Manhattan ? When Ron Prince benched seniors to start freshmen, critics groused that Kansas State’s first-year coach was already giving up on this season and looking toward next year.

The moves paid off a little quicker than that.

Quarterback Josh Freeman and running back Leon Patton, two of five freshmen starting on offense Saturday, didn’t look much like first-time starters in Saturday’s 31-27 comeback victory over Oklahoma State.

Patton ran for 151 yards and one touchdown and returned a kickoff 95 yards for another score, and Freeman got rolling late and ran 21 yards for the game-winning touchdown with 1:11 left.

But if Prince was feeling vindicated, after being second-guessed in columns and message boards all week, he didn’t show it.

“There’s no last laugh,” he said. “This is just one game in the season. Much to many of your chagrin, I don’t read anything you write – so I don’t have anything to hold against you.”

Kansas State wide receiver Jordy Nelson (27) celebrates with teammates after the Wildcats' comeback victory against Oklahoma State. KSU scored two touchdowns in the final 3:04 to rally for a 31-27 victory Saturday at Bill Snyder Family Stadium in Manhattan.

Freeman, the first freshman to start for the Wildcats since Duane Howard in 1976, was sacked four times and had just six passing attempts going into the fourth quarter.

But in the last four minutes, he was spectacular.

His 43-yard completion to Jermaine Moreira set up Patton’s one-yard TD run with 3:04 left.

That score, which broke a seven-quarter stretch without an offensive touchdown, got the Wildcats within 27-24. Oklahoma State couldn’t muster a clock-killing drive in response, and Freeman needed only three plays to give Kansas State the lead.

He threw to Daniel Gonzalez for 20 yards and Yamon Figurs for 17, then went the rest of the way on his own.

“Adrenaline took over, and I just took off,” said Freeman, who finished the day 10-for-15 for 177 yards and did not throw an interception. “It was a designed pass, and the line did a great job of opening up the middle of the field for me. The pressure came, the line spread it out, and I just ran. Moreira made a great block.”

Safety Marcus Watts also had a huge game for the Wildcats (4-2, 1-1 Big 12), who trailed 27-17 with just over three minutes left before coming back to beat the Cowboys (3-2, 0-1) for the sixth straight time in Manhattan and the 10th time in their last 11 meetings.