GLENDALE, Ariz. — Blazing speed and early fireworks helped propel the fifth-ranked Oregon Ducks to a 35-17 victory over the seventh-ranked Kansas State Wildcats on Thursday night in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium.
Kansas State (11-2, 8-1 Big 12) faced an uphill climb early, as Oregon sophomore running back De’Anthony Thomas returned the game’s opening kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown. It was 8-0 after the Ducks unleashed their signature first score two-point conversion.
Oregon (12-1, 8-1 Pac-12) piled it on late in the first quarter, with a 23-yard TD pass from freshman quarterback Marcus Mariota to Thomas. The Ducks took a 15-0 lead into the second quarter.
The Wildcats responded with a 58-yd TD drive. A six-yard TD run by senior QB Collin Klein cut the deficit to 15-7 with 13:26 to play in the second quarter. Their next drive resulted in a 25-yd field goal by senior kicker Anthony Cantele to narrow the gap to 15-10.
Disaster struck for K-State when a 10-point swing occurred with about a minute left in the first half. Cantele’s 40-yd FG attempt sailed wide left, and the Ducks followed with a 77-yd TD drive that spanned :46 seconds. The Ducks led 22-10 at halftime.
The Ducks’ first two second half possessions resulted in 10 more points. A 33-yd FG and a two-yard rushing TD by Mariota extended their lead to 32-10 with 8:03 to play in the third quarter.
The Cats opened up the fourth quarter with a 72-yd TD drive, cutting the lead to 32-17 on a 10-yd TD pass from Klein to junior RB John Hubert with 11:35 left to play.
The rally didn’t go any further, as Oregon senior RB Kenjon Barner chewed up the clock down the stretch. Barner gained four first downs on a 57-yd drive that spanned 5:11, setting up a 24-yd FG by junior kicker Alejandro Maldonado to put the game on ice.
It was an uncharacteristic night for K-State, as they surrendered 57 yards on seven penalties, and finished minus two in the turnover department. The Ducks outgained the Wildcats in total yards 384-283.
This is K-State’s fifth straight bowl loss since 2002, including a loss to the Ohio State Buckeyes in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl, their only other BCS Bowl appearance.