Thursday, January 3, 2013 08:30 PM (ET)

Recap: Oregon 35, Kansas State 17

SportsDirect Inc. staff
Jan 4, 2013
12.00
No. 3 Oregon 35, No. 6 Kansas State 17:
Marcus Mariota accounted for three touchdowns and De’Anthony Thomas scored twice as the Ducks dispatched the Wildcats in the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Ariz.

Thomas returned the opening kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown and caught a 23-yard scoring pass from Mariota just over 11 minutes later as Oregon (12-1) scored the first 15 points and never trailed while winning what might be Chip Kelly’s final game as head coach.

Collin Klein rushed for one touchdown and passed for another for Kansas State (11-2) but the third-place finisher in the Heisman Trophy balloting was bottled up much of the night by the Ducks’ defense. Klein was 17-of-32 for 151 yards and two interceptions and rushed for 30 yards on 13 attempts.

Klein’s 6-yard run and Anthony Cantele’s 25-yard field goal pulled the Wildcats within 15-10 with 5:21 left in the first half. But a five-play, 77-yard drive in the final minute of the half, capped by Mariota’s 24-yard pass to Kenjon Barner with 14 seconds left, gave Oregon a 12-point halftime lead. Barner rushed for 143 yards.

Mariota scored on a 2-yard run with 8:03 left in the third quarter, and Oregon extended the lead with a rare one-point safety. After the extra-point attempt was blocked, Kansas State’s Ryan Mueller picked the ball up and ran into the end zone before tossing a lateral to Allen Chapman, who was tackled for the single point.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Mariota was 12-of-24 or 166 yards and also rushed for 62 yards on eight carries. … Kansas State, which was outgained 384-283, has lost five consecutive bowl games dating back to the 2002 Holiday Bowl. … Kelly is expected to interview for several NFL coaching vacancies in the coming days.
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