No. 14 K-State Holds Off Texas, 17-13

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) --Junior quarterback Collin Klein combined for two touchdowns - one passing and one rushing - as Kansas State held off a late Texas rally for a 17-13 win before a school-record 100,705 fans at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday night.

The Wildcats (9-2, 6-2 Big 12) have now won four consecutive games over the Longhorns, including back-to-back contests at Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. The school moves to 6-2 against Texas in the Big 12 era, including 3-1 in Austin. K-State also eclipsed nine wins for the first time since the Big 12 Championship season of 2003, while the six league wins are the most since that magical season.

Klein was sacked five times and K-State managed just 121 total yards, but still pulled out the win behind Klein's 16-yard touchdown pass to Chris Harper with 9 seconds left in the first half and his 3-yard scoring run in the third quarter. Klein leads the nation with 25 rushing touchdowns and needs just two more to tie the Big 12 record set by Texas running back Ricky Williams in 1998.

The 121 yards of total offense were the fewest in a game since registering 182 yards against Kansas in 2005, while the eight first downs were the fewest since also posting eight against Nebraska in 1996.

Texas rallied from a 17-3 deficit behind backup quarterback Case McCoy, but the Longhorns (6-4, 3-4) have scored just one touchdown in the last two games.

Klein and Wildcats simply found a way to win, just like they have most of the season, whether in low-scoring games or shootouts.

Klein, who came in averaging 101 yards rushing, had just 4 against the Longhorns and was 9 of 17 passing for 83 yards. Chased and knocked around the entire game by the Texas pass rush, Klein was just good enough when he had to be.

After getting sacked for the fourth time, Klein converted a 3rd-and-14 with a 24-yard sideline pass to Sheldon Smith, who barely kept his left foot inbounds. Two plays later, Klein hit Chris Harper with a perfect strike to the corner of the end zone. Texas cornerback Carrington Byndum never turned around on the throw and Harper snagged an easy touchdown to give K-State a 10-3 halftime lead.

Texas freshman quarterback David Ash threw his second interception to set up Klein's rushing touchdown. Ty Zimmerman returned the pick to the Texas 37 before a pass interference penalty against Byndum set up the Wildcats at the Texas 3. Klein plowed over Texas linebacker Emmanuel Acho to put K-State ahead 17-3.

Desperate for a spark on offense, the Longhorns pulled Ash for sophomore McCoy, who promptly drove Texas 81 yards to a touchdown on his 36-yard rollout pass to tight end Blaine Irby.

Texas got within 17-13 on Justin Tucker's second field goal and momentum seemed to be with the Longhorns until the final rally ended at midfield as time ran out. Texas snapped the ball as time expired and McCoy rolled around for several second before finally throwing a short pass that fell incomplete nowhere near the end zone.

Texas outgained Kansas State 310-121 but the return of running backs Malcolm Brown and Joe Bergeron couldn't provide points. McCoy, the younger brother for former Texas quarterback Colt McCoy, who engineered so many rallies for the Longhorns in his career, couldn't muster another one. McCoy finished with 80 yards passing and Cody Johnson ran for 61 yards for the Longhorns.

Kansas State will get a much deserved week off before concluding the regular season at home against Iowa State on Senior Day at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. The contest will be broadcast at 11:30 a.m. on FSN.

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Team Stats

Collin Klein

Players Mentioned

Chris Harper

Sheldon Smith

Ty Zimmerman

Players Mentioned

Chris Harper

Sheldon Smith

Ty Zimmerman

Kansas State University Athletics