No. 15 K-State stunned at Missouri by last-second field goal

And while the sting and shock of that final play resounded in postgame, the miscues and mistakes throughout the game on both sides of the ball will haunt K-State (2-1) players and coaches for the foreseeable future.

“It was a game of missed opportunities,” head coach Chris Klieman said. “We probably missed some plays on offense that we’d like to have back. We struggled with the explosive play on defense, and we shut it down for a while, and it came back to bite us again.”

For the Wildcats, the loss is their first on the road since falling to national runner-up TCU last season in Fort Worth. It’s their first loss to the Tigers (3-0) since 2010, and the closest game between the two teams since 1994, when K-State won by three.

“That’s a tough loss,” senior center Hayden Gillum said. “The guys feel that one. Ultimately, they just made more plays, and you can look back at the whole game and there’s always stuff that you wish you could have done better.”

The Wildcats struck first, scoring on their opening drive on a 10-yard pass from Howard to Phillip Brooks that was tipped in the end zone by Missouri defender.

Howard, who statistically had another solid day, ended the game with 270 yards on 25-of-39 passing with three touchdowns and an interception. The 25 receptions in a game were a new career high for the senior.

He suffered an lower body injury in the game, which limited his mobility, especially in the second half.

“I mean, it hurt, but I was fine,” Howard said. “I was good enough to play, so that’s all that matters.”

Freshman Avery Johnson also got several snaps under center and ran the ball four times for 24 yards.

K-State’s next two touchdowns both went to junior tight end Ben Sinnott, the first a 3-yard catch near the start of the second quarter following a missed Missouri 53-yard field goal. The second was another 3-yard catch, this one on a jump pass late in the third quarter, giving K-State its first lead since around the seven-minute mark of the second period.

“I think we had our moments,” Sinnott said. “I think we took advantage of opportunities when they were there. We extended plays, and I think I think we communicated well.”

Sinnott ended the day as the Wildcats’ top receiver, pulling in five passes for 78 yards.

Missouri immediately answered back after K-State’s first TD, scoring on a 47-yard pass from quarterback Brady Cook to wide receiver Luther Burden III, who had the Wildcats beat by 10 yards on a play where K-State’s secondary seemed lost.

Burden scored again midway through the fourth quarter on a screen pass from Cook, which he took 26 yards to the end zone, giving Missouri a 27-24 lead with a little more than eight minutes to play.

The former five-star pass catcher was a problem for K-State for much of the game, putting up 114 yards and two touchdowns on seven catches.