Kansas State offensive MVP: Avery Johnson

That was the Avery Johnson I think Kansas State fans have been wanting and boy, oh boy did they need it. Johnson was the best player on the field for K-State Saturday night and willed the Wildcats to an ugly win over North Dakota. The junior quarterback threw for a career high 318 yards and three touchdowns, including the game winner to Joe Jackson. Johnson added 43 yards on the ground including a 25 yard rush on the final drive of the game for the offense.

Jayce Brown also had a career high night versus North Dakota. The junior caught 12 passes for 109 yards and a touchdown. Brown also showed some physicality on a catch on the final drive of the game. He also had an incredible six catches for 81 yards in the first quarter alone.

DeVon Rice showed flashes and had the best game of his young career. Rice ran the ball seven times for 40 yards and two touchdowns. He may be a player to watch with Dylan Edwards being out with an ankle injury at running back.

Defensive MVP: Cody Stufflebean

It was another rough game for the Kansas State defense. The third quarter was dominant, but the other three quarters were very uninspiring. Cody Stufflebean had a massive play on a strip sack with North Dakota in Kansas State territory. He was also one of the only players playing consistently hard throughout the game and not making mental errors.

Austin Romaine remains a tackling machine with 10 more Saturday night. He forced a tackle for a loss when K-State really needed one with just over 2 minutes to go in the game down 35-31.

K-State special teams MVP: Sterling Lockett

There was a brief moment where I thought about just putting no one on special teams player of the game. The unit continues to be a disaster and a net negative for most of the game. However, Sterling Lockett was a bright spot for the unit. He was part of Kansas State waking up and setting a tone in the second half with a 22 yard punt return.

Luis Rodriguez made his only field goal of the game as well. Almost every other player on special teams had rough moments including a fumble and penalty to extend a North Dakota drive.