-of-39 and directed scoring drives on his first two possessions.

Meier was 26-for-41 for 248 yards and added 84 yards on 16 rushes -- a yard better than Darren Sproles

The defending Big 12 champion Wildcats are off to their worst start since 1989 when Bill Snyder's first Kansas State team finished 1-10.

The loss also put Kansas State's goal of a 12th straight bowl appearance in jeopardy and dropped the Big 12 North Division to 3-13 against the South, with all three wins coming against Baylor.

Danny Amendola, picking up several good blocks, returned a Kansas State punt 90 yards to give the Red Raiders what appeared to be a comfortable 28-10 lead with 4:31 left in the third quarter,

But then the Wildcats scored nine points in 37 seconds. Tearrius George and Brandon Archer sacked Cumbie in the end zone for a safety. Then after the ensuing kick, Sproles broke three tackles and went 40 yards for a touchdown to make it 28-19.

It was the 42nd rushing TD for Sproles, breaking the school record.

Texas Tech led at halftime only 14-7 despite amassing 278 total yards to just 100 for the Wildcats. Tech's Alex Trlica missed field goals of 48 and 41 yards in the second quarter when drives stalled on third-and-10 and third-and-21 plays.

Cumbie, shrugging aside any lingering affects from last week's 51-21 loss to No. 8 Texas, hit 7 of 8 passes in the opening drive. He moved into scoring position with a 40-yard completion to Joel Filani, then connected with Jarrett Hicks on a perfectly timed 1-yard toss to the corner of the end zone.

He was 5-for-6 in the Red Raiders' second possession, capping a 13-play, 80-yard drive with a 20-yard touchdown pass to Trey Haverty, who had eight receptions for 98 yards.

Kansas State got on the board with 5:45 left in the second quarter with a surprise play on second-and-goal from the 5.

The Wildcats lined up in a single wing, with quarterback Meier flanked wide. Sproles took the snap and dashed up the middle for the score.

Henderson gave Texas Tech a 21-10 lead halfway through the third quarter with a 1-yard TD run after Cumbie, beating an all-out blitz, found Hicks for 31 yards to the 1.

Joe Rheem kicked a 28-yard field goal for Kansas State early in the second half, making him 11-for-12 for the year.

Henderson had 93 yards on 14 carries.

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