TCU slows down K-State in storm-delayed game

Manhattan, Kan. (westernkansasnews.com)–With the first of two straight top 10 teams coming to Manhattan, there was no question that Kansas State really needed a big game after a double overtime loss at Texas. Unfortunately for the Wildcats, that big game didn’t happen. TCU was able to old the Wildcats out of the end zone in a 26-6 win in a game that ended seven hours later than it was originally scheduled to start thanks to the storm delays.

The game was scheduled to kick off at 11 am. After a couple delays, the game would have an 11:45 kickoff, but lightning four minutes beforehand delayed the game, which ended up starting at 2 pm.

TCU would score the first 13 points of the game, with 10 of them coming in the opening quarter. On their second series, Kenny Hill would rush in from seven yards out on third and goal with 3:54 remaining in the first quarter to give the Horned Frogs the early 7-0 lead after the Jonathan Song PAT. Song would knock in a 39-yard field goal on the next possession to give No. 6 TCU a 10-0 lead.

In the second quarter, both teams traded field goals. The Horned Frogs got their second Jonathon Song field goal from 22 yards out with 5:44 left in the half to extend their lead to 13-0. Kansas State would finally get on the board late in the first half. Coming off a fumble by TCU, the Wildcats had to settle for a field goal from 38 yards out by Matthew McCrane to get to within 13-3.

Texas Christian would drive down their field on a 13-play, 75-yard drive was capped off by a one-yard Sewo Olonilua touchdown run with 10:01 left in the third quarter to extend the lead to 20-3 that included the Song PAT. K-State would come back down the field, and settle for their second McCrane field goal with 8:21 left in the third quarter. This one was from 51 yards out to cut the deficit to 20-6.

The fourth quarter would see a 53-minute delay with a little under 13 minutes left. After play resumed, the Wildcats were unable to complete a drive that ended at their own 29. TCU would use their next drive to finish the game off. With 8:44 left Olonilua would score from a yard out to put the Horned Frogs up 26-6. The extra point kick would fail. Both teams would trade possessions twice to finish up the game.

TCU would end up with 395 yards of offense, with 297 through the air. Kenny Hill went 27-37 for 207. KaVonte Turpin finished with five receptions for 70 yards. Kyle Hicks led the ground game with 58 yards on 16 carries, as the Horned Frogs were held to a season-low 98 yards on the ground.

For Kansas State, Hays High product Alex Delton struggled in his first career start, started for the injured Jesse Ertz. Delton went 11-29 passing for 146 yards, and was also the teams leading rushing with 39 yards on 19 carries. Byron Pringle had three receptions for 80 yards. The Wildcats finished with only 216 yards of offense.

Kansas State is now 3-3 overall, 1-2 in Big 12 play, and will host Oklahoma Saturday afternoon at 3 pm. The Sooners held off Texas 29-24 to improve to 5-1 overall, and 2-1 in conference play. TCU is in sole possession of first place in the conference with a 3-0 league record and a 6-0 overall record. The Horned Frogs will host Kansas Saturday night at 7 pm, who was shut out at Iowa State 45-0.

Head Coach Bill Snyder