COLLEGE FOOTBALL RECAP

Kansas State upsets Oklahoma on missed kick

The Sports Xchange

October 18, 2014 at 12:44 pm.

Jake Waters helped the Widlcats to a big road win over Oklahoma. (Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports)

NORMAN, Okla. — Kicker Michael Hunnicutt has been almost automatic for Oklahoma.

In Saturday against No. 14 Kansas State though, Hunnicutt had a horrible day and the Wildcats took advantage, beating the No. 11 Sooners, 31-30, at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium.

Hunnicutt missed two short field goals and had an extra point blocked as Kansas State beat the Sooners in Norman for the second consecutive trip.

The Wildcats did it with a bend-but-don’t break defensive performance that had the Sooners fighting for every yard, coupled with Hunnicutt’s struggles in the kicking game.

Tyler Lockett, a native of Oklahoma, had six catches for 86 yards and a touchdown for the Wildcats in his final game against the Sooners.

Wide Receiver Sterling Shepard had 15 catches for 197 yards and a touchdown, but it wasn’t quite enough to prevent the Sooners from losing for the second time in three games.

Kansas State remained tied atop the Big 12, improving to 5-1 overall and 3-0 in conference play. The Sooners dropped to 5-2, 2-2 in Big 12 play.

Oklahoma had been holding back on running quarterback Trevor Knight much, in large part due to their concerns about depth at the position behind the sophomore after Knight left two games because of injuries last season.

From the start against Kansas State, though, the Sooners used Knight in the running game.

The fears about depth, though, seemed founded when on his third carry of the game, Knight took a hit to his left shoulder and had to head to the locker room for treatment.

But Knight’s backup, Cody Thomas, might have given the Sooners license to be a bit more free with Knight.

Thomas, a redshirt freshman who had thrown four college passes coming into the game, got some help but stayed composed in his first home appearance.

Helped by a 42-yard run by Alex Ross, Thomas led the Sooners to their first touchdown.

On second-and-2 from the Wildcats 7, Thomas bobbled the snap a bit but recovered enough to pick up the first down. One play later, freshman Samaje Perine put the Sooners on the board first with a 2-yard run.

Kansas State quickly responded, as quarterback Jake Waters danced around, looking like he was searching for a running lane before pulling up.

Waters found fullback Glenn Gronkowski wide open over the middle for a 62-yard touchdown pass.

Knight returned after only one possession but struggled a bit before settling in.

Kansas State cornerback Danzel McDaniel put the Wildcats ahead for the first time on a 5-yard interception return off an ill-advised pass by Knight early in the second quarter.

But Knight came right back and tied the game, hitting back-to-back long passes on the next drive, the second a 47-yard touchdown pass to Shepard.

NOTES: Kansas State nickelback Randall Evans wore No. 27 instead of his usual No. 15 in honor of David Garrett. Garrett, who was a three-year starter for the Wildcats, was killed Oct. 11 outside a Cleveland nightclub. … Oklahoma wide receiver Michiah Quick and safety Steven Parker made their first career starts. … Sooners fullback Aaron Ripkowski was ejected early in the first quarter for targeting on a block of Kansas State defensive end Ryan Mueller. Ripkowski is the second Oklahoma player to be ejected for targeting this season, joining linebacker Jordan Evans. … Kansas State hosts Texas next Saturday, while Oklahoma is off before playing at Iowa State on Nov. 1.

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