Avery Johnson's all-around game leads K-State past Tulane 31-20 for 3-0 start

MANHATTAN, Kan. -- — Avery Johnson threw for 227 yards on 21-of-28 passing and rushed for 152 yards and two scores as Kansas State defeated Tulane 31-20 on Saturday.

Kansas State allowed its first offensive touchdown of the season with 7:55 remaining in the first quarter. It marked the first time this season the Wildcats have trailed.

K-State then reeled off the next 17 points. Following a Luis Rodriguez field goal, the Wildcats pulled ahead on a 1-yard run by Jay Harris. Johnson then scored from the 7-yard line, set up by his career-long, 66-yard run.

“They kind of committed in their defensive structure to take away the run,” said Johnson, who was frustrated that he didn't score on the long run. “When I get long-run opportunities, I've just got to score the score the ball so that we can all go to the sideline and rest.”

The Wildcats have had a 100-yard rusher in each of the first three games, but Saturday was the first time it wasn't a running back who reached the plateau.

“We have so much talent on this team,” Johnson said. “You never know who’s going to get the opportunities. Rodney (Fields) has gone for 100 yards the past two weeks. Joe (Jackson) has been right there with him. It keeps this team so unpredictable; we can beat you on the ground in so many ways. We can beat you through the air in so many ways. I feel like it gives defensive coordinators a lot to have to prepare for on a game week.”

Tulane closed the first-half scoring with a 58-yard field goal by Cooper Helmke.

“I thought the difference in the game was the explosive plays,” said Tulane coach Will Hall said. "Their ability to make them and our inability to make a lot of explosive plays. We had our opportunities.

Johnson averaged 12.7 yards per carry.

“Avery is a spectacular player,” Kansas State coach Collin Klein said. “He’s a spectacular competitor, and he’s getting better. He’s embracing that process. Numbers like that, production like that, that doesn’t hurt us. I think that’s a great thing for our program.”

The Wildcats took the second-half kickoff 75 yards over eight minutes to grab a 24-10 lead on a 1-yard run by Harris and the lead was never back to single-digits.

Jaron Tibbs made nine catches for 114 yards to lead K-State (3-0). Both of Harris' rushes were for touchdowns.

Kadin Semonza was 13 of 26 for 165 yards and a touchdown for Tulane (1-2), which was held to 260 total yards.

The takeaway

Tulane: Despite the loss, Tulane still owns the most road victories (19) in FBS since the start of 2022.

Kansas State: The Wildcats continue to lean on a balanced offensive attack. They gained 227 yards through the air and 201 on the ground.

Up next

Tulane: Completes its non-conference season with a home game against Southern Mississippi next Saturday.

Kansas State: Opens Big 12 play at Cincinnati next Saturday.

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