2003 Kansas State Football
Game No. 13
Missouri (7-3/3-3) at No. 19/18 Kansas State (9-3/5-2)
Saturday, Nov. 22, 2003
6:00 p.m. (Central)
KSU Stadium (50,000 FieldTurf)
Manhattan, Kan.
Kickoff: 6:10 p.m. (Central)
Television: Live nationally on TBS/Superstation. Ron Thulin will call the play-by-play with Charles Davis serving as the color analyst. Craig Sager and Erin Andrews will be the broadcast's sideline reporters.
Radio: Live across the 28-station Mid America Sports Network. Wyatt Thompson (play-by-play), Stan Weber (color) and Chris Allison (sideline) serve as the on-air talent.
On the Web: A live audio stream of all Kansas State football games is available via the Internet at K-State’s official site, www.k-statesports.com.
Records: Kansas State won for the fifth straight week and improved to 9-3 (5-2 Big 12) with its 38-9 victory at Nebraska. Missouri’s 45-22 win over Texas A&M lifted the Tigers to 7-3 (3-3 Big 12).
Rankings: Kansas State climbed seven spots in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches’ Poll to No. 18. The Wildcats also made one of the biggest jumps in school history in the AP Top 25, vaulting seven spots from No. 26 to No. 19. Missouri is receiving votes in both polls.
Series: Missouri leads the all-time series 55-28-5, however K-State has taken each of the last 10 meetings. Mizzou also leads the series in Manhattan, 27-12-3.
Coaches: Kansas State’s Bill Snyder is 125-54-1 (.697) in 15 seasons as head coach of the Wildcats. Missouri’s Gary Pinkel is in his third year with the Tigers and has compiled a 16-17 (.485) record.
Red hot Kansas State looks to sew up Big 12 North Title vs. Missouri
Winners of five straight, No. 19/18 Kansas State will be out to lock up its third appearance in the Big 12 Conference Championship game and its first outright North Division title since 1998 when the Wildcats take on upstart Missouri Saturday at KSU Stadium in its 2003 regular-season finale.
The game, which kicks off at 6:10 p.m. will be broadcast live nationally by TBS/Superstation. Ron Thulin will call the action with former Tennessee Volunteer Charles Davis providing the color commentary. Craig Sager and Erin Andrews will serve as the broadcast’s sideline reporters.
One of the hottest teams in the nation, Kansas State has been a juggernaut in its last five games. Since suffering back-to-back four-point slip-ups at Texas and Oklahoma State, the Wildcats have roared back to life and have averaged 42.4 points per game and 463.8 yards of total offense in the last five games, outscoring opponents by a staggering 212-45 margin (33 points per game).
But the Wildcats’ re-emergence on the national scene has not been just about offense. K-State’s defense, which checks in at No. 5 on this week’s NCAA total defense chart, has allowed just one touchdown in its last 16 quarters and recently went 208 minutes, 53 seconds between TDs surrendered.
The confluence of high-octane offense and stifling defense has lifted Kansas State back into the top 20 of both polls, as the Wildcats skyrocket seven spots in each of this week’s rankings.
Missouri, led by heralded sophomore quarterback Brad Smith, presents another stiff challenge for K-State. The Tigers possess one of college football's most potent ground attacks and rank sixth in the nation in rushing with 235.0 yards per game. Mizzou also averages a healthy 32.6 points per game and has won three of its last five. But the Tigers are still searching for their first Big 12 road win. If they can get it vs. the Wildcats, MU will have kept its own Big 12 North Division championship hopes alive.
Cat Fight Series History
Saturday’s game between K-State and Missouri will be the 89th in a series that dates to 1909.
K-State and Missouri are meeting in the final regular-season game of the year for the sixth straight season.
Missouri leads the all-time series 55-28. There have been five ties.
Kansas State has dominated the series of late, winning 10 straight and 11 of the last 12 meetings.
The Cats have not lost to Missouri since a 27-14 set back in Columbia on Nov. 14, 1992.
K-State has won six in a row over the Tigers in KSU Stadium. Mizzou’s last win in Manhattan dates to a 21-9 victory on Oct. 21, 1989.
The Wildcats have notched three shutouts during their 10-game winning streak, including a 38-0 whitewash last season in Columbia.
Kansas State has outscored Missouri 345-112 during its 10-game winning streak and 156-27 in the last four meetings.
Six of the last 10 games have been decided by three touchdowns or more.
K-State head coach Bill Snyder is 11-3 vs. Missouri. Tigers’ head coach Gary Pinkel is 0-2 vs. the Cats.
Back on the tube
Kansas State will be making its sixth television appearance of the season Saturday when the Wildcats square off with Missouri on TBS/Superstation.
