Wildcats edged by Huskers

LINCOLN, Neb. - Jordan Congdon kicked a 40-yard field goal with 1:05 to play to dash Kansas State's bowl hopes for the 2005 season as the Wildcats were edged by Nebraska 27-25 before 77,716 at Memorial Stadium Saturday.

Quarterback Allan Evridge ran for 138 yards and two touchdowns to lead Kansas State (4-6, 1-6), which will miss out on the postseason for the second straight year after having its 11-year bowl run ended last season.

Congdon's winning kick came after Kansas State had come back from a 24-12 deficit to lead 25-24 on Tim Schwerdt's 27-yard field goal with 4:18 to play.

Freshman Harrison Beck, who took over for an injured Zac Taylor in the fourth quarter, led Nebraska on its winning drive after throwing a costly interception that set up K-State's go-ahead field goal by Tim Schwerdt with 4:18 to play.

Taylor was knocked out of the game with 14:06 left when he took a hard hit from K-State linebacker Zach Diles.

Beck hit Nate Swift with a 21-yard completion, and a roughing-the-passer penalty on Tearrius George moved the ball to the K-State 31. Four plays later Congdon booted the game-winner.

Taylor threw two touchdown passes to Swift. His second, a 34-yarder that gave Nebraska its 12-point lead in the third quarter, allowed him to break Dave Humm's single-season passing record of 2,074 yards in 1972. Taylor has thrown for 2,094 yards with one regular-season game left.

Taylor was 21 of 31 for 220 yards. Beck was 1 of 6 for 21 yards, with an interception.

Thomas Clayton added 85 yards on the ground as the Wildcats rushed for 248 yards, their best total in Big 12 play on the year.

Cory Ross led Nebraska with 69 yards and a touchdown on 26 attempts.

The Wildcats converted a Nebraska turnover into a touchdown and recorded two safeties in the third quarter to pull within 24-22.

But Nebraska turned back the Wildcats on their next four series, including an interception at the Husker 2-yard line and a blocked field goal.

But after Bryan Baldwin intercepted Beck and made a 36-yard return to the 9, the Wildcats were in position for Schwerdt's go-ahead field goal.

Nebraska took a 17-12 lead late in the first half on Taylor's 19-yard touchdown pass to Swift, and the two connected again in the third quarter for a 24-12 advantage.

Kansas State got back to 24-20 thanks to two Nebraska mistakes.

Blake Seiler recovered a Taylor fumble at the Nebraska 11, and Evridge scored two plays later on a 7-yard run. A botched PAT attempt left the score 24-18.

After Nebraska kick returner Marlon Lucky made an ill-advised decision to bring the ball out of the end zone and was stopped at the 2, Kansas State's Maurice Porter and Diles tackled Ross in the end zone for a safety.

The Wildcats were threatening to score the go-ahead touchdown when Corey McKeon intercepted a tipped ball at the 4.

Kansas State recorded another safety to pull to 24-22 when Reggie Walker tackled Ross in the end zone after Ross caught a swing pass from Taylor.

K-State missed another chance to take the lead on the ensuing possession when Barry Turner blocked a 31-yard field goal attempt.

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Team Stats

Allan Evridge

Allen Webb

Players Mentioned

Bryan Baldwin

Thomas Clayton

Zach Diles

Allan Evridge

Tearrius George

Maurice Porter

Tim Schwerdt

Reggie Walker

Players Mentioned

Bryan Baldwin

Thomas Clayton

Zach Diles

Allan Evridge

Tearrius George

Maurice Porter

Tim Schwerdt

Reggie Walker

Kansas State University Athletics