MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State emerged from a rain-soaked evening with a 35-0 weather-shortened victory over Missouri State at Bill Snyder Family Stadium Saturday in a contest that was delayed twice due to severe weather before ultimately being called after just one half of play.
Using an efficient offensive attack that netted touchdowns on five of their eight first-half possessions and a defense that stifled the Bears throughout the first 30 minutes, the Wildcats built a 35-0 halftime lead. Quarterback Jesse Ertz turned in a near-perfect opening half, completing 7-of-8 passes for 94 yards and a pair of touchdowns and burning the Bears with a pair of long runs to set up scoring opportunities.
KSU's defense proved more than capable as well, limiting the Bears to 54 yards of offense and forcing either three-and-out punts or turnovers on six of MSU's eight drives in the opening half. MSU's passing game failed to find a rhythm, as the Wildcat defense limited the duo of Brodie Lambert and Michael Briggs to a combined 3-for-12 first-half showing for a total of 24 yards.
In all, the hosts outgained the Bears by a 270-54 margin in total offense, with Ertz totaling a game-high 85 yards on the ground to go along with his standout passing performance.
K-State's offense set the tone early, marching 63 yards in 11 plays on the game's opening drive to take a 7-0 lead. The Wildcats chewed up 38 yards on the ground, including 23 rushing yards on Charles Jones's five carries. The senior capped the 5-minute, 58-second drive with a one-yard scoring run on a 4th and goal option call that handed the home team a seven-point lead.
The Wildcats would need just three plays to extend the lead on their next drive. Ertz broke free for 35-yard run to the MSU 19 yard line, before Byron Pringle snared a deflected pass in the end zone for a 14-0 KSU lead with 5:22 to play in the first quarter.
Missouri State kicked its offense into gear on its second drive of the game, converting three first downs and moving the ball to the K-State 30. But quarterback Michael Briggs was ruled down just short of the yard-marker on a third-down rush, and a fumble on 4th and short stalled the drive and gave the ball back to the Wildcats.
After the Bears' defense stood its ground to force a three-and-out series by the Wildcats, KSU would use a critical play by its special teams to extend the margin. Pringle was once again the key figure, this time fielding a Zach Drake punt at his own 36 and streaking to the Bears' 21 for a 43-yard return. Ertz, who completed all three of his first-quarter pass attempts for 44 yards, connected for two more key completions early in the second. After hitting Winston Dimel for 10 yards, he found Dominique Heath in the corner of the end zone for a 9-yard strike that made it a 21-0 Wildcat lead with 12:27 left in the half.
Ertz then accounted for the first 81 of KSU's 90 yards on a seven-play drive that ultimately put the Wildcats on top by four touchdowns. The junior hooked up with Pringle for an 11-yard completion and Deante Burton for 20 more before scampering for 40 yards to the MSU 4. Dimel carried it in from a yard out moments later, then tacked on a five-yard scoring run with 4:37 left on the clock after the Wildcat turned in another big special teams play with a punt block at the Bears' 12-yard line.
Bears linebacker Eric Greely shared game-high tackle honors with five stops, while Dylan Cole and Cameron Price added three tackles apiece for MSU.
Up next, the Bears will open their 32nd season of Missouri Valley Football Conference play next Saturday (Oct. 1), when they travel to Terre Haute to take on Indiana State in a 2 p.m. (CDT) game at Memorial Stadium.
Postgame Notes: Saturday's kickoff was delayed 55 minutes due to lightning and play was officially halted just prior to the second-half kickoff; … Dylan Cole made his 38th consecutive start at linebacker for the Bears, while Jordan Turner logged his 13th start in a row—the top streak for an active MSU offensive player … The Wildcats became the first MSU opponent to rush for 100 yards this season, totaling 165 yards on 22 carries (7.5 ypc.) … MSU's rushing total of 30 yards marked its lowest single-game output since last season's opening game at Memphis, when the Bears finished with 18 yards.
