The 17th-ranked Kansas State Wildcats overcame a sluggish start to rally past the Tulane Green Wave 31-24 in their first road game of the season. Quarterback Adrian Martinez led the charge with 234 passing yards and two touchdowns, while running back Deuce Vaughn rushed for 100 yards and a score.
Fresh off an impressive home victory over Missouri, the Kansas State Wildcats hit the road for their first true test of the season against the Tulane Green Wave. Despite being ranked 17th in the nation, the Wildcats faced a tough challenge against a Tulane squad that had shown grit and determination in its opening win over UMass.
Kansas State Wildcats Rally for Impressive Road Victory Over Tulane
The first half was a tale of two halves for Kansas State. The Wildcats scored on their opening drive with a field goal, but Tulane responded with a touchdown to take an early lead. Kansas State's offense struggled to find its footing, while Tulane's defense held the Wildcats in check.
However, the tide began to shift in the second half. Kansas State's defense stepped up, forcing Tulane into multiple three-and-outs. Meanwhile, the Wildcats' offense found its groove, led by Martinez's accurate passing and Vaughn's elusive running.
Martinez connected with wide receiver Kade Warner for a 43-yard touchdown pass to tie the game in the third quarter. The Wildcats then took the lead for good with a Vaughn touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Despite Tulane's late rally, Kansas State held on to secure a hard-fought 31-24 victory.
Martinez was the key cog in Kansas State's offense, completing 19 of 29 passes for 234 yards and two touchdowns. Vaughn complemented Martinez's passing with a solid performance on the ground, rushing for 100 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries.
The victory was a significant one for Kansas State, as it marked the team's first road win in a Power Five conference since 2019. The Wildcats will look to build on this momentum when they host South Dakota on Saturday, September 17th.
Meanwhile, Tulane will face another tough test when they travel to Navy for a road game on Saturday, September 17th. The Green Wave will look to bounce back from the disappointing loss and improve to 2-1 on the season.
In the end, Kansas State showed its resilience and determination in rallying for the victory. With Martinez and Vaughn leading the way, the Wildcats have the potential to make a lot of noise in the Big 12 this season.
