Recap: Big second half lifts TCU over Kansas State, 38-28

FORTH WORTH, Texas — No. 8-ranked TCU scored the last 28 points of the game and rallied from an 18-point deficit to beat No. 17 Kansas State, 38-28, on Saturday night at Amon G. Carter Stadium.

TCU improve to 7-0 and 4-0 in the Big 12, while K-State fell to 5-2 and 3-1.

K-State played most the of the game without starting quarterback Adrian Martinez, though Will Howard came on and led the Wildcats to four touchdowns.

TCU cashes in on short field to open 38-28 lead

After stopping Kansas State on fourth down at the Wildcat 30-yard line, TCU scored again to go up 38-28 on Kendre Miller's 9-yard touchdown run.

The Horned Frogs now have scored 28 straight points, going back to a drive at the end of the first half.

TCU takes 31-28 lead to the fourth quarter

Kansas State came up with a big fourth-down stop to get the ball back, but TCU still leads 31-18 after three quarters.

TCU regains the lead on long TD strike

Max Duggan hit Quentin Johnston with a 55-yard touchdown pass to give TCU a 31-28 lead with 3:45 left in the third quarter. The play capped a four-play, 74-yard drive after K-State missed a field goal.

The Horned Frogs had a chance to extend the lead late in the period after Jake Rubley, who took Will Howard's place, threw the Wildcats' first interception of the year. But K-State's defense came up with a fourth-down stop to get the ball back.

Will Howard shaken up for Kansas State

Will Howard, who stepped in for an injured Adrian Martinez in the first quarter just went down on a 4-yard third-down carry, leading Kansas State to try a 44-yard field goal into the wind.

Chris Tennant missed the kick and the Wildcats' lead remains 28-24 with five minutes left in the third quarter.

TCU opens second half with long scoring drive

TCU rode the momentum of its touchdown to end the first half by starting the second with another scoring drive.

Kendre Miller scored from the 2 on fourth down, capping a 13-play, 77-yard march that took 6:39 off the clock and trimmed the K-State lead to 28-24 with 8:12 left in the third quarter.

Adrian Martinez visibly limping

Kansas State quarterback Adrian Martinez was visibly limping when he left the locker room for the second half. Martinez had been banged up during the Iowa State game, so there is speculation that he re-aggravated that injury.

TCU gets the ball to start the second half, but most likely Will Howard will be back at quarterback in the second half for the Wildcats.

TCU scores with 20 seconds left in the half, but K-State lead 28-17

TCU put together a 91-yard scoring drive late in the half and cut the Kansas State lead to 28-17 with 20 seconds left.

But the big story so far has been Kansas State junior quarterback Will Howard, who took over when Adrian Martinez left after the Wildcats' first possession. Howard led K-State to touchdowns on his first four drives and completed 9 of 11 passes in the half for 185 yards and two touchdowns, plus ran seven times for 30 yards.

It is the first appearance this year for Howard, who is a redshirt candidate.

Jake Rubley has served as the backup when all that was required was mop-up duty, but coach Chris Klieman said that Howard would be No. 2 if Martinez was unable to answer the call. No word yet on Martinez's ailment.

Kansas State has 303 yards total offense in the half to 266 for TCU.

A number of K-State players made their way to the locker room at various times in the first half. Martinez left after the Wildcats' opening drive and has not return. Deuce Vaughn did come back and had a 47-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.

Defensive players to leave the field at one point or another were Josh Hayes, Julius Brents and Daniel Green.

Deuce Vaughn gets in on the act

Deuce Vaughn, who had not scored a touchdown since the Missouri game, breaks free for a 47-yard score and Kansas State extends its lead over TCU to 28-10 with 8:09 left in the half.

Will Howard now has led the Wildcats to four straight touchdowns. The Wildcats are hoping to redshirt him, which is why he had yet to appear this year until Adrian Martinez went down in the first quarter.

More magic from Will Howard, and K-State leads 21-10

Will Howard continues to weave his magic in place on the injured Adrian Martinez.

His 9-yard touchdown pass to Sammy Wheeler with 10:44 left in the half has K-State up 21-10 and means he has led the Wildcats to scores on all three of his drives. Howard is now 8 of 9 passing for 185 yards and has rushed for 16 more with a touchdown.

Will Howard puts K-State in front, 14-10

After ending the quarter on the TCU 1-yard, Kansas State needed just one play to grab its first lead on a 1-yard Will Howard quarterback sneak with 14:56 left in the half.

TCU leads after one, but K-State knocking on the door

Will Howard has given Kansas State a big lift in place of an injured Adrian Martinez, though TCU leads 10-7 after one quarter. Howard, making his first appearance of the season, completed all five of his passes for 130 yards in the quarter and has the Wildcats on the TCU 1-yard line.

TCU retakes the lead on field goal

No Adrian Martinez, no problem ... so far

Before Kansas State received the kickoff, Adrian Martinez went to the locker room and Will Howard came in at quarterback and promptly led the Wildcats to a tying touchdown.

Howard rushed for 14 yards on his first play and completed a pair of 28-yard passes, the second for a touchdown to Kade Warner with 9:08 left in the first quarter. We're tied at 7-7.

Adrian Martinez is back on the sideline, but no word yet if he's able to play.

Big play gives TCU the lead

TCU strikes first with a 65-yard pass play from Max Duggan to Derius Davis, who outraced the Wildcat secondary.

It was the longest pass play allowed by K-State this season and the Horned Frogs lead 7-0 with 10:42 left in the first half.

Coin flip streak is over for Kansas State

Kansas State's perfect record on coin flips comes to an end as the Wildcats call tails and it's heads.

TCU defers, and the Wildcats will get the ball, heading into the 21 mph wind.

It's warm and windy in Fort Worth

The weather definitely could play a factor tonight with the temperature at a balmy 82 degrees and the wind from the south at 21 miles per hour five minutes before kickoff.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Recap: Kansas State football falls to TCU 38-28 in Big 12 showdown