K-State football vs. Alabama live score updates: Crimson Tide score again to make it 35-10

NEW ORLEANS — Kansas State fans have traveled to New Orleans in droves to see if their No. 9-ranked Wildcats can knock off No. 5 Alabama in the first-ever meeting between the two teams at Caesars Superdome.

It also is K-State’s first Sugar Bowl appearance, and a victory arguably would be the biggest in program history, or certainly on par with the stunning 2003 upset of No. 1-ranked Oklahoma in the 2003 Big 12 championship game. Beating Alabama also would make it the biggest bowl triumph, eclipsing the 1997 Fiesta Bowl win over Syracuse.

More:Kansas State football not willing to settle for Sugar Bowl participation trophy

Leading K-State is junior quarterback Will Howard, who came on for an injured Adrian Martinez midway through the season and has the Wildcats’ offense humming. And don’t forget All-America running back Deuce Vaughn.

More:How Kansas State football quarterback Will Howard bet on himself, and came out a winner

K-State’s defense will be tasked with slowing down Alabama quarterback Bryce Young, a former Heisman Trophy winner and likely top-five pick in the 2023 NFL draft.

More:Kansas State football’s defense eager but wary of facing Alabama quarterback Bryce Young

More:What time is the K-State football game? How to watch Kansas State vs. Alabama in the Sugar Bowl

Follow along here for live scores and updates throughout the game:

K-State ends 35-point Crimson Tide run

Ty Zentner finally got Kansas State on the board in the second half with a 28-yard field goal, ending a run of 35 straight points by Alabama.

With the field goal, Zentner’s record remain unblemished for the season. The kick capped an eight-play, 54-yard drive for K-State, which included a 36-yard pass from Will Howard to DJ Giddens. Giddens had been on for Deuce Vaughn, who was injured on the first possession of the half.

Vaughn did come back with about eight minutes left in the quarter.

Alabama cashes in on turnover for 35-10 lead

Alabama didn’t take long to capitalize on Brian Branch’s interception, with Jase McClellan scoring on the next play from 17 yards to make it 35-10 with 13 minutes left in the third quarter.

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Onside kick does not pay off for K-State

Kansas State tried and onside kick to start the second half, and after recovering in Wildcat territory, Alabama needed just three plays to cash in with a 32-yard Bryce Young-to-Ja’Corey Brooks touchdown pass.

The Crimson Tide now lead 28-10.

And then the Tide just picked off Will Howard for the second time and have the ball at the K-State 17.

Alabama with 21 straight points to lead 21-10 at the half

After Kansas State comes up short on fourth and goal at the Alabama 2-yard line, the Crimson Tide drive 98 yards in just 51 seconds to go up 20-10 at halftime.

Bryce Young hit Jermaine Burton for the 12-yard touchdown with 10 seconds left in the half. Burton also had a 28-yard catch and tight end Cameron Latu a 22-yarder.

Alabama had 256 total yards in the half, 211 through the air. Young is 10 of 15 for 211 yards and three touchdowns.

For K-State, Will Howard is 11 of 19 for 118 yards and a touchdown with one interception. Deuce Vaughn, who scored the Wildcats’ lone touchdown on an 88-yard run has 15 carries for 108 yards.

K-State gamble comes up empty

Kansas State gambled and converted on two fourth-down plays to get to the Alabama 2-yard line. But on fourth and goal, Will Howard’s pass toward tight end Ben Sinnott was off the mark and the Wildcats turned the ball over on downs with 1:01 left in the half.

Alabama still leads, 14-10, at the 55-second mark.

Alabama flexing its muscles, scores again

Bryce Young is starting to pick Kansas State’s secondary apart and caps a six-play drive with a 1-yard touchdown pass to tight end Cameron Latu for a 14-10 lead with 11:33 left in the half.

The touchdown was set up by a 47-yard completion to Jermaine Burton to the Wildcat 2.

Alabama scores, but K-State up 10-7 after one quarter

Alabama answered Kansas State’s touchdown on a score of its own, a 6-yard pass from Bryce Young to Isaiah Bond with 32 seconds left in the first quarter, cutting the Wildcat lead to 10-7. That’s how the quarter ends.

The big play of the six-play drive was a 60-yard completion from Young to Jahmyr Gibbs.

Deuce gets loose for K-State touchdown

After Alabama pins Kansas State at the 12-yard line with a punt, Kansas State needs just 14 seconds to take it the other way as Deuce Vaughn breaks it up the middle and to the right sideline, then dives into the end zone for a touchdown.

The 88-yard run and Ty Zentner’s extra point puts the Wildcats up 10-0 with 3:26 left in the first quarter.

Kansas State draws first blood with field goal

Kansas State kicker Ty Zentner remains perfect on the season with a 41-yard field goal to give the Wildcats a 3-0 lead with 6:17 left in the first quarter.

The drive covered 38 yards in 11 plays.

Good start for K-State defense

After the Alabama interception, the Crimson Tide went nowhere, with Jahmyr Gibbs running for no gain and Bryce Young throwing two incomplete passes.

K-State takes over at its 39-yard line with 11:02 left in the first quarter.

The Tide with the a big defensive play

Kansas State was off to a promising start with a pair of first downs into Alabama territory, bot on a pass down the right wideline toward Deuce Vaughn, Alabama’s Jordan Battle intercepts Will Howard at the Tide 21-yard line.

And the (coin toss) winner is …

Alabama makes the call on the pregame coin toss and chooses heads. It’s heads, and Alabama defers. Wildcats will receive the opening kick.

Here we go.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas State football vs. Alabama: Live score updates from Sugar Bowl