MANHATTAN, Kan. — The Kansas State football team was unable to send its large senior class out with a victory during its final home game of the season.
Baylor flexed its muscles and never trailed during a 20-10 win over the Wildcats on Saturday at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
It was a disappointing result for K-State (7-4, 4-4 Big 12), which entered the game red hot on a four-game winning streak. But none of its previous wins had come against an opponent with a winning conference record, and, well, No. 11 Baylor (9-2, 6-2) was a big step up in competition.
The Bears were at their strongest on defense, holding K-State to 263 yards. K-State quarterback Skylar Thompson seemed confused every time he dropped back to pass. The “super senior” quarterback has been one of the nation’s most efficient passers in league games this season, but he was ineffective on this night and completed 15 of 29 passes for 158 yards.
K-State appeared to catch a break late in the first half when Baylor lost quarterback Gerry Bohanon to an apparent hamstring injury, but backup Blake Shapen came in and did more than enough to win the game.
There is still much for the Wildcats to play for. They can improve their bowl stock and secure a top-four finish in the Big 12 standings with a victory in their next game, at Texas.
Until then, here are some thoughts on how K-State played against Baylor.
Forgettable Senior Day for Thompson
K-State fans greeted Thompson with thunderous applause when he was introduced to the crowd before kickoff.
This was their last opportunity to thank Thompson for all he has done for the Wildcats during his five seasons in Manhattan, and he seemed appreciative as he went through senior-day ceremonies. He hugged K-State coach Chris Klieman and took pictures with his family.
But that’s as good as the night got for him.
Thompson had one of his worst games of the season against Baylor’s stingy defense. Why? There were two reasons.
Baylor’s defensive line did an excellent job getting pressure on Thompson early in the game, which forced K-State to make some adjustments up front in order to give him more time in the pocket. Those changes worked, but as the game went on Thompson simply couldn’t find anyone open down field. His first read was routinely covered, forcing him to try and make something happen on the move with receivers as they were breaking off their routes and trying to get open.
Thompson had one nice pass of 46 yards to Malik Knowles in the fourth quarter. Otherwise, it was rough day at the office for him.
His night came to an end unceremoniously when he appeared to tweak his left ankle in the fourth quarter and had to exit the game. He was eventually carted off to the locker room. His status for the Texas game is now in question.
Momentum shifted on a pair of fumbled punts
The biggest play of the game occurred on an early punt from Baylor.
K-State began the night with a strong defensive stand that forced the Bears to kick the ball away after just three plays. It looked like the Wildcats were going to have a chance to take an early lead. But K-State return man Phillip Brooks fumbled the punt and Baylor recovered.
That play created a huge shift in momentum.
The Bears took advantage of the K-State miscue and moments later on a 6-yard run from Trestan Ebner. Baylor went three-and-out on its opening drive and still led 7-0.
During its winning streak, the Wildcats avoided game-changing mistakes like that. In fact, they took advantage of it when other teams made them. But that wasn’t the case here.
Later in Saturday’s game, K-State may have experienced some bad luck when Baylor fumbled a punt return and the officials ruled it an interference penalty on the Wildcats.
Both plays went Baylor’s way, and that was a big reason why they were victorious.
Deuce Vaughn provided a bright spot
Calling K-State’s offense a one-man show might be an understatement.
At the end of the first half, the Wildcats had 139 yards of offense, and sophomore running back Deuce Vaughn accounted for all 139 of them.
He had 115 rushing yards and a touchdown on seven carries, plus 24 receiving yards. He didn’t slow down in the second half and finished with 165 all-purpose yards, while K-State finished with 263 yards as a team.
K-State found success running the ball between the tackles with Vaughn but chose to throw the ball 30 times as it was in catch-up mode.
