Kansas State tight end Garrett Oakley (86) and offensive lineman Cooper Beebe (50) signal "touchdown" as teammate running back DJ Giddens scores against North Carolina State during the first half of the Pop-Tarts Bowl NCAA college football game, Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023, in Orlando, Fla. Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson (2) looks for a receiver as he scrambles from the pocket during the first half of the Pop-Tarts Bowl NCAA college football game against North Carolina State, Thursday, Dec. 28, 2023, in Orlando, Fla. Kansas State running back DJ Giddens...

ORLANDO, Fla. — Kansas State football saved all its second-half offense for one huge drive. After North Carolina State trimmed an 11-point deficit to two points in the third quarter, the Wildcats came up with a 15-play, 72-yard drive that took nearly 7 1/2 minutes off the clock Thursday night to ice the game with 2:48 left on the way to a 28-19 Pop-Tarts Bowl victory at Camping World Stadium. DJ Giddens converted a fourth down from the Wolfpack, 21-yard line and Avery Johnson hit Jayce Brown for the 11-yard...

ORLANDO, Fla. — Kansas State capitalized on a big first half and held off a comeback to get a 28-19 win over North Carolina State in the Pop-Tarts Bowl. It was KSU’s first bowl game in the state of Florida. The Wildcats raced to a 21-7 lead thanks to two touchdowns from true freshman quarterback Avery Johnson in his first start. The Wolfpack charged back with 12 unanswered points but a failed two-point conversion helped the Wildcats keep a 21-19 lead late in the third quarter. In the fourth quarter,...

ORLANDO, FL. (WIBW) - Kansas State football took down North Carolina State 28-19 in the Pop-Tarts Bowl in Orlando, FL on Thursday night. The ‘Cats stormed out to an early lead, as true freshman Avery Johnson threw a 37-yard touchdown pass to Junction City native DJ Giddens less than three minutes into the game. Giddens then added to that lead midway through the second quarter, pushing in a 4-yard score with him from his offensive line to make it a 14-0 lead. The Wolfpack responded a few minutes later, with...

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Avery Johnson threw for two touchdowns and ran for one, DJ Giddens rushed for 151 yards and a score, and Kansas State beat No. 19 North Carolina State 28-19 in the Pop-Tarts Bowl on Thursday night. Johnson, a freshman making his first start after Will Howard entered the transfer portal, threw for 178 yards, rushed for 71 and directed a 15-play, 72-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter that put the game away and closed out a solid season for coach Chris Klieman’s Wildcats (9-4). Quarterback...