Auburn running back Corey Grant (20) tries to get past Kansas State defensive back Travis Green (2) during their game Thursday, Sept. 18, 2014, in Manhattan, Kan.MANHATTAN, Kan. – Gus Malzahn squeezed into the ramshackle shed used for postgame news conferences at Kansas State, gripped both sides of the makeshift podium and exhaled deeply.
Fifth-ranked Auburn had just squeezed out a 20-14 victory over the No. 20 Wildcats, and its coach was asked whether it was the kind of nip-and-tuck nonconference game that he likes to play.
“After they’re over and you win, yeah,” Malzahn said. “You do.”
Aubun’s vaunted ground game held in check all night, the Tigers finally pulled away when they went to the air. Nick Marshall threw for 231 yards and two touchdowns, and Auburn forced a trio of turnovers while capitalizing on three missed field goals by the Wildcats.
Still, the game wasn’t over until Marshall found D’haquille Williams running wide open on third-and-9 at the Auburn 37. The completion with 2:06 remaining went for 39 yards, a first down that effectively ended the game, and gave the Tigers (3-0) their first nonconference road win over a ranked team since knocking off Florida State in 1984.