By the Associated Press:
It took Oklahoma quarterback Spencer Rattler’s best performance of the season, a big game on the ground from Kennedy Brooks and some big plays on defense for the sixth-ranked Sooners to finally beat Kansas State.
Rattler finished with 243 yards passing and two touchdowns Saturday, Brooks ran for 91 yards and a score in a big bounce-back game, and the Sooners recovered an onside kick with just over a minute left to wrap up a 37-31 victory that ended a maddening two-game losing streak to the Wildcats.
“You have to find ways to win. We’ve won in several different ways early in the season,” said Sooners coach Lincoln Riley, whose team is nonetheless 5-0 and 2-0 in the Big 12. “I think that bodes well because this team has some grit in them.”
More than one chant from the student section was R-rated.
Skylar Thompson returned from a knee injury to throw for 320 yards and three scores for the Wildcats (3-2, 0-2). Deuce Vaughn had 51 yards rushing to go with 10 catches for 104 yards and a score, and Malik Knowles returned a kick 93 yards for a touchdown with 1:20 remaining for the final margin.
“We had a chance to win, had a number of opportunities,” Kansas State coach Chris Klieman said. “We played for four quarters, played with great passion, and I told the guys, ‘We’re a good team. We just have to believe we’re a good team.’”
Kansas State gets next week off before playing Iowa State on Oct. 16.
