#15 K-State (6-2, 8-3) cruised to a 48-31 victory over West Virginia (2-6, 4-7) in Morgantown thanks to 41 first-half points.

K-State started hot with a quick two-minute 69-yard drive with a long completion to tight end Sammy Wheeler for 33 yards. The touchdown came from running back Deuce Vaughn on a 15-yard run to go up 7-0.

Three plays later, K-State safety Cincere Mason jumped the route and picked off sophomore quarterback Garrett Greene and returned it to the house to quickly go up 14-0 with 11:51 to go in the first quarter.

The Mountaineers were able to settle in and pick apart K-State’s defense on the next drive and hooked up with wide receiver Sam James for his first touchdown to get WVU on the board 14-7.

Howard threw an interception for a touchdown a few plays later, but a delay of game on before a missed PAT kept K-State in front 14-13 with 6:41 left in the opening quarter.

K-State was able to quickly answer on the third play on their next drive with a 49-yard rushing touchdown from running back DJ Giddens to go up 21-13.

After getting a stop on fourth down, the Wildcats were able to get another quick score on a four-play drive. Wide receiver Malik Knowles got a catch-and-run of 26 yards to the one-yard line and Howard punched it in with his legs to make it a two-score game again at 28-13 with 2:17 left in the first quarter.

It wouldn’t stay that score for long as two plays later, James beat K-State’s safeties deep and Greene hit him in stride for a 71-yard touchdown. Kicker Casey Legg, who had not missed a kick all year (field goal or extra point) missed another PAT to keep it at 28-19.

The Wildcats continued their success on offense with another touchdown with Howard throwing a dart to last week’s hero tight end Ben Sinnott to take a 35-19 lead with 13:28 to go in the first half.

West Virginia would then generate the longest drive of the game with an 11-play drive that would give James his third touchdown reception of the day. They went for a two-point attempt but failed making it 35-25.

Kansas State would outdo that drive with a 12-play drive, but they were unable to convert on a 3rd & 8 from the 29-yard line and kicker Ty Zentner was asked to make a 46-yard field goal and he drilled it. The made kick put the Cats up 38-25 with 1:46 remaining in the second quarter.

The Mountaineers had one more chance to score, but K-State’s defense got their second stop of the game with a couple of tackles for loss from defensive ends Brendan Mott and Felix Anudike-Uzomah to force a punt.

The Cats were left with 1:20 to get some points. Howard connected with Sinnott for a 31-yard gain to set them up in field-goal position. After Howard got sacked on third down, Zentner came in to try a 53-yard field goal and he drilled it to give K-State a 41-25 lead at the half.

In the first drive of the second half, West Virginia took their time moving the ball down the field cautiously realizing this was an important drive. They ran 16 plays and moved it 49 yards down the field in 8:35. Anudike-Uzomah committed a personal foul while hitting Greene on a dead ball which gave the Mountaineers a chance to put up some points. However, Mott got a sack for a 12-yard loss and the shaky leg from Legg missed his third kick of the day from 43 yards out.

The next drive for K-State started at the West Virginia 38-yard line after a three-and-out and a short punt. However, they wouldn’t capitalize as they went for it on a 4th & 2 instead of taking the points at the WVU 19-yard line with 13:55 left to play.

Momentum seemed to be on the Mountaineers’ side, but the very next play, cornerback Julius Brents intercepted Greene to give the Cats the ball back at the WVU 40-yard line.

Three plays later, K-State made up for the mistake in their previous drive and got a 43-yard catch and run from Knowles into the endzone to get the first points of the second half. That score put the Wildcats up 48-25 with 12:24 left in the game.

K-State’s defense let up in the next West Virginia drive and let them go down the field on an eight-play 75-yard drive with Greene getting a 13-yard rushing touchdown. They went for two again and were unsuccessful again to make it 48-31.

From there, K-State’s offense was able to run down the clock with the defense getting some stops to give the Cats the victory.

Howard finished his day 19-for-27 with 294 yards and two touchdowns. Vaughn didn’t have his best day but still found the endzone with 22 carries and 67 rushing yards. Giddens was the more efficient ball carrier with 12 carries and 78 yards with his score. Knowles had a nice day with six receptions, 111 receiving yards and a touchdown. Sinnott’s touchdown comes on a day with three total receptions and 85 yards.

Like last week, third down conversions were a big factor in their victory. K-State was 9-for-14 on converting their third downs, whereas West Virginia was just 2-for-10.

The Cats had 437 total yards of offense while giving up 369 yards. West Virginia’s defensive line limited Kansas State to just 3.4 yards per carry, but Howard made up for it with 10.9 yards per pass.

The Wildcat defense was able to make up for their mistakes in the first half with a stellar second half The Mountaineers unable to get anything going in the final two frames, and their only score came in garbage time.

It wasn’t pretty, but K-State is now 6-2 in Big 12 play with a chance to get to the Big 12 Championship game if they can defeat their in-state rivals Kansas, who come off a blowout loss at home to Texas.