Sports > Kansas State Wildcats

Posted on Sat, Oct. 31, 2009

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Wildcat report

First Quarter

Key play: Oklahoma flexed its defensive muscle early. On K-State's first possession, OU's Jeremy Beal sacked Grant Gregory for a 9-yard loss on third down without exerting much effort.

Key stat: Landry Jones threw three touchdowns in the opening 11 minutes.

Second Quarter

Key play: Jeron Mastrud made a fantastic one-handed grab to setup K-State's first touchdown.

Key stat: Gregory threw for 89 yards in the first half. Coming off an 80-yard effort against Colorado, that was an improvement.

Third Quarter

Key play: Daniel Thomas completed a 41-yard pass to Brandon Banks on a trick play to get K-State's offense going and eventually score a touchdown.

Key stat: How about the score? K-State outscored Oklahoma 14-0 in this quarter.

Fourth Quarter

Key play: Brandon Banks took a kickoff return 98 yards for a touchdown moments after it looked like Oklahoma was going to pull away for good.

Key stat: Oklahoma faced a 1st-and-45 situation and still moved the chains.

Report card

Offense: A. K-State had its best offensive game of the season against its toughest opponent. Brandon Banks and Daniel Thomas turned in outstanding performances.

Defense: B. The Wildcats played tough defense throughout the final three quarters, but giving up 21 quick points in the first was too much to overcome.

Special Teams: B+. Brandon Banks had another kickoff return for a touchdown, and aside from two blocked extra points K-State's special teams were solid.

Coaching: B+. For the Wildcats to fight so hard after falling behind 21-0 is a testament to Snyder and his staff. With a slightly better effort in the first quarter, K-State could have pulled the upset.

Player of the game

Daniel Thomas. The running back not only gave K-State 88 yards and a touchdown rushing, but he threw for 41 yards and a two-point conversion.

Reason to hope

Kansas State came within 12 points of ending the longest home winning streak in the country on Saturday. That type of effort repeated against North opponents could be enough to send it to the Big 12 championship game.

Reason to mope

For the second straight time on the road, Kansas State looked lost in the first quarter.

Looking ahead

Kansas comes to Manhattan in a game that will have all kinds of meaning in the Big 12 North race.

— Kellis Robinett