Kansas State battles in season-ending loss

Kansas State Wildcats 2009 ... Head Coach: Bill Snyder

2009 Schedule
CFN Prediction: 5-7
2009 Record: 6-6

9/5 UMass W 21-17
9/12 at UL Laf L 17-15
9/19 at UCLA L 23-9
9/26 Tenn Tech W 49-7
10/3 Iowa St (KC) W 24-23
10/10 at Tex Tech L 66-14
10/17 Texas A&M W 62-14
10/24 Colorado W 20-6
10/31 at Okla L 42-30
11/7 Kansas W 17-10
11/14 Missouri L 38-12
11/21 at Nebraska L 17-3
11/28 OPEN DATE

2008 Schedule
CFN Prediction: 7-5
2008 Record: 5-7

8/30 North Texas W 45-6
9/6 Montana State W 69-10
9/13 OPEN DATE
9/17 at Louisville L 38-29
9/27 UL Lafayette W 45-27
10/4 Texas Tech L 58-28
10/11 at Tex A&M W 44-30
10/18 at Colorado W 14-13
10/25 Oklahoma  L 58-35
11/1 at Kansas L 52-31
11/8 at Missouri L 41-24
11/15 Nebraska L 56-28
11/22 Iowa State W 38-30
11/29 OPEN DATE

Kansas State Wildcats

Nov. 21
at Nebraska 17 … Kansas State 3
Kansas State scored first on a 44-yard Josh Cherry field goal early in the game, but that was the team’s only big highlight as Nebraska scored 17 unanswered points to win the Big 12 North crown. The Huskers got a 17-yard Mike McNeill touchdown catch in the second quarter and a 14-yard Roy Helu touchdown run in the third, and the defense did the rest with two key takeaways, including a forced fumble as KSU appeared to be on the verge of scoring. Kansas State outgained Nebraska 293 yards to 267, with the Wildcat defense led by LB Ulla Pomele, who made 15 tackles and three tackles for loss.
Player of the Game: Nebraska DT Ndamukong Suh made nine tackles, 1.5 sacks, two tackles for loss and two broken up passes.
Kansas State: Passing: Grant Graham, 11-31, 126 yds, 1 INT
Rushing: Daniel Thomas, 19-99, Receiving: Brandon Banks, 5-48
Nebraska: Passing: Zac Lee, 13-19, 166 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Roy Helu, 26-95, 1 TD, Receiving: Niles Paul, 4-82 
What It All Means: The Wildcat season is over thanks to poor scheduling, with two FCS games early on, but 6-6 is still amazingly respectable in Bill Snyder’s first year back. If you had told the Wildcats before the season that they’d have a chance to play for the Big 12 title in the regular season finale, they’d have taken it in a heartbeat. But there needs to be more offensive firepower, needing more from the passing game, while the defense has to be stronger against the short-to-midrange passes … next year.

Nov. 14
Missouri 38 … at Kansas State 12
Blaine Gabbert and Danario Alexander hooked up on touchdown passes from 54, 16, and 80 yards out as Kansas State turned its season around and hurt Kansas State’s bowl chances. The Wildcats hung around with four Josh Cherry field goals, coming from 47, 34, 35, and 33 yards away, and then Alexander hit his 80-yard home run to spark a run of 21 unanswered points. Derrick Washington scored on touchdown runs from four and 13 yards in the fourth quarter for the Tigers.
Player of the Game: Missouri WR Danario Alexander caught ten passes for 200 yards and three scores
Kansas State: Passing: Grant Gregory, 21-30, 239 yds, 1 INT
Rushing: Daniel Thomas, 23-79, Receiving: Brandon Banks, 8-128
Missouri: Passing: Blaine Gabbert, 20-27, 298 yds, 3 TD
Rushing: Derrick Washington, 13-68, 2 TD, Receiving: Danario Alexander, 10-200, 3 TD
What It All Means: Kansas State moved the ball well, but three turnovers were a problem and drive after drive stalled with four field goals and no touchdowns. Now it’s one game for all the marbles. While the loss to the Tigers hurt the bowl dreams, there’s no margin for error now, it didn’t matter as far as the improbable Big 12 title hopes. If Kansas State beats Nebraska in Lincoln next week, it’ll get two more games going to the Big 12 Championship and to a bowl game. Lose, and the season is over. How badly does the team want that 17-15 loss to Louisiana-Lafayette back? 

