ORLANDO, Fla. – Avery Johnson threw two touchdowns and ran for one, DJ Giddens rushed for 151 yards and scored two scores, 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 game-ending, 15-play, 72-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter made the season for coach Chris Klieman's Wildcats (9-4).
Quarterback Brennan Armstrong rushed for 121 yards and a touchdown and threw for 164 yards in his final game for the Wolfpack (9-4), which failed to win 10 games for the second time in program history.
Giddens had a 37-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter, his only catch of the game, and ran for a 4-yard touchdown reception early in the second quarter, making it 14-0.
Kansas State led 21-7 late in the second quarter and 21-10 at halftime, but NC State rallied in the third quarter, thanks in part to some trickery. Trent Pennix ran a fake punt for a 60-yard touchdown with 1:50 left. But the 2-point attempt failed and the Wildcats were able to maintain their lead at 21:19.
Johnson and Giddens took over from there. Giddens had six carries for 25 yards on a drive that lasted 7:24 and ended with Johnson's 8-yard touchdown pass to Jayce Brown with 2:48 left.
Jacob Parrish intercepted Armstrong on NC State's next play from scrimmage.
Fake it until you make it
Both teams performed successful fake punts.
Kansas State punter Jack Blumer scored a 30-yard gain in the second quarter that set up Giddens' rushing touchdown.
NC State had its biggest play on a direct snap to Pennix, a tight end, from punt formation, which he completed to the end zone.
Elusive two-digit numbers
NC State's only 10-win season came in 2002, when it went 11-2 with Phillip Rivers at quarterback.
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NC State must replace Armstrong, a fifth-year senior who transferred from Virginia for his final season, and Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year Payton Wilson.
Kansas State can look forward to having both Johnson and Giddens back in 2024.
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AP College Football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football