MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Conner Weigman and tight end Patrick Overmyer connected for four touchdown passes and No. 22 Houston beat Kansas State 35-16 on Saturday.
Weigman was 19 of 30 for 242 yards for Houston (5-1, 2-1 Big 12).
Avery Johnson was 16 of 30 for 182 yards and two touchdowns with an interception for Kansas State (3-2, 0-2).
After forcing a punt on the Wildcats' opening possession of the second half, Houston responded with a 76-yard drive to take a 28-3 lead. Weigman found Overmyer for an 8-yard touchdown strike, the longest of the four scoring plays.
K-State used a 13-yard touchdown pass from Johnson to Garrett Oakley to draw to 28-9. But Weigman then found Overmyer again for a 2-yard strike.
Johnson hit Jaron Tibbs for a 6-yard touchdown pass to close the scoring.
Houston took the opening kickoff and went 75 yards in 12 plays to take a 7-0 lead on a 1-yard pass from Weigman to Overmyer. After Luis Rodriguez hit a 29-yard field goal to trim the deficit to 7-3, the Cougars used another 12-play, 75-yard drive to open a double-digit lead. Weigman hit Overmyer with a 2-yard TD pass.
Houston stretched it to 21-3 with 3:17 left in the first half on a 13-yard run by Makhi Hughes.
Houston: The Cougars came into the game third in FBS in first downs per game at 27.2, going against K-State's fifth-best, first-down defense. Houston had 26 first downs, including 16 in the first half.
Kansas State: The Wildcats' passing defense let them down. They came into the game leading the nation with 106.3 yards allowed per game but gave up more than that before halftime.
Houston: Hosts No. 18 Oklahoma State next Saturday.
Kansas State: Hosts Kansas next Saturday.
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