Oct. 7
at Kansas State 17, Kansas 10
Daniel Thomas ran for 185 yards and a five-yard touchdown, and Lamark Brown caught a 31-yard touchdown pass as Kansas State took control of the Big 12 North race. Kansas got into the end zone once on a 17-yard Dezmon Briscoe catch, but three turnovers and the running of Thomas were too much to overcome. Kansas only managed 60 yards rushing, while KSU only converted 3-of-11 third down chances.
Player of the Game: Kansas State RB Daniel Thomas ran 24 times for 185 yards and a score.
Kansas: Passing: Todd Reesing, 27-41, 241 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Jake Sharp, 11-35, Receiving: Kerry Meier, 8-92
Kansas State: Passing: Grant Gregory, 7-16, 66 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Daniel Thomas, 24-185, 1 TD, Receiving: Lamark Brown, 3-43, 1 TD
What It All Means: Now it’s Kansas State’s North for the taking. The Wildcats have been able to turn the program around under Bill Snyder by doing a better job of getting into the backfield and getting to the quarterback, while pounding away with a physical running game led by Daniel Thomas. There’s still Missouri and Nebraska to deal with, but if the Wildcats keep running like they did against the Jayhawks, can generate the same kind of pressure into the backfield, and can +3 in turnover margin, then it’s on to a showdown with Texas for the conference title. 

Oct. 31
at Oklahoma 42 … Kansas State 30
Oklahoma got up 21-0 in the first quarter on three Landry Jones touchdown passes with two throws to Ryan Broyles, but Kansas State roared back with two Keithen Valentine touchdowns and a two-yard Daniel Thomas scoring run to pull within five going into the fourth. Just when it seemed like OU got a little breathing room on a six-yard DeMarco Murray touchdown catch, the Wildcats responded with a Brandon Banks kickoff return for a score. But OU was able to bounce back with a long drive finishing up with a three-yard Murray scoring run.
Player of the Game: Oklahoma RB DeMarco Murray ran 15 times for 62 yards and two touchdowns, and he caught four passes for 28 yards and a score.
Kansas State: Passing: Grant Gregory, 19-30, 174 yds, 1 INT
Rushing: Daniel Thomas, 16-88, 1 TD, Receiving: Brandon Banks, 9-156
Oklahoma: Passing: Landry Jones, 26-37, 294 yds, 4 TD
Rushing: Chris Brown, 15-83, Receiving: Dejuan Miller, 9-94, 1 TD 
What It All Means: Kansas State might not be all that talented and it will need to beat Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska to win the North, but the team sure has fight and thanks to Brandon Banks it’s becoming a fun team. Down 21-0 early it would’ve been easy to fold up the tent, but the offense kept battling back and Banks, who caught nine passes for 156 yards and returned a kickoff for an electrifying score, made it a game. The Wildcats are playing well, but now they’ll need to be more explosive on offense to keep up with a dangerous Kansas team.

Oct. 24
at Kansas State 20 … Colorado 6
Kansas State came up with 17 points in the second quarter on short touchdown runs from Daniel Thomas and Grant Gregory, and Josh Cherry hit two first half field goals from 25 and 27 yards on the way to the win. Colorado had a strong first quarter drive culminating in a two-yard Rodney Stewart touchdown run, but the offense floundered the rest of the way with four turnovers and just 244 yards of offense. Emmanuel Lamur picked off two passes for the Wildcats.
Player of the Game: Kansas State RB Daniel Thomas ran 20 times for 145 yards and a score, and he caught two passes for 18 yards
Colorado: Passing: Cody Hawkins, 10-23, 95 yds, 2 INT
Rushing: Rodney Stewart, 16-49, 1 TD, Receiving: Scotty McKnight, 6-61
Kansas State: Passing: Grant Gregory, 9-18, 80 yds
Rushing: Daniel Thomas, 20-145, 1 TD, Receiving: Attrail Snipes, 2-33  te lost yet, especially with home games against Missouri and Texas A&M up next, but with the way the O is playing, it’s going to take something special to get a win the rest of the way.
What It All Means: Big 12 North champion … Kansas State?! It’s not like the Wildcats are playing at a high level with no passing game to speak off, but Daniel Thomas and the running game are working, the defense rebounded in a big way after the Texas Tech debacle, and the offense isn’t turning the ball over. Basically, the Wildcats aren’t beating themselves, and that will be a must with a trip to Oklahoma up next. A bowl game isn’t a lock with Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska still to play, but there’s no denying the terrific turnaround to generate some excitement in the new Bill Snyder era.

