K-State falls to Iowa State, 45-17

AMES, Iowa (AP) -- Bret Meyer threw three touchdown passes and Iowa State overcame a slew of penalties to beat Kansas State 45-17 Saturday.

Stevie Hicks added 149 yards rushing and a touchdown for the Cyclones (6-3, 3-3 Big 12), who have won three straight to become bowl-eligible for the fifth time in six seasons.

Kansas State (4-5, 1-5) lost its fourth straight and added to its misery with the type of turnovers, penalties and mental mistakes that have plagued the Wildcats all year. Two turnovers midway through the third quarter enabled Iowa State to score touchdowns 63 seconds apart and blow it open.

The Wildcats now have to win their final two games to avoid their second straight losing season, something that hasn't happened since 1989 and 1990, Bill Snyder's first two years as coach.

Iowa State, meanwhile, is on a roll. Since starting Big 12 play 0-3, including two overtime losses, the Cyclones have rebounded to beat Oklahoma State 37-10, Texas A&M 42-14 and now K-State. It's the first time in 114 years of football that Iowa State has scored at least 37 points against three straight conference opponents.

The Cyclones did it in this one without an especially sharp effort. The least-penalized team in the Big 12 coming in, Iowa State was called for a season-high 13 penalties for 115 yards. During their final series of the first half, the Cyclones were flagged on successive plays for a false start, holding, a personal foul and grabbing a face mask.

But those calls didn't prove as costly as Kansas State's mistakes. The Wildcats' three turnovers led to 17 Iowa State points, they had a field goal attempt blocked and had to take a timeout on an Iowa State punt because they didn't have enough players on the field.

Nik Moser's third-quarter interception -- he took the ball right out of receiver Jermaine Moreira's grasp -- set up Meyer's 9-yard touchdown pass to a diving Austin Flynn.

The Cyclones got the ball right back when Moreira fumbled on the ensuing kickoff and four plays later, Ryan Kock crashed into the end zone from the 1, making it 38-10. Hicks, who carried 24 times, broke loose on a 37-yard touchdown run with 6:28 left to top off the victory.

Meyer also threw touchdown passes of 13 yards to Ben Barkema and 26 yards to Todd Blythe. He finished 16 of 23 for 194 yards and no interceptions.

Blythe's touchdown catch was the 15th of the 6-foot-5 sophomore's career, tying the school record.

Kansas State's freshman quarterback, Allan Evridge, was under pressure throughout the overcast afternoon from Iowa State's front seven. Evridge completed 17 of 30 passes for 221 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.

He also scored a touchdown, taking it in from the 1 to finish a drive kept alive when Iowa State's Tim Dobbins was penalized for grabbing Evridge's face mask as the quarterback was being tackled for a loss on third down.

His touchdown drew the Wildcats to 17-10 at halftime. But Iowa State took the second half kickoff and drove 74 yards in nine plays to get Kock's 1-yard touchdown run. The Cyclones dominated the game from then on.

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Team Stats

Allan Evridge

Players Mentioned

Allan Evridge

Jermaine Moreira

Players Mentioned

Allan Evridge

Jermaine Moreira

Kansas State University Athletics