MANHATTAN — One week removed from one of the best goal-line stands in school history to turn back Miami 28-24, Kansas State’s encore performance against No. 15 Baylor was also one for the ages.
So, Arthur Brown, author of a late interception of Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III — setting up a 31-yard field goal by Anthony Cantele with 2:16 remaining for a 36-35 upset victory — which one ranks better?
“I was asked that in the locker room by one of my teammates,” said Brown, a 6-foot-1, 223-pound junior. “I can’t pick and choose. I’ll take them all, and it was a great win for us, something we can build on as a team.”
It was the first pick that the supremely talented Griffin has thrown this season — this coming for a quarterback that can put up over 400 yards through the air on any given night, one who had completed 70 of 82 passes for 962 yards and no interceptions entering Saturday’s game.
“I didn’t see the quarterback during that play,” said Brown of his pick with 5:36 left, setting up Cantele’s third field goal of the game. “It was like a God-given catch, and I was at the right place at the right time.
“I just happened to catch the ball … finally catch the ball.”
Brown, a transfer from Miami and the unquestioned leader of Kansas State’s defense, momentarily bobbled the ball before making his pick.
That set the stage for Cantele, a junior product from Wichita Kapaun-Mt. Carmel.
Cantele said he had never attempted a game-winning field goal during his prep career. Not before he did it before 49,399 fans at Bill Snyder Family Stadium, sending the Kansas State faithful into delirium.
“In four years of high school, I never once had one where our team needed it right then and there,” Cantele said. “It’s my first time, so it’s pretty exciting.”
Adding to the difficulty, Cantele also said that he kicked holder Ryan Doerr’s hand on his game-winning boot. Yet he still split the uprights.
“Honestly, it’s one of those things where you have to do the same thing over and over,” Cantele said. “On the hold, I think I got a little excited and went a little fast, faster than what we wanted.
“But it went in. That’s all I care about.”
By knocking off the Bears, should Kansas State land in national rankings?
“Absolutely,” Cantele said. “We just beat the No. 15 team in the country with the No. 1 player in the country on their team (Griffin).
“Honestly, we’re a Top-20 team, easily.”