Oct. 17
at Kansas State 62 … Texas A&M 14
The Kansas State defense came up with six sacks, forced five turnovers, and ended Jerrod Johnson’s Big 12-record streak of 242 passes without throwing an interception, but it was the offense that made it a blowout. Daniel Thomas ran for four first half scores on the way to a 38-0 lead, and Brandon Banks kept the scoring going by taking the second half kickoff 97 yards for a score. The Wildcats were up 59-0 before Uzoma Nwachukwu caught touchdown passes from 66 and 23 yards out. KSU outgained A&M 232 to -13 on the ground.
Player of the Game: Kansas State RB Daniel Thomas ran 18 times for 91 yards and four scores
Texas A&M: Passing: Jerrod Johnson, 21-45, 314 yds, 2 TD, 3 INT
Rushing: Christine Michael, 11-22, Receiving: Howard Morrow, 6-75
Kansas State: Passing: Grant Gregory, 10-13, 147 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Daniel Thomas 18-91, 4 TD, Receiving: Brandon Banks, 6-60
What It All Means: After getting whacked 66-14 by Texas Tech, the defense turned everything around in one week with a dominant performance. After allowing 66, Kansas State scored 62 in an amazing turnaround in a near-perfect game. The offense struggled on third downs, but it ripped up the A&M defense taking advantage of five turnovers and getting a huge day on the ground for the easy win. The defensive front was dominant and got to A&M’s Jerrod Johnson enough to make it a blowout early on. Is this really what the Wildcats can do, and can it keep producing at this high a level? With Colorado, Kansas, and Missouri all coming to Manhattan, it’s not insane to think that KSU can be a major player in the North race. Consistency has been an issue all season long, and a win over Colorado next week is a must to keep bowl hope alive. 

Oct. 10
at Texas Tech 66 … Kansas State 14
Steven Sheffield threw seven touchdown passes with Alexander Torres scoring twice and Jacoby Franks taking a pass 72 yards for a touchdown. The Red Raiders were up 38-0, with Sheffield setting a school-record with 370 passing yards, at halftime. KSU finally got on the board with a 17-yard Jeffrey Fitzgerald interception return for a touchdown, but the Red Raiders kept on rolling with Detron Lewis catching his second touchdown pass and Baron Batch running for a four yarder. Tech outgained KSU 739 yards to 284.
Player of the Game: Texas Tech QB Steven Sheffield completed 33-of-41 passes for 490 yards and seven touchdowns with an interception.
Kansas State: Passing: Carson Coffman, 11-16, 131 yds
Rushing: Keithen Valentine, 8-96, 1 TD, Receiving: Atrail Snipes, 7-82
Texas Tech: Passing: Steve Sheffield, 33-41, 490 yds, 7 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Detron Lewis, 8-100, 2 TD, Receiving: Baron Batch, 9-86, 1 TD 
What It All Means: After a thrilling win over Iowa State and with the hope that things were turning around under Bill Snyder, the team showed just how lousy the offense really is by being completely unable to keep up with the Texas Tech offense. The defense wasn’t a prize, and the lack of a steady pass rush was a death blow against the Red Raider passing game. Things aren’t going to get much better with Texas A&M and its high-octane offense coming up next.

Oct. 3
Kansas State 24 … Iowa State 23 (in Kansas City)
Iowa State’s Austen Arnaud hit Grant Gregory for a 23-yard touchdown pass with 32 seconds to play to seemingly force overtime, but Emmanuel Lamur blocked the extra point to give KSU the thrilling win. The Wildcats got two Grant Gregory touchdown passes in the fourth quarter, highlighted by a 54-yard scoring pass to Brandon Banks, but Arnaud did what he needed to do to get the Cyclones back in the game. He threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to Derrick Catlett in the second quarter and ran for a three-yard score in the third.
Player of the Game: Kansas State’s Emmanuel Lamur made seven tackles and blocked the extra point to give KSU the win
Iowa State: Passing: Austen Arnaud, 13-27, 164 yds, 2 TD
Rushing: Austen Arnaud, 16-84, 1 TD, Receiving: Jake Williams, 5-61, 1 TD
Kansas State: Passing: Grant Gregory, 16-23, 206 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Daniel Thomas, 25-96, Receiving: Daniel Thomas, 5-38
What It All Means: Can Kansas State start to think about a bowl game? It would be a tall order, but with home games against Texas A&M and Colorado still to play, it’s possible to come close. Up next is a trip to Texas Tech, and with the way the pass defense is playing, allowing just 153 yards per game, the team has a shot to pull off the shocker. QB Grant Gregory, a transfer from USF, is starting to come into his own with a nice, efficient day throwing the ball and with 29 yards and a score on the ground.

Sept. 26
at Kansas State 49 … Tennessee Tech 7
Brandon Banks returns two kickoffs for touchdowns scoring from 93 and 92 yards away, and Daniel Thomas had two one-yard scoring runs as Kansas State won in a laugher. Tennessee Tech tied the game at seven with a 19-yard Jamere Hogue first quarter catch, but that would be it for any offense. TTU was held to 107 yards of total offense.
Player of the Game: Kansas State WR Brandon Banks caught three passes for 90 yards and returned two kickoffs for 183 yards and two scores.
Tennessee Tech: Passing: Lee Sweeney, 11-18, 121 yds,1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Cedric Wilkerson, 3-9, Receiving: Tim Benford, 3-19
Kansas State: Passing: Carson Coffman, 8-9, 131 yds
Rushing: Daniel Thomas, 26-139, 2 TD, Receiving: Brandon Banks, 3-90
What It All Means: Kansas State needed a light scrimmage just to get everyone involved. The special teams were perfect, with tremendous blocking for Brandon Banks on his kickoff return for scores, while the passing game was sharp with Carson Coffman and Grant Gregory combining to completed 10-of-11 passes for 152 yards. Tennessee Tech didn’t have a chance to get the offense going with KSU in the backfield for most of the afternoon. This is the game needed before the one Big 12 game that KSU has a real shot at winning: at Iowa State.