It is the first appearance of the season on TBS’ Big Play Station Saturday for K-State -- which played on the Superstation twice during 2002 -- and the first time the Cats have been selected for the Big 12’s television package in back-to-back weeks since appearing on ABC and Fox Sports Net on consecutive Saturdays at Texas and Oklahoma State, respectively.
The Wildcats are just 2-3 in television games this season, but a perfect 3-0 all-time when playing on TBS/Superstation. K-State won both of its games on the Superstation last season, defeating USC and Iowa State. The Cats’ only other appearance on TBS was a 36-7 victory over Kansas in 1982.
Saturday’s game marks the fourth straight year and the sixth time in the last seven seasons that the K-State vs. Missouri game has been televised. Overall, the Cats and Tigers have played on TV six times , with K-State winning five of the six games.
Senior salute
Saturday’s game will mark the final home appearance in a Wildcat uniform for 28 Kansas State seniors. Collectively, the class has helped Kansas State produce a combined 37-14 (.725) record over the last four seasons and earn four bowl berths, including K-State’s 11th in a row this season.
Rashad Washington
Ell Roberson
Travis Horchem
James Terry
Jared Brite
Josh Buhl
James McGill
Randy Jordan
Dave Hamel
Jeff Schwinn
Bryan Hickman
John Cooper
Danny Morris
Travis Wilson
Lance Kramer
Jonathan Dansel
Nick Leckey
Lee File
Peni Holakeituai
Ryan Lilja
Jesse Keaulana-Kamakea
Mike Wilson
Ben Rettele
Travon Magee
Thomas Hill
Justin Montgomery
Thomas Houchin
Andrew Shull
Season Finale Fun
Under head coach Bill Snyder, Kansas State is 11-3 in regular-season finales, including seven straight wins. K-State has not dropped a regular-season ender since falling to Colorado in 1995. In fact, all three of its losses in the final regular-season game of the year have come against Colorado.
Cats Big 12’s best
Kansas State’s victory at Nebraska not only placed the Wildcats alone atop the Big 12’s 2003 North Division standings, the win also moved K-State into the top spot -- along with Nebraska -- in the league’s all-time standings. Since the conference’s founding in 1996 no one has won more league games than the Wildcats. K-State has won over 75 percent of its Big 12 Conference games, going 48-15 (.762) in what is considered by many to be the nation’s toughest conference.
No place like home
Kansas State won for the eighth time in its last nine Big 12 Conference home games, concluding a perfect three-game homestand with a 38-10 victory over Baylor on Nov. 1. The Wildcats have now won five consecutive Big 12 games at KSU Stadium.
Wagner Field magic
Kansas State’s 28-point victory over Baylor was typical of K-State’s home dominance over Big 12 opponents in recent years. In the last five league games on Wagner Field, the Wildcats have outscored their opponents 236-56 and have not been held to fewer than 38 points. Over its last nine Big 12 home games, the Cats' average margin of victory has been nearly 30 points with K-State outscoring opponents 358-91. During that span Kansas State opponents have averaged just 10.1 points per game.
Protecting home turf
Just how good have the Wildcats been in KSU Stadium? Kansas State is 26-5 (.839) in Big 12 home games since the league's inception in 1996. In all games since the start of the 1990 season, K-State is an amazing 80-10-1 (.884) when playing on Wagner Field, including a 40-9-1 (.810) mark in league games (combined Big 8/ Big 12). During that stretch, the Cats have lost more than once at home in just one season -- 2001, when K-State went 4-2 -- and have hit at least the six win mark seven times in the last 10 seasons. At 6-1, Kansas State can tie its school record for home victories with a win over Missouri. The Cats have posted seven wins in KSU Stadium three times previously under Bill Snyder.
Magic number 1, again
After becoming bowl eligible with its win over Iowa State and earning no worse than a share of the 2003 Big 12 North crown with its victory at Nebraska, Kansas State is one win away from securing its third trip to the Big 12 Championship game and its first outright Big 12 North Division crown since 1998. Kansas State’s previous trips to the Big 12 Conference Championship game occurred in 1998 and 2000.
Eleven and counting
Kansas State’s win at Iowa State made the Wildcats bowl eligible for the 11th straight season. K-State has not missed the postseason since going 5-6 in 1992. The string of consecutive bowl appearances places Kansas State in elite company as only six other programs in the nation -- Nebraska, Michigan, Florida State, Tennessee, Florida and Virginia Tech -- have appeared in at least 10 straight bowl games.
Nifty nine
With its 38-9 victory over Nebraska, Kansas State (9-3, 5-2 Big 12) wrapped up its 10th nine-win season in the last 11 years. It is just the 11th time in the 108-year history of the program that the Wildcats have hit the nine-win mark with 10 of those seasons coming under current head coach Bill Snyder.
