Mack scores 4 TDs, Arizona State shakes off QB injury to beat Kansas State 28-17

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Cardae Mack ran for 159 yards and four touchdowns to lead Arizona State to a 28-17 victory over Kansas State on Saturday.

Mack, a freshman who carried 26 times, scored on a 12-yard run on the first play of the fourth quarter to put the Sun Devils ahead to stay, then scored from 11 yards on a direct snap to make it 28-17 with 6:23 remaining.

Jake Fette guided the Sun Devils (4-3, 2-2 Big 12) on the two scoring drives late in the game. Fette, a freshman seeing his first significant game action, was Arizona State’s third quarterback of the game, replacing an injured Mikey Keene and an ineffective Cutter Boley.

“We felt like there was a lull,” Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham said. “We wanted some energy.”

Another freshman, Julian Hugo, sacked Wildcats quarterback Jacob Knuth on fourth down to stop a late threat.

“We got a lot of guys here who are making an impact early,” Dillingham said.

“We did the things that you can’t do when you want to win on the road," Kansas State coach Collin Klein said. "Lost the battle at the line of scrimmage on both sides and that was the difference in the game. We had our chances.”

Knuth threw a touchdown pass and ran for another for Kansas State (4-3, 1-3). Knuth, a fifth-year senior, was making his first career start for the Wildcats with Avery Johnson sidelined with an upper-body injury. He was 26 of 41 for 194 yards passing.

“I was very proud of Jacob Knuth," Klein said.

Knuth assessed his performance as “not good enough. We didn’t get the victory.” But he also said, “It was a moment I’ve been waiting a long time for. It meant a lot to me.”

Keene also got the nod for the first time for Arizona State, and connected with Reed Harris for 51 yards on its first play. Harris finished with six catches for 147 yards.

Keene threw for 160 yards in the first half before leaving with an apparent leg injury. Keene was hurt in the final minute of the first half when Kansas State’s Darien Whitaker Jr. rolled into him after a completed pass, and the senior was helped off the field.

Boley, who had started the Sun Devils’ previous six games before being benched last week at Texas Tech, replaced Keene, but was just 1 of 5 for seven yards and was booed by the home crowd.

Fette had attempted just two passes this season before Saturday, but helped the Sun Devils rally. He was 3 of 6 for 45 yards.

Kansas State: The Wildcats missed Johnson’s versatility and experience though Knuth performed creditably and didn't turn the ball over.

Arizona State: After allowing 50-plus points in the last two Big 12 games, the Sun Devils’ defense held Kansas State to 84 yards rushing.

Dillingham said after the game that Fette will start if Keene is unable to play.

Kansas State: At Colorado on Saturday.

Arizona State: At No. 2 BYU on Saturday.

___

Sign up for Top 25 poll alerts here, visit the Top 25 here and see AP’s full college football coverage here