Sept. 19
at UCLA 23 … Kansas State 9
Kevin Craft connected with Terrence Austin for a 51-yard score and Kai Forbath hit three field goals as UCLA beat a punchless Kansas State. The Wildcats were within four going into the fourth quarter thanks to a seven-yard Daniel Thomas touchdown run, but two key interceptions and no running game kept them from ever having the lead.
Player of the Game: UCLA RB Johnathan Franklin ran 23 times for 119 yards and a score.
Kansas State: Passing: Carson Coffman, 20-34, 193 yds, 2 INT
Rushing: Daniel Thomas, 15-54, 1 TD, Receiving: Brandon Banks, 6-33
UCLA: Passing: Kevin Craft, 13-24, 186 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Johnathan Franklin, 23-119, 1 TD, Receiving: Nelson Rosario, 3-45
What It All Means: When Kansas State was rocking and rolling, it had a back it could count on to crank out big yards no matter what, and there was always a decent running quarterback who could take off from time to time to scare an opposing linebacking corps. Carson Coffman is mobile, but he doesn’t make anyone worry, while Daniel Thomas hasn’t quite come through as a dangerous runner. The Wildcats need plenty of work, but they stayed alive against UCLA. To be better once Big 12 play kicks in, there can’t be any mistake, like the two interceptions Coffman threw.

Sept. 12
at Louisiana-Lafayette 17 ... Kansas State 15
Tyler Albrecht nailed a 48-yard bomb with 32 seconds to play to upset Kansas State and stop a Wildcat rally. The Ragin' Cajuns held a 14-2 lead into the fourth quarter with a 13-yard Undrea Salis run and a one-yard Luke Aubrey catch, but KSU came up with a halfback option with Daniel Thomas throwing a three-yard touchdown pass to Jeron Mastrud, before running for a three-yard score almost six minutes later.
Player of the Game: Louisiana-Lafayette LB Antwyne Zanders made 15 tackles.
Kansas State: Passing: Carson Coffman, 13-25, 178 yds, 1 INT
Rushing: Daniel Thomas, 27-136, 1 TD, Receiving: Attrail Snipes, 3-78
Louisiana-Lafayette: Passing: Chris Masson, 20-36, 185 yds,  TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Undre Sails, 20-78, 1 TD, Receiving: Luke Aubrey, 6-38, 1 TD
What It All Means: Kansas State needs to find a passing game. Daniel Thomas was terrific as an all-around playmaker, carrying the offense with his running and throwing a touchdown pass, but Carson Coffman failed to keep the offense moving as the Wildcats converted just 4-of-17 third down attempts. As bad as this loss might be, a win over UCLA would turn the new era under Bill Snyder around. The Bruins don't have an offense, so if KSU can do anything consistently, it'll be a close battle.

Sept. 5
at Kansas State 21 ... Massachusetts 17
Bill Snyder's return to the team was a success, but it was a fight. Carson Coffman threw touchdown passes to Attrail Snipes from 40 and 12 yards out for a 21-3 halftime lead, and then the Wildcats held on as the offense sputtered in the second half failing to get on the board. Massachusetts got a four-yard Andrew Krevis touchdown catch in the third and a 26-yard blocked punt return for a score from D.J. Adeoba, but when needed, KSU was able to milk the clock and ran out close to six minutes to end the game.
Player of the Game: Kansas State RB Daniel Thomas ran 23 times for 104 yards.
UMass: Passing: Kyle Havens, 10-34, 102 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT
Rushing: Tony Nelson, 19-107, Receiving: Julian Talley, 3-22
Kansas State: Passing: Carson Coffman, 14-27, 182 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Daniel Thomas, 23-104, Receiving: Brandon Banks, 7-67
What It All Means: The running game came up with 225 yards and there was pop to the passing game, but mistakes and inefficiency let UMass get back in the game and made it a lot closer than it should've been. There will be another chance to tune up with Louisiana-Lafayette coming up next, but QB Carson Coffman has to be a bit more effective. He hit on enough big plays, but he barley completed more than half of his passes and he didn't keep the chains moving until the final drive that closed out the game. Bill Snyder has a lot of work to do, but there are signs that this might not be a disaster of a season. There's good speed and just enough athleticism on defense to get by against the average offenses.