Cats, Huskers Clash in Big 12 North Battle
Courtesy: Kansas State University  |  Release: 10/9/2006

> Game Notes (PDF)

MANHATTAN, Kan. - Fresh off a thrilling come-from-behind victory over Oklahoma State, Kansas State (4-2, 1-1) looks to keep the ball rolling on its home field this week as the Wildcats welcome North Division co-leader Nebraska (5-1, 2-0) to Manhattan for Harley Day.

Game time at a sold-out Bill Snyder Family Stadium has been set for 6:10 p.m., with the game being cablecast on a pay-per-view basis by Big 12 Special Order Sports, the pay-per-view division of Fox Sports Net. The telecast will be available on cable systems throughout the states of Kansas and Nebraska and in the Kansas City Metro area as well as on participating satellite systems nationwide. For more information on the pay-per-view telecast, visit k-statesports.com.

For those not near a cable box or satellite dish, the game will also air live on radio across the 31-station K-State Sports Network, with Wyatt Thompson and Stan Weber calling the action.

Kansas State enters Saturday’s game looking to build on what it hopes was a breakout performance against Oklahoma State on the offensive side of the ball. The Wildcats, who struggled to find the end zone in their two previous outings, hit paydirt twice in the closing three minutes in a gut-check 31-27 victory over the Cowboys.

Nebraska, the Big 12’s top scoring offense at nearly 40 points per contest, is coming of a 28-14 win at Iowa State and averages over 460 yard of total offense per game.

Both teams have played solid defense thus far and are holding opponents under 17 ppg.

A QUICK LOOK AT THE WILDCATS
With freshman quarterback Josh Freeman leading the way, Kansas State’s appears set to turn the corner on offense. Freeman has quarterbacked the Wildcats for the last six quarters and the K-State offense has responded by averaging 350 yards per game in its last two outings.

The unit really came of age during the last 4:25 of K-State’s win over Oklahoma State as Freeman marched the Wildcats on touchdown drives of 92 and 58 yards to overcome a 10-point deficit down the stretch.

The emergence of fellow freshman Leon Patton at running back has also give the Wildcats’ offense a big boost. Patton ripped the Cowboys for 151 yards on 21 carries last week and also had a 95-yard kickoff return.

On the other side of the ball, K-State’s rejuvenated defensive unit has been one of the nation’s best all season long. With Big 12 tackle-for-loss leader Ian Campbell, Butkus Award candidate Brandon Archer (seventh in the Big 12 in tackles with 49) and free safety Marcus Watts (fourth in the Big 12 with three picks) leading the way, the Wildcats’ defense has been rock solid.

K-State ranks No. 27 nationally in total defense (288.7 ypg), ninth in tackles for losses and 17th in sacks. The unit also ranks 28th in scoring defense and 13th in turnovers gained with 14.

To download a PDF of the complete version of K-State’s weekly game notes please click the link at the top of the page.