Kansas Snaps K-State Stranglehold on Governor's Cup

LAWRENCE, Kan. -- Dylan Meier came off the bench to pass for 249 yards and two touchdowns and ran for a third in the second half alone, but it was not enough to help the Wildcats overcome an inspired Kansas effort as the Jayhawks snapped Kansas State's 11-game stranglehold on the Sunflower State Showdown with a 31-28 victory Saturday night at Memorial Stadium.

Kansas (3-3, 1-2 Big 12), which had not won a gme in the series since 1992, led 7-6 at the half and 17-6 late in the third quarter before Meier, who replaced starter Allen Webb to open the second half, guided the Wildcats to a pair of long touchdown drives to give Kansas State (2-3, 0-2 Big 12) a 21-17 lead with 13:20 remaining in the fourth quarter.

However, the Jayhawks struck back behind a 31-yard touchdown reception by Mark Simmons and a 43-yard run by John Randle with 3:16 to play to go on top for good.

Brian Casey hauled in an 8-yard touchdown from Meier with just over 2 minutes left to get the Wildcats within three points. But K-State was unable to come up with the ensuing on-sides kick and Kansas was able to run out the clock.

Randle rushed for 105 yards to lead Kansas.

The first half was more of a defensive battle, with Kansas drawing first blood behind a 53-yard drive on their second possession and took their first lead over Kansas State in eight years when Barmann hit Lyonel Anderson with a 2-yard TD pass.

The drive appeared to be stalled when Barmann's pass into the end zone fell incomplete on third-and-14, but Bret Jones was flagged for pass interference, giving Kansas a first down on the 3.

Kansas State's Joe Rheem booted a career-long 49-yard field goal early in the second quarter to make it 7-3. He also made a 37-yarder with 2:01 left in the half.

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