Adrian Martinez did just enough to lift No. 20 Kansas State to a 10-9 victory over host Iowa State on Saturday night in Ames, Iowa.

Martinez was 12-for-19 passing for 246 yards and a touchdown, and he converted a key first down with a 9-yard run to help the Wildcats run out the clock.

K-State had not won in Ames since 2016.

Iowa State (3-3, 0-3 Big 12) was focused on stopping the K-State rushing offense. The Wildcats came into the game averaging 267.2 yards per game, best in the Big 12 and fourth in the nation. The Wildcats managed just 131 yards on 38 carries (3.4 yards per carry).

K-State All-American running back Deuce Vaughn was held to 23 yards rushing on 10 carries for the Wildcats (5-1, 3-0), though he was limited with a leg injury.

Martinez hit Phillip Brooks for an 81-yard touchdown on a spectacular play to open the scoring. Martinez escaped a sack, then found Brooks over the middle. Brooks broke a tackle near midfield and raced untouched into the end zone.

Iowa State answered with a 35-yard field goal by Jace Gilbert, the freshman kicker who missed three field goals in last week’s 14-11 loss to Kansas. After the next ISU drive stalled, Gilbert connected on a 44-yarder.

K-State appeared to be on the verge of extending the lead in the second quarter when Martinez hit Malik Knowles with a pass that gained 30 yards. Knowles broke a tackle and got inside the 1-yard line, but Anthony Johnson punched it out and Iowa State recovered it in the end zone.

Kansas State was denied again in the third quarter. After gaining 63 yards on 11 plays, the Wildcats’ Chris Tennant missed a 33-yard field goal.

Gilbert then connected on his third field goal, this one from 43 yards, to give Iowa State a 9-7 lead late in the third quarter.

Tennant connected on a 30-yard field goal with 7:14 remaining to put the Wildcats back in front, 10-9.

Iowa State appeared to be driving toward a go-ahead score, but Xavier Hutchinson dropped a first-down catch on fourth down with 2:29 left..

–Field Level Media