BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Avery Johnson rebounded from throwing a late interception by finding Jayce Brown for a 50-yard touchdown with 2:14 remaining as No. 18 Kansas State escaped with a 31-28 win over Colorado on Saturday night.
The dual-threat quarterback for the Wildcats (5-1, 2-1 Big 12) finished with a rushing score and two passing TDs, both to Brown.
Leading 21-7 in the third quarter, the Wildcats saw the Buffaloes (4-2, 2-1) steadily chip away. Colorado took the lead when Shedeur Sanders threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to LaJohntay Wester with 3:12 left.
The score was set up when Johnson’s tipped pass resulted in a 59-yard interception return by cornerback Colton Hood, who was filling in after two-way star Travis Hunter left the game in the first half with an apparent shoulder injury.
Johnson needed only three plays to help Kansas State retake the lead. The Wildcats defense stopped the Buffaloes on downs to cement the win.
“Ultimately you’ve just got to make plays in big moments,” Johnson said. “Ultimately, that’s what our guys did.”
It was nearly the second straight magical comeback at Folsom Field for the Buffaloes. They beat Baylor on Sept. 21 in overtime after tying it up on a Hail Mary pass with no time left in regulation.
“Sometimes when you lose in life, you get your butt kicked and you've just got to take. Sometimes you lose, you say, ‘Dang, we should’ve won that. We should've had that,'” Colorado coach Deion Sanders said. “That was one of those types of games. That's not taking anything away from our opponents because they played their butts off.”
DJ Giddens finished with 182 yards to become the first tailback this season to break 100 against the Buffaloes. Kansas State outgained Colorado 185 to minus-29 on the ground.
For Wildcats tailback Dylan Edwards, it was a successful return to Folsom Field with a 1-yard TD run. He was a true freshman with the Buffaloes last season before transferring to Kansas State.
The Buffaloes' three-game winning streak came to a halt. More concerning, the health of Hunter, who appeared to hurt his shoulder catching a Shedeur Sanders pass and running full speed into safety Daniel Cobbs in the second quarter. The team also lost receivers Jimmy Horn Jr., Omarion Miller and Terrell Timmons Jr. to injuries.
Deion Sanders had no immediate updates.
Hunter is a Heisman hopeful for his play as a cornerback and receiver. Before leaving, he showed off his blocking skills by picking a defender and allowing Wester to score on a 25-yard pass.
Prior to the interception and the comeback, Johnson was having all sorts of fun on the field. He broke out the “Deion Shuffle” after a score. The cameras also caught Johnson taking a selfie with a fan in the stands who handed him their phone as he rode a stationary bike.
Johnson briefly went to the locker room in the third quarter holding his left side but returned to throw a TD pass to make it 21-7.
Shedeur Sanders finished 34 of 40 for 388 yards and three scores. He completed a school-best 16 straight passes and nearly had a 17th in a row but Will Sheppard dropped a pass in his hands. Soon after, Sheppard made up for it with a difficult 7-yard TD reception to make it 21-14.
“Yeah, we made a statement — that we lost,” the Colorado QB said.
The Takeaway
Kansas State: Johnson and the Wildcats didn't panic after losing the lead and found a way to respond. “Some of the things that happened will help us down the road,” coach Chris Klieman said.
Colorado: Safety Shilo Sanders made his return after missing three games with a forearm injury. “I thought he was rusty," his father/coach said.
Celebrity sightings
Longtime NBA standout Carmelo Anthony was on the sideline wearing a Colorado Avalanche jersey. Kevin Durant showed up near Colorado's bench, too. The Phoenix Suns play the Denver Nuggets in a preseason game Sunday night.
Also on hand was Nuggets guard Russell Westbrook.
Up next
Kansas State: At West Virginia next Saturday.
Colorado: At Arizona on Saturday.