Kansas State blows out Missouri

Manhattan, Kan. (westernkansasnews.com)–Kansas State and Missouri faced off on Saturday at Bill Snyder Family Stadium in a game that featured two old Big 8/Big 12 rivals. The game was delayed at kickoff and during the game, due to lightning in the area. When the game was in play, it was the Wildcats who were dominant, as Kansas State defeated the Tigers 40-12 in front of 51,806.

Missouri scored the first points of the game on their opening drive. Harrison Mevis booted in a 49-yard field goal with 9:20 left in the opening period to put them up 3-0. Kansas State responded back with an 11-play, 75 yard drive, as Deuce Vaughn scored from one yard out to put the Cats up 7-3. The drive chewed up nearly five minutes.

In the second quarter, it was all K-State. With 13:29 left before the break, Adrian Martinez scored on a 16-yard run on a quarterback sweep to put the Wildcats up 14-3, after the Chris Tennant PAT. There would be a lightning delay of around an hour. The delay wouldn’t hurt Kansas State. After stopping Mizzou on a three-and-out, Phillip Brooks returned the punt for a 76-yard touchdown with 6:42 left before the half to extend the lead to 20-3, after the extra point was no good.

Missouri scored first in the second half on another field goal by Harrison Melvis from 44 yards out with 10:17 left in the third quarter to pull to within 20-6. While the Wildcats had issues moving the ball early in the second half, they would take advantage of four Tiger interceptions, turning them into 13 points. The first points off turnover came on a 35-yard Chris Tennant field goal with 6:58 left in the third quarter to go up 23-6. He would also kick in a 37-yard field goal with under a minute left in the third period to extend the Wildcat lead to 26-6.

In the fourth quarter, Kansas State put the game away. Deuce Vaughn pushed the lead to 33-6 with 12:52 left with a 24-yard touchdown run, and DJ Giddens had a 28-yard touchdown run with 2:33 left to make it 40-6 Wildcats. Missouri would get an untimed down after a K-State penalty, as they scored the first touchdown against the Wildcat defense on the year, as Cody Shrader scored from a yard out to make the final 40-12.

Kansas State finished with 336 yards of offense, as Adrian Martinez went 9-20 through the air for 101 yards. He added 52 yards on the ground on 13 carries with a touchdown. Deuce Vaughn had 145 yards on 24 carries with two touchdowns, and Phillip Brooks had 57 yards on three receptions. The Wildcats had 235 rushing yards.

Missouri saw Brady Cook go 15-27 for 128 yards with two interceptions. He rushed for 56 yards on 13 carries. Dominic Lovett had three receptions for 66 yards. The Tigers had 222 yards of offense, with 128 yards on the ground.

Kansas State has won two straight in the series.

At 2-0, K-State wraps up non-conference play at home against Tulane on Saturday at 2 pm, while Missouri hosts Abilene Christian on Saturday at 11 am. They are 1-1 on the year.

Coach Chris Kleiman