Clutch plays lift Kansas State to 39-33 win over Louisiana Tech in overtime

Kansas State coach Bill Snyder tilted his head downward and stared at the floor. He was searching for the words necessary to describe Kansas State’s 39-33, triple-overtime victory against Louisiana Tech on Saturday, a thrilling game that triggered nearly every emotion in his mind. He could not find them.

It was a difficult task. Louisiana Tech coach Skip Holtz simply led with: “What a football game, huh?”

Snyder eventually chuckled and admitted he also did not know what to think of what he witnessed.

“I will say I am proud of them,” Snyder said. “This group of young guys has not been in that situation before, and, through heck and high water, they managed to carve their way through it. I’m not sure exactly how, but they did it. At least we are 3-0.”

The Wildcats were far from perfect against the Bulldogs at Snyder Family Stadium. Louisiana Tech outgained K-State by 96 yards (451-355) and controlled the game much of the way, leading 13-6 in the third quarter, 20-13 in the fourth quarter and 33-30 in double overtime. This result will likely cause as much concern as it does hope among K-State fans. But the Wildcats certainly proved one thing: they can perform under pressure.

Every time it looked like they were in serious trouble, they responded.

Their biggest play occurred in triple overtime when Joe Hubener found Kody Cook for a 31-yard touchdown. Fullback Winston Dimel was flagged for a chop block on the preceding play, so K-State faced a third-and-16 and was in desperate need of a big gain. The score was tied at 33-33, and Louisiana Tech was about to get the ball. A field goal, no given from that distance, might not be enough.

The pressure was immense, but Hubener showed poise in the pocket and found Cook across the middle. He also connected with Dominique Heath for an unlikely touchdown pass in the first overtime. In between, Jack Cantele made a 44-yard field goal to force triple overtime.

“I would rather win 50-0, but playing in a triple overtime game against a tough opponent like that is a huge experience,” said Hubener after throwing for 195 yards and three touchdowns. “We are going to play close games. There are going to be other tough teams on our schedule. I fully anticipate some of them to come down to the wire.

“That is huge to have a clutch finish like that. We stepped up and made plays when we needed to. Hopefully that will transition over to other games when we need those kinds of plays.”

K-State’s clutch overtime plays came after it scored two touchdowns and a field goal in the final 15 minutes, 17 seconds of regulation to rally from a 13-6 deficit against a nonconference opponent it was expected to beat comfortably.

Poor early execution caused the deficit. K-State’s offense sputtered every time it was in scoring range throughout the first half. It settled for two field goals from Cantele and lost the ball at the five on a botched handoff between Hubener and Dimel. The Bulldogs led 10-6 at half and put the pressure on the Wildcats with a field goal in the third quarter. Quarterback Jeff Driskel led their offense with 314 passing yards and a touchdown, on top of 42 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

The comeback started with a series of bruising runs from redshirt freshman Justin Silmon in the third quarter. K-State needed a touchdown drive, and he moved it into the red zone with 58 yards on five carries. Then Hubener found Cook for an athletic touchdown catch to tie the game with 17 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

“It was time for us to go,” Silmon said. “We didn’t really do anything up until then. It was time for the offense to produce. Everyone wanted to make a play that drive and punch it in, so we went out and got it.”

Silmon rushed for 114 yards on 24 carries, the most for a K-State running back in a single game since John Hubert in 2013.

Things were back and forth from there. The Bulldogs went ahead 20-13 early in the fourth quarter on a keeper from Driskel. Then Dominique Heath set up a short touchdown run by Charles Jones with a 58-yard punt return.

Next, Elijah Lee, who made a game-high 12 tackles, forced a fumble and Jordan Willis, who made 2.5 sacks, jumped on it, setting up a K-State field goal that put the Wildcats ahead 23-20 with 2:44 to go. The Bulldogs forced overtime with a 45-yard field goal as time expired.

They tried to send the game to a fourth overtime after Cook’s go-ahead touchdown. But K-State’s defense held strong.

“I knew there was an end,” Holtz said. “It was just about who was going to make that critical mistake to lose the game.”

Eventually, K-State persevered.

It gained confidence in the process.

“We came back and overcame adversity against a good team,” Cook said. “That gives us more confidence going into our bye week and then into the start of Big 12 play, which is huge. We are going to need that, because the Big 12 is really good.”

KANSAS STATE 39

LOUISIANA TECH 33, 3OT

TableStyle: SP-byperiodsCCI Template: SP-byperiods

First quarter

KSU: FG Cantele 33, 6:03.

Second quarter

KSU: FG Cantele 38, 11:06.

LAT: Driskel 1 run (J.Barnes kick), 3:30.

LAT: FG J.Barnes 25, :13.

Third quarter

LAT: FG J.Barnes 39, 5:16.

KSU: Cook 4 pass from Hubener (Cantele kick), :17.

Fourth quarter

LAT: Driskel 8 run (J.Barnes kick), 13:16.

KSU: C.Jones 2 run (Cantele kick), 7:04.

KSU: FG Cantele 20, 2:44.

LAT: FG J.Barnes 45, :00.

First overtime

KSU: D.Heath 22 pass from Hubener (Cantele kick).

LAT: Taylor 6 pass from Driskel (J.Barnes kick).

Second overtime

LAT: FG J.Barnes 32.

KSU: FG Cantele 44.

Third overtime

KSU: Cook 31 pass from Hubener (run failed).

Attendance: 53,540.

TableStyle: SP-footballstatsCCI TempLATe: SP-footballstats

RUSHING: Louisiana Tech, Dixon 17-81, Driskel 19-42, Henderson 1-12, McKnight 1-2. Kansas St., Silmon 24-114, C.Jones 7-33, Hubener 8-9, Gronkowski 2-4, Dimel 3-1, Team 1-(minus 1).

PASSING: Louisiana Tech, Driskel 30-51-0-314. Kansas St., Hubener 15-26-0-195.

RECEIVING: Louisiana Tech, Taylor 12-148, Henderson 6-81, Dixon 5-25, McKnight 4-39, Watts 3-21. Kansas St., Burton 5-58, Cook 4-73, D.Heath 2-42, C.Jones 2-10, Gronkowski 1-9, Silmon 1-3.

This story was originally published September 19, 2015 at 3:55 PM with the headline "Clutch plays lift Kansas State to 39-33 win over Louisiana Tech in overtime."