More Milestones
With just a single game remaining in the regular season, Kansas State still possesses a good shot at hitting a two other milestones for the program. A win over Missouri would give the Wildcats their eighth
10-win season in school history (seventh under Bill Snyder) and a chance at achieving 11 wins for the sixth time in the last seven years.
Resilient as ever
For the third straight season, Kansas State found itself with two losses early in league play. But just like the early-conference setbacks of 2001 and 2002, its was not enough to keep the Wildcats out of the postseason as K-State bounced back and attain bowl eligibility. K-State is in the midst of trying to match its magical bounce-back performance of 2002, when the Wildcats, who opened league play at 1-2, ran the table with six straight wins to close out the season. In 2001, the K-State regrouped from a four-game losing streak to win four of five in the regular season and reach the Insight.com Bowl.
Hot in the home stretch
The 2003 Wildcats have continued a Kansas State trend of being one of the hottest teams in the nation down the home stretch. Winners of five straight by an average of 33.4 points, K-State improved its record in the final six games of the regular season to a combined 14-3 over the last three years, including a 4-2 mark in 2001, a 5-1 record in 2002 and a 5-0 mark thus far in 2003. During those 17 games, K-State has outscored the opposition 670-172.
Running it up
Kansas State’s average margin of victory in its last 20 wins has been by an eye-popping margin of 36.7 points. Since the start of the 2002 season, K-State is 18-0 when scoring at least 35 points and has topped 40 points 14 times. The Wildcats have surpassed the 35-point mark in all nine wins this season and have been held below 35 in all three losses.
Cats’ margin of victory among nation’s best
Kansas State is one of just three teams in the nation along with Oklahoma and Michigan to rank in the top 10 nationally in both scoring offense (8th/38.5 ppg) and scoring defense (10th/15.7 ppg). The result is one of the nation’s largest margins of victory as K-State ranks sixth in scoring margin at 22.8 points per game. Oklahoma (surprise, surprise) leads the nation at 35.5 points per game followed by Boise State at 27.6 points per game. Last year, the Wildcats led the nation in average margin of victory at 33.0.
Win big, lose small
Kansas State has been dominant in its nine victories so far this season, winning by an average of 32.1 points. On the flip side, the Wildcats’ losses have been nip and tuck affairs that have gone down to the final gun. K-State’s average margin of loss in 2003 has been been just five points. In fact, dating to the start of the 2002 season, all five of K-State’s losses over the last 24 games have been by a touchdown or less, leaving the Cats with an average margin of loss of just 4.4 points in its last five defeats. The Wildcats have not suffered a double-digit loss since falling at Nebraska, 31-21, during 2001.
Red zone, fun zone
After struggling in the red zone during the first six games of the season, Kansas State has been nearly letter perfect inside the opponent’s 20-yard-line since. The Wildcats converted 24 of 34 (.706) attempts in games 1-6. Over that last six games, however, K-State has been good on 22 of 24 (.917) trips, with 20 conversions coming via touchdowns. The only misses during the last six games came vs. Baylor on a fumble during the 4th quarter and at Nebraska on a missed field goal attempt.
Winning the stat war
Kansas State has outgained 11-of-12 opponents in total offense so far this seasons, including all three losses. Colorado is the only opponent to outpace the Wildcats (422 to 384) this season. K-State’s 363-yard (503-140) edge in total offense vs. Iowa State was its largest of the season, eclipsing the 299-yard advantage the Wildcats produced vs. UMass. Kansas State’s 268-yard advantage vs. Nebraska was its third largest of the year, slipping past the 263-yard edge in total offense the Cats produced against Baylor (476-213). Over its last three games, K-State has outgained the opposition by a nearly 900 yards (1,540 to 646).
Difficult to stop K-State
Over the past 28 games, Kansas State has outgained its opponent in total offense 27 times. Before the 2003 Colorado game, you have to go back to a 31-21 loss at Nebraska on Nov. 10, 2001 that saw the Huskers outpace the Wildcats, 374-226 to find an opponent that outgained the K-State in total offense.
Elite Company
Thanks to its 504 yards of total offense at Iowa State and 561 at Nebraska, Kansas State has moved from No. 33 to No. 22 (440.08 ypg) nationally in total offense over the past two weeks. The Wildcats also checked in at No. 5 (270.58) in the nation in total defense this week, making K-State one of just nine teams in the country to be ranked in the NCAA’s top 25 in both categories.
Success on third down
During its five-game winning streak, Kansas State has been other-worldly on third down, converting at a 55 percent clip. In fact, over the last six games, the Wildcats have turned 54 percent of third downs into first downs. By comparison, K-State converted just 27 percent of its third down tries during the first six games of the season.
