26 BIG 12
KANSAS STATE WILDCATS
Wildcats end losing streak to Jayhawks
Kansas State running back Daniel Thomas (8) is chased by Kansas defensive tackle Caleb Blakesley during the first quarter of their game last Saturday in Manhattan. The Wildcats won 17-10.
By Greg Guggisberg Kansas State Collegian
ASSOCIATED PRESS
MANHATTAN — Coming into the game with a 13-4 all-time record against the Kansas Jayhawks, Bill Snyder knew the importance of winning the Sunflower Showdown. The roar of the crowd at the end of the game told the story, with the cheers of more than 48,000 fans overpowering the marching band in celebration.
"I was really happy for our fans," Snyder said. "You could hear it in their response, that it meant an awful lot to them."
Saturday's 17-10 victory over the Jayhawks meant more than state bragging rights. Still a half game ahead in the Big 12 North division race, the Wildcats kept pace with Nebraska to stay atop the North standings.
With the win Saturday, the Wildcats ended a three-game losing streak to the Kansas Jayhawks. Their last win against the Jayhawks came during Snyder's last year before retirement. While the offense did its part, Snyder attributed the win to the effort of the defense, which forced three turnovers.
"For our defense to hang in there the way they did throughout the game, even though they gave up some yardage and field position, they eventually got the brakes put on Kansas," Snyder said. "For the University of Kansas to only score 10 points, that means that somebody played pretty well on the other side of the ball."
Offensively, K-State (6-4, 4-2 Big 12 Conference) was led by junior running back Daniel Thomas, who roughed up the Jayhawk defense while rushing for 185 yards and a touchdown, and averaging more than seven yards per carry in the game. Senior quarterback Grant Gregory struggled through most of the day, completing seven passes for 66 yards and a touchdown. Snyder said after the game he was most pleased with Thomas' second and third efforts when running the ball.
"Sometimes he plays like he is a linebacker, and I just appreciate his approach to the game;" Snyder said. "He is not an easy guy to get down, and that is for one reason and one reason alone. It does not have anything to do with speed or size or anything else; it is just tenacity and a desire to get that extra inch or foot."
The Jayhawks finished with only 60 rushing yards and two fumbles. Kansas senior quarterback Todd Reesing struggled through another game after being benched a week before in their game against Texas Tech. Reesing finished with 241 passing yards, but threw an interception and only one touchdown. He was also responsible for both of KU's fumbles.
"It goes without saying when you lose to a rival, it hurts more than when you lose
to someone else," Reesing said. "We enjoyed a three-year stretch. This is my first loss to K-State, and it is not what you want. It hurts and it stings."
On the opening kickoff, safety Darrell Stuckey had a 67-yard return that almost went for a touchdown. However, the Jayhawks could not keep up that pace. The Wildcat defense was able to slow down the drive and force a 30-yard field goal — kicked
by Jacob Branstetter — that sailed wide right,
which was the first of two key misses that day
Taking over at their own 20-yard line, the Wildcats had early success running the ball with Thomas, but could not find the scoreboard. Neither team scored in the first quarter in what proved to be a defensive game.
THE WAVE NOVEMBER 13,2009
Right before halftime, with a 7-3 lead, KU started at its own 22-yard line with two
minutes to play and three timeouts left. A scramble by Reesing resulted in another fumble which the Wildcats recovered at the Kansas 47-yard line with 0:36 left on the clock. The drive consisted of only passes to Lamark Brown, with three receptions, 43 yards and a touchdown. The drive was capped by a 31-yard touchdown pass to Brown, giving the Wildcats a 10-7 lead going into halftime.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN