Here are Kansas State football's grades from a disappointing 30-27 loss to Missouri

COLUMBIA, Mo. — Kansas State football did enough good things to beat Missouri on Saturday in a tight back-and-forth game at Faurot Field. Then again, the Wildcats made more than enough mistakes to lose it as well.

In the end, Missouri made the one play that counted, a 61-yard Harrison Mevis walk-off field goal as time expired, to hand the No. 15-ranked Wildcats their first loss.

Here is how the Wildcats (2-1) graded out following a heart-wrenching 30-27 loss to the Tigers (3-0).

Offense: Inconsistency and turnover prove costly

Kansas State put up 408 yards of total offense and became the first team to rush for more than 100 yards (137) against Missouri's No. 7-ranked run defense. But in a game that went down to the wire, a miscommunication near the goal line that forced the Wildcats to settle for a tying field goal and a first-period interception that led to a Tiger field goal proved to be costly.

Grade: B-

Defense: Explosive plays blow up in K-State's face

Throw out Missouri's explosive plays and it would have been a stellar performance for K-State, which to its credit held Missouri to 74 yards rushing. Unfortunately for the Wildcats, 36 of the rushing yards (with a facemask penalty tacked on) came on one play that helped set up a go-ahead touchdown, and the Tigers had pass plays to five different receivers that went for over 20 yards, with three of them for 40-plus.

Grade: C-

Special teams: A solid day for kickers and returners

Special teams definitely were a bright spot for the Wildcats, with Phillip Brooks averaging 15 1/2 yards on two punt returns, including one that set up a field goal, and returning his only kickoff 36 yards. Kicker Chris Tennant was 2 of 3 on field goals, with his miss from 55 yards into the wind, and punter Jack Blumer did not have a single punt returned while pinning the Tigers inside the 20 twice.

Grade: A

Coaching: Confusion and miscommunication an issue

Kansas State's defense broke down time and again in the first half, leaving receivers uncovered, and a delay of game penalty on third-and-goal at the Missouri 3-yard line in the fourth quarter when the play came in too late, forced the Wildcats to settle for a field goal. And even if the winning field goal had missed, Missouri would have had another shot since the Wildcats had two players with No. 8 jerseys on the field.

Grade: D

Overall grade: C-

Related: Kansas State football at Missouri: Scouting report, prediction

Related: Kansas State football takes road warrior mentality into nonconference test at Missouri

Arne Green is based in Salina and covers Kansas State University sports for the Gannett network. He can be reached at agreen@gannett.com or on Twitter at @arnegreen.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas State football report card following 30-27 loss to Missouri