Rushing to victory
Over its last 25 games Kansas State has outrushed its opponent 23 times, rolling to a 20-3 record in those 23 games. K-State has outrushed 10 of its 12 opponents this season, and is averaging 223.8 yards per game on the ground to rank ninth nationally while allowing just 107.25 yards rushing (17th).
For the season, the Wildcats have rolled up an impressive 2,686 yards rushing compared to only 1,287 by their opponents. K-State was outrushed for the first time in 18 games when Marshall ground out 241 yards to the Wildcats’ 106. Oklahoma State also outgained the Cats on the ground, 187 to 146.
At its current pace, Kansas State would end the regular season with over 2,900 yards rushing, marking the seventh straight season that the Cats will have rushed for more than 2,000 yards in a season and ranked in the top 25 nationally, including three straight top-10 rushing rankings.
Piling up the yards
Kansas State enters Saturday’s game against Missouri averaging 440.1 yards per contest and continues to be one of the nation's most potent offensive attacks in terms of total offense. It is the second highest single-season yards per game average in school history. K-State’s total offensive output of 5,281 yards ranks as fourth best in school history, with one game to play. The Wildcats, who rank ninth in the nation rushing offense at 223.8 yards per game and 22nd nationally in total offense, are just 461 yards short of breaking the K-State record for single season total offense of 5,741 set in 1998.
Through 12 games, Kansas State has hit the 350-yard mark in total offense in 11 times, including 500-plus yard performances vs. Nebraska, Iowa State and California and 400-plus yard outings vs. McNeese State, UMass, Oklahoma State and Baylor. The Cats also just missed the 400-yard plateau vs. Troy State (392), Marshall (369), Colorado (384) and Kansas (395).
Dating to last season, K-State has reached 350 yards in total offense in 22 of 25 games with 15 400-plus yard outings. The only games the Cats failed to at least hit the 350-yard total offense mark came vs. USC (347, 9/21/02), vs. Texas (261, 10/19/02) and at Texas (298, 10/4/03). Since 1990, the Wildcats are 93-11 when gaining at least 350 yards of total offense.
Topping 200
Kansas State has been a rushing machine over the last four weeks, grinding out 1,095 yards and averaging nearly 274 yards per game. The Wildcats, who rushed for 248 yards at Nebraska and rank ninth in the nation in rushing offense (223.8 ypg), have not been held below the 200-yard mark since gaining 142 vs. Colorado. During that stretch, K-State rushed for 257 yards vs. Kansas, 234 yards against Baylor and a season-high 356 at Iowa State.
K-State’s 248-yard performance at Nebraska was the eighth time in 12 games this season that the Wildcats have topped 200 yards rushing. K-State has now eclipsed the 200-yard mark in 13 of its last 18 games, dating to last season.
Since 1990, Kansas State is 67-4 when rushing for at least 200 yards and 69-10 with a 100-yard rusher. As a team, K-State is averaging at least 200 yards on the ground for the fifth time in the last seven seasons and once again ranks among the nation's top-25 programs in the nation in terms of rushing offense.
Symmetry is sublime
Bliss through balance. It’s been one of K-State’s mantras all season. The Wildcats, who are averaging 440.1 yards per game, have achieved nearly a perfect balance between rushing yardage (223.8 ypg) and passing yardage (216.2 ypg) through 12 games this season and are one of just eight teams in the nation averaging over 200 yards per game in both rushing and passing offense.
Send in the ground troops
Kansas State added three rushing touchdowns to its season total last week at Nebraska, giving the Wildcats 35 on the year. Only Minnesota with 42 has scored more rushing touchdowns this year in Division I-A than K-State. The Cats have now scored a rushing touchdown in each of their last 39 non-bowl games. Last year, Kansas State led the NCAA in rushing TDs with a school-record 53.
By land and air
In addition to a strong ground game, Kansas State has recently unveiled an efficient aerial attack. Over the last six games, K-State has completed 93 of 151 passes (61.6 percent) for 1,414 yards and 15 touchdowns, including 313 yards vs. the nation’s top pass efficiency defense -- Nebraska.
The Wildcats got things going against Oklahoma State, passing for 332 yards and four touchdowns. It was the first time K-State has eclipsed 300 yards through the air since passing for 311 yards at Oklahoma State in 1999. It was also the most passing yards by the Cats since throwing for 341 vs. Texas A&M in the 1998 Big 12 Championship game. Kansas State’s four touchdown passes also tied a school single-game record.
