Field Level Media
Oct 24, 2020
Phillip Brooks had two punt-return touchdowns in the first half as No. 20 Kansas State dominated Kansas 55-14 on Saturday at Manhattan, Kan.
The Wildcats scored or set up 24 first-half points on special teams and added a defensive score in taking a 34-7 halftime lead. Kansas State scored three touchdowns in the third quarter to erase any thoughts of a Kansas comeback.
It was the 12th consecutive victory for Kansas State (4-1, 4-0 Big 12) over Kansas, the longest winning streak in series history. It was also Kansas State's largest margin of victory over Kansas since a 59-7 victory in 2010.
Wildcats quarterback Will Howard was 17 of 24 for 243 yards and two touchdowns.
Kansas State scored three non-offensive touchdowns, giving them 122 since the beginning of the 1999 season, the most in FBS. Alabama and Virginia Tech had 108 coming into Saturday's action.
Kansas (0-5, 0-4) is now 7-94 in Big 12 play since 2009. The Jayhawks have not won multiple conference games since 2008.
Kansas State took a 7-0 lead on special teams when Brooks returned a punt 55 yards to the end zone. It was Kansas State's 54th touchdown on a kickoff or punt return since 2005, the most in FBS. Coming into Saturday, Alabama was second with 32.
Two Blake Lynch field goals -- the first set up by another 40-yard punt return by Brooks -- stretched the lead to 13-0, before Justin Gardner picked off a Jalon Daniels pass and returned it 24 yards for a touchdown.
Kansas got on the board with a nine-play, 75-yard touchdown drive, capped by an 8-yard touchdown run by Daniels.
After forcing a three-and-out, Kansas' Kwamie Lassiter fumbled a punt and Kansas State recovered on the Kansas 41. On the first play, Will Howard hit Deuce Vaughn with a swing pass that gained 25 yards. After an incompletion, Howard hit Sammy Wheeler for a 16-yard touchdown.
Brooks returned a punt 52 yards for another touchdown on the final play of the half.
Kansas State had 381 yards of total offense, while Brooks finished the day with 189 yards in punt returns.
--Field Level Media