Late Field Goal Lifts OSU Past K-State, 36-34

STILLWATER, Okla. -- Oklahoma State place-kicker Ben Grogan converted on a 37-yard field goal with 32 seconds left, as the Cowboys rallied past Kansas State, 36-34, to remain unbeaten on Saturday afternoon before 57,618 at Boone Pickens Stadium.

After the Wildcats (3-1, 0-1 Big 12) took the lead 34-33 on a 5-yard touchdown run by junior quarterback Joe Hubener with 3:01 to play, the Cowboys (5-0, 2-0 Big 12) drove 45 yards over 10 plays to set up its second straight game-winning field goal by Grogan. K-State has now lost five-straight games at Boone Pickens Stadium by an average margin of just four points. The last Wildcat win in Stillwater came in 1999.

K-State led 28-13 after redshirt freshman running Justin Silmon's 6-yard touchdown run with 4:37 left in the second quarter and held a 28-20 edge at halftime. The Cowboys outscored the Wildcats, 16-6, in the second half to snap K-State's nation-best 49-game winning streak when leading at halftime.

The Wildcats' offense posted 351 yards in the game, the fourth-straight game with at least 300 yards of total offense. The passing attack was led by senior Kody Cook, who replaced Hubener at quarterback midway through the first quarter after he sustained an injury. Cook, who walked on with the team as a wide receiver, went 10-for-16 for 122 yards and two touchdowns, while adding a team-high 87 yard rushing on 21 carries.

Cook also became the first Wildcat since 2007 to rush, pass and catch a touchdown pass in the same season and the first since 1988 to throw multiple touchdown passes while scoring touchdowns via a run and a catch.

Silmon continued his impressive rookie campaign, rushing for 50 yards on 15 carries and one score. The effort moved him into fourth place in school history in rushing yards by a freshman with 260 yard, passing running back Darren Sproles and quarterback Daniel Sams.

On the defensive end, junior defensive back Donnie Starks posted a career-high 11 tackles in the game, while sophomore defensive back Kaleb Prewett also set a career high with seven tackles of his own. Senior defensive end Marquel Bryant recorded a sack in the game, tying a career high with three sacks this season. Defensive tackle Will Geary also tied a career high with his sack in the game.

K-State scored on its opening drive of the game, capping off an 11-play, 67-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown scamper by Cook, who replaced Hubener midway through the drive. Cook rushed for 16 yards on the drive and set up his score with a 16-yard strike to wide receiver Deante Burton to Oklahoma State 3.

Oklahoma State answered with a touchdown of their own on the next possession as quarterback Mason Rudolph connected with wide receiver James Washington for a 32-yard strike to tie the game at 7-all. Rudolph threw for 59 of the Cowboys' 66 yards on the drive.

Cook would give the Wildcats a 14-7 lead with a 1:25 left in the first quarter, connecting with Glenn Gronkowski for a 4-yard touchdown pass. The score was Gronkowski's first of the season and the fifth touchdown of his career.

The Cowboys opened the scoring in the second half on a 4-yard touchdown pass from reserve quarterback J.W. Walsh to wideout Jalen McCleskey. However, the Wildcats would block the extra point, preserving a 14-13 lead. The block was the 21st time a K-State team has blocked a kick since Bill Snyder returned to guide the team in 2009.

K-State pushed the lead back to eight points just three minutes later as Cook threw his second touchdown pass of the day -- a 17-yard completion to Burton to give the Wildcats a 21-13 lead. Burton finished the game with two receptions for 33 yards.

The 'Cats would then take advantage of a Cowboy turnover, scoring in one play on a Silmon run from the 6-yard line to give the Wildcats a 28-13 lead with 4:37 remaining in the second quarter. Defensive back Danzel McDaniel set up the score by recovering a Rudolph backwards pass at the OSU 15 and returning it nine yards.

The lead was cut to eight with 46 seconds remaining in the half, as Oklahoma State took the ball 83 yards in 13 plays to set up a Marcel Ateman touchdown reception. Rudolph converted a pass to Ateman on 3rd-and-18 to keep the drive alive.

OSU scored the only points of the third quarter, pulling within two points at the 7-minute mark off of a Raymond Taylor 1-yard touchdown run. The drive was highlighted by a 40-yard completion from Rudolph to Jhajuan Seales.

Brandon Sheperd's 3-yard touchdown reception gave Oklahoma State its first lead of the game at 33-28 with 6:06 remaining in the game. The Cowboys drove the ball 80 yards in just five plays to set up the go-ahead score.

On the next possession, K-State took the ball 94 yards on seven plays to set up a 5-yard touchdown run by Hubener. The Wildcats' two-point conversion attempt was no good, giving the Wildcats a one-point lead with just three minutes to play.

However, the Cowboys responded with a 10-play, 45-yard drive to set up a 37-yard, game-winning field goal to seal the victory.

Kansas State returns to action on October 10 as it hosts 3rd-ranked TCU (5-0, 2-0 Big 12) in its first home game in three weeks. Kickoff time is set for 6:30 p.m. and will be televised nationally by FOX.

Next Event

Team Stats

Kody Cook

Joe Hubener

Glenn Gronkowski

Players Mentioned

Marquel Bryant

Deante Burton

Kody Cook

Will Geary

Glenn Gronkowski

Joe Hubener

Danzel McDaniel

Kaleb Prewett

Justin Silmon

Donnie Starks

Players Mentioned

Marquel Bryant

Deante Burton

Kody Cook

Will Geary

Glenn Gronkowski

Joe Hubener

Danzel McDaniel

Kaleb Prewett

Justin Silmon

Donnie Starks

Kansas State University Athletics