Against Colorado, K-State hit the Buffs for three TDs and finished the game with 242 yards for its third best passing day of the season. Versus Kansas, the Cats were a combined 10 of 20 for 138 yards and a touchdown, before once again hitting the 242-yard mark vs. Baylor and again hitting paydirt three times through the air. Two scores and 147 yards on 14-for-17 passing at Iowa State followed prior to Kansas State’s air raid vs. the Huskers.
Points aplenty
Kansas State enters Saturday's game vs. Missouri averaging 38.5 points per game to rank 8th nationally in scoring offense. And over the last five weeks, the Wildcat offense has been even more potent, lighting up the scoreboard at a 42.4 ppg clip. With six 40-plus point outings this season, K-State has topped the 40-point mark in 10 of its last 18 games. Dating back to the start of the 2002 season, the Wildcats have eclipsed the 40-point mark in 14 of 25 games and have been held below 30 points in just four times. Putting points on the board has been a staple in recent years for K-State, which has finished in the NCAA’s top 15 in scoring offense in five of the last six seasons.
Huskers see red
In addition to earning its first win over Nebraska in Lincoln since 1968, Kansas State’s victory was of historic proportion on many levels.
Kansas State’s 38 points were its most ever in Lincoln, while the Cats’ 29-point win was its largest over Nebraska in their eight wins in the capitol city.
K-State’s 561 yards of total offense were its second most ever vs. the Huskers and the fifth most ever given up by Nebraska at home.
Coupled with the 507 yards the Wildcats hung on the Cornhuskers last year, K-State became the first time to top the 500-yard mark in total offense in back-to-back seasons vs. Nebraska.
Kansas State’s victory was its fourth in the last six meetings with Nebraska and the first time the Wildcats have won consecutive games vs. the Huskers since the 1958 and 1959 campaigns.
Kansas State has now outscored Nebraska by a combined 87-22 in the last two meetings.
Dominating on defense
Not to be outdone by the offense, the defensive performance turned by Kansas State in the last four weeks (201.5 ypg) has thrust the Wildcats back into the top 10 nationally in total defense. K-State, which is holding opponents to 270.6 yards per game on average, ranks fifth in the nation and second in the Big 12 in total defense. On the scoring front, K-State ranks 10th, allowing an average of just 15.67 ppg. Including 2003, Kansas State has ranked in the top 15 in total defense in eight of the last nine years.
Powercat defense
Kansas State’s defense, which has allowed just one touchdown in the last 16 quarters, has held three of its last four opponents under 200 yards of total offense. Only Nebraska, which rushed for 195 yards, was able to dent the K-State defense for more than 100 yards on the ground as the Cats held Kansas (89), Baylor (52) and Iowa State (39) to a combined 180 yards rushing.
The crew has also been stingy with scores. Prior to yielding seven points on defense to Nebraska, the Wildcat defense went 208 minutes, 53 with out giving up a touchdown. Prior to the second quarter of the Nebraska game, Colorado was the last team to find the end zone vs. Kansas State as the Buffs punched one in on their final drive of the game against K-State’s reserve unit.
It all starts up front for D
Much of the credit for Kansas State’s recent success should go to the Wildcats front four. K-State’s defensive line has recorded 18 sacks in the last four games alone, lifting its season total to 44 (3.7 per game) and placing the Wildcats first nationally in that category.
K-State’s total through 12 games is 7.5 more than the 36.5 K-State totaled in its 2002 12-games regular season. Andrew Shull, Kevin Huntley and Jermaine Berry are tied for the team lead with six each. In all, 17 different players have registered at least one sack for K-State this season. Since the start of the 2000 season, the Wildcats rank ninth nationally with 141 sacks.
Cats tough on 3rd down
Kansas State’s defense continues to be one of the stiffest in the nation on third down. Last week, Nebraska converted just 4 of 16 attempts. On the season, K-State opponents are converting 25.7 percent (47-183) of third downs, which leads the Big 12. And the Wildcats have been even tougher during their five-game winning streak as foes have converted only 18 of 75 attempts (24 percent). By comparison, K-State has converted 55 percent (38-69) of its opportunities over the same five-game span.
No red-zone rushing
Kansas State, which has allowed just one offensive touchdown in the last 16 quarters entering the Missouri game, has been especially stingy on the ground inside the red zone. It took 24 quarters this season before the Wildcats finally yielded their first rushing touchdown at Texas as Vince Young scored on a quarterback sneak on 4th-and-1 with 5:19 to play in the fourth quarter. And though K-State gave up two more rushing scores vs. Oklahoma State and one vs. Colorado, the Wildcats are one of just three teams to allow four or fewer rushing touchdown in 2003. Dating to last season, K-State has only given up seven rushing scores in its last 20 games and just 11 rushing TDs in its last 25 outings. Kansas State also leads the Big 12 in total red zone defense, as opponents have converted just 64 percent (16 of 25) of red zone opportunities into points.
Stopping the Run
Kansas State’s rushing defense, which ranks 17th nationally and has held three of its last four opponents below 100 yards on the ground, will face a stiff test in Missouri’s No. 6 rated rushing offense.
For the season, Kansas State's defensive unit has been solid vs. the run. Dating to last year, K-State has held 14 of its last 20 opponents under 100 yards rushing, including 10 in a row a one point. Kansas became the fourth opponent of the year held under 100 yards, gaining 89 on 30 attempts, while Baylor became the Cats’ fifth victim, rushing for just 52 yards on 43 attempts, and Iowa State the sixth (28 for 39). Overall, opponents are averaging just 107.2 yards per game, second in the Big 12 behind Oklahoma.
Point-less
Kansas State has held 14 of its last 25 opponents to 10 points or less, including Troy State, UMass, Kansas, Baylor, Iowa State and Nebraska this season. Over that stretch, the Wildcats have given up more than 20 points just six times. K-State, which leads the Big 12 in shutouts with 12 since the formation of the league, ranks 10th in the nation and third in the Big 12 in scoring defense, allowing 15.7 points per game. Since 1990, the Cats are 63-0 when holding foes to 10 or fewer points.
K-State among nation's elite in TDs allowed
In addition to being the only school in the nation to rank in the top five in total defense in each of the last six seasons, the Wildcats have been one of the country’s stingiest squads when it comes to yielding defensive touchdowns. Since the start of the 1999 season, Kansas State ranks fourth in defensive touchdowns allowed with 106.
Add shutouts
Kansas State notched its first shutout of the 2003 season last week at Iowa State, blanking the Cyclones 45-0. Since Bill Snyder's arrival in the Little Apple, K-State has posted 19 shutouts, including at least one in each of the last 10 seasons. On the yardage front, Snyder-coached K-State teams have held opponents to less than 200 total yards 35 times, including five in 2002 and four in 2003.
Stop, Thief
Kansas State continues to be tough on opposing offenses when it comes to forcing turnovers.
Since the start of the 1999 season, K-State is second in the nation in interceptions with 94.
With 15 picks this season, K-State has now had at least one interception in 61 of the last 70 games and in 71 of the last 79 outings, counting bowl games and including 10 of 12 games so far in 2003.
The Wildcats have snared 43 interceptions in their last 31 games, a string dating back to 2001 that includes the Insight.com Bowl.
K-State has grabbed 30 picks in its last 19 games.
Overall, the Cats have had 96 takeaways in the last 42 games, including 24 in the last eight games of 2002 (14 interceptions/10 fumbles) and 24 (15 interceptions/9 fumbles) so far this season.
Scoring streak a record
Kansas State extended its consecutive games scoring streak to 88 last week at Nebraska. The 88-game stretch is a school record as the Wildcats have not been kept off the scoreboard since Colorado blanked K-State, 12-0, in 1996. The previous longest streak was 60 games and occurred between 1991 and 1996.
Poll watching
Kansas State gained seven spots in both rankings this week, moving to No. 18 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches’ Poll at No. 19 in the AP Top-25.
K-State’s back-to-back four-point losses at Texas and Oklahoma State dropped the Wildcats from both polls for the first time in 23 ranking periods. The last time the Cats did not appear in either poll, prior to Oct. 12, 2003, occurred on Sept. 8, 2002, when Kansas State sat just outside both rankings.
K-State's No. 5 preseason ranking in the Coaches' Poll was the highest ever for the Wildcats, who have appeared in the top 25 of seven preseason AP and ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Polls since joining the Big 12 in 1996.
Quarterback Keeper
Kansas State quarterback Ell Roberson continues to be one of the nation’s top all-around signal callers. In seven games since returning to the lineup, Roberson has amassed and incredible 1,987 yards of total offense, including a career-high 403 yards vs. Nebraska and 393 at Oklahoma State that stand as the sixth- and eighth-best single-game performances in school history. Since getting back on the field, Roberson has set four career records, including total touchdowns (37), rushing touchdowns (37) touchdowns responsible for (70) and total offense (7,137).
The senior also moved past Eric Hickson into second place on K-State’s career rushing chart with 2,629 yards, while he ranks fifth all-time in passing yards with 4,508 and tied for third in passing touchdowns with 33.
The total package
Ell Roberson is not only Kansas State all-time leader in total offense with 7,137 yards, the senior signal-caller is also just the fifth player in Big 12 Conference history to tally over 7,000 yards of total offense and just the third to do so with positive rushing yards. The first Wildcat to surpassing 4,000 passing yards and 2,000 rushing yards in a career, Roberson is also just the second player in league history to accomplish the feat, joining Nebraska’s Eric Crouch.
Roberson is also the only Wildcat to rank in K-State’s top five in both rushing (1st) and passing (T3rd) touchdowns.
Charting Ell-NCAA style
Kansas State quarterback Ell Roberson can be found in six different places on this week’s NCAA statistical charts, including fourth in points responsible for (19.6 per game), 11th in passing efficiency (154.8 rating) and 15th in total offense (274.0 yards per game). He also ranks as the country’s No. 5 rushing quarterback, placing 56th overall with 78.6 yards per game, and is tied for 43rd in scoring with 7.6 points per game.
Roberson is the only quarterback in the nation ranked in the top 15 in passing efficiency and the top 60 in rushing.
Ell in the K-State books
Ell Roberson is closing in on several K-State records and is ranked among the top 10 all-time in the following categories:
Second in career rushing: 2,629 yards.
Third in total points with 230 (he is the first none kicker to top 200 points in a career at Kansas State).
Tied for third in career touchdown passes: 33
Fifth in career passing yardage: 4,508.
Seventh in career completions: 270.
Throwing with purpose
Ell Roberson entered the 2003 season with just 13 career touchdown passes in his previous three seasons as a Wildcat. Through 10 games in 2003, the senior already surpassed that number, throwing for a single-season career-best 20 scores. That figure ranks tied for third on K-State’s single season chart.
Roberson is also having his best season ever from a completion percentage and pass efficiency rating standpoint, connecting on nearly 55 percent of his passes and posting an efficiency rating of 154.83.
Heating Up
In addition to having an outstanding season, Roberson has been at his best in the last five games. During K-State’s five-game winning streak Roberson has passed for 1,031 yards with a 62.2 percent completion percentage and 11 touchdowns, while rushing for 387 yards. He has also accounted for 17 touchdowns (6 rush/11 pass). Overall, Roberson has accounted for 61 percent of the team’s total offense (1,418/2,319 yards) during the five-game span.
Over 1,000 once more
Quarterback Ell Roberson topped the 1,000-yard passing mark for the second straight season with his 242-yard effort vs. Colorado. For 2003, Roberson has completed 115 of 210 attempts (54.8 percent) for 1,954 yards and 20 touchdowns in just 9.5 games. As a junior, Roberson passed for 1,580 yards in 12 appearances. He is the 24th Kansas State quarterback to pass for 1,000 yards in a season but just the seventh to do it in back to back years.
Roberson responsible
Despite missing 2.5 games, Ell Roberson has been responsible for over half of Kansas State’s 2003 touchdowns. Roberson, who ranks fourth in the nation in points responsible for (19.6) has had a hand in 32 of the Wildcats 61 touchdowns.
Sproles continues to roll
Darren Sproles recorded his third straight and 17th career 100-yard rushing performance at Nebraska. Sproles’ 141-yard was the sixth-best of his career and marked the seventh time the junior has eclipsed 100 yards in 2003.
Sproles, who ranks 11th in the NCAA with 120.0 yards per game, had a career rushing day at Iowa State, gaining 201 yards on 19 attempts (10.6 ypc) in just under three quarters of work. Included in Sproles’ effort were touchdown runs of 70, 32 and 23 yards as the junior became just the the seventh Wildcat in school history to rush for 200 yards in a game.
More Sproles
K-State’s career rushing leader, Darren Sproles now has 3,115 rushing yards on 493 carries, including 1,440 yards on 228 attempts this season.
Just the seventh player in Big 12 history to accumulate 3,000 yards rushing and the first Wildcat to do so, Sproles needs just 26 yards to re-set K-State’s single-season rushing mark set during 2002, when he gained 1,465 yards on 237 carries as a sophomore.
Sproles’ performance at Nebraska also marked the 17th time (continuing his school record) in the last 25 games that he has rushed for at least 100 yards in a game, including seven times this season. Combined with last week's 201-yard effort at Iowa State, Sproles has now gained 496 yards on 63 carries (165.3 ypg/7.9 ypg) in the last three games alone.
On the scoring front, Sproles' 22-yard touchdown run at Nebraska was the fourth of his career and moved the junior into second place on K-State's career rushing TD list with 31.
Breaking out
If the last three weeks have proven anything its that you can’t bottle up Darren Sproles forever. And while most backs are happy with 100 yards rushing in a game, Sproles has averaged 113.3 yards during the second half alone in each of the last three games. The junior rolled up 120 in the second session vs. Baylor before going for 117 (all in the third quarter at Iowa State). Last week, Sproles had 103 in the second half vs. Nebraska, including 77 in the fourth quarter.
Sproles new rushing king
Darren Sproles etched his name into the Kansas State record book vs. Kansas, taking over as the Wildcats' all-time leader in career rushing. Sproles, who finished the game with 2,619 yards on 430 carries, surpassed previous record-holder Eric Hickson, who gained 2,537 yards on 507 attempts during his K-State career from 1994-1998. Sproles overtook Hickson on his eighth carry of the game, needing just 419 attempts to earn the record - 88 fewer than Hickson.
All-Purpose Guy
Darren Sproles has gone over 100 yards of all-purpose yardage in 23 of the last 25 games, including a 308-yard performance vs. Baylor that stands behind only Mack Herron’s 321-yard performance vs. Colorado in 1969 on K-State’s single game chart. With 4,022 career all-purpose yards, a figure that ranks ninth on the Big 12 chart, Sproles is now just two yards shy of passing Aaron Lockett (4,023) as the Wildcats’ all-time leader in all-purpose yardage. The junior’s 2,012 all-purpose yards so far this season ranks as the seventh-best single-season performance in Big 12 history and has already surpassed the K-State record of 1,800 yard he set during 2002. Nationally, Sproles ranks No. 2 in all-purpose rushing average and No. 1 in total all-purpose yards. He is the only player in the country to have topped 2,000 all-purpose yards this season.
Rushing with the best
Darren Sproles ranks 11th in rushing average (120.0 ypg) and third in total yards (1,440 on 228 carries). However, the two players ranked ahead of Sproles in total rushing yards -- Chris Perry (1,435 yards on 284 carries) of Michigan and Michael Turner of Northern Illinois (1,482 yards on 285 carries) -- have done so with at least 56 more attempts than the K-State junior, who leads the nation in yards per carry (6.32) among players with at least 200 carries.
The new millennium
Junior running back Darren Sproles became the first Wildcat to rush for 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons vs. Baylor, finishing the game with 1,099 through 10 games. During 2002, Sproles became the fastest Wildcat ever to reach 1,000 yards in a season, hitting the number on his 159th carry of the season. He went on to finish the year with a school-record 1,465 yards on 237 carries. K-State has had just eight 1,000-yard rushers in its history, including Sproles’ 2002 and 2003 seasons.
Frequent visitor
Darren Sproles ranks tied for second at Kansas State in career rushing touchdowns (31) and second in career total touchdowns (33).
With his 15 touchdowns so far this season, Sproles has now found the end zone at least once in 15 of K-State last 17 games.
Fourteen of Sproles’ TDs have come on runs over 20 yards, including four over 50. All totaled, the junior is averaging a whopping 20.6 yards per rushing touchdown.
Sproles is K-State’s leader in both touchdowns scored with 15 and total points with 90 this season.
Sproles scored his first receiving (OSU) and first special teams (Kansas) TDs of his career this year.
Iron Man
Center Nick Leckey has been a stalwart on the offensive line for Kansas State. The senior, who enters the Nebraska game with 37 straight starts (38career) dating back to the 2001 season opener, was tapped as a preseason All-American by Sports Illustrated, The Sporting News and Playboy and was on watch lists for the Rimington, Outland Trophy and Lombardi awards.
Big Play James
James Terry may not be on the Biletnikoff Award watch list, but perhaps he should be.
Through 12 games, Terry has hauled in 56 receptions for 1,084 yards (90.3 ypg) and 12 touchdowns and is averaging 19.4 yards every time he touches the ball.
Terry’s career-high 175 yards at Nebraska stand as the eight-best single-game in school history and marked the sixth time he has had over 100 yards receiving this season, tying K-State season record.
The senior also had two touchdown receptions vs. the Huskers, giving him 12 for the season and moving him within two of tying Quincy Morgan’s K-State record of 14 set in 2000.
Terry enters the Missouri game with 17 career TD catches to rank third all time at K-State. He also ranks seventh in career receiving yards with 1,645 yards and is within 83 yards of topping Quincy Morgan’s single-season K-State record of 1,116.
With 1,084 receiving yards this season, Terry ranks eighth nationally in total yardage and second in the Big 12. He is one of seven players in the nation with at least 1000 yards receiving and 10 touchdowns -- a list that includes just three Biletnikoff semifinalists.
Terry’s 12 receiving touchdowns are tied for fifth in the NCAA this season. Ten of his 12 TDs have come in the last six games.
The senior’s 19.4 yards-per-catch average is 14th nationally and fourth among players with at lest 50 receptions.
Terry extended his games with a catch streak to 18 at Nebraska with six receptions for 175 yards.
Three amigos ride again
Kansas State's terrific threesome of quarterback Ell Roberson, running back Darren Sproles and wide receiver James Terry accomplished something no other trio has been able to do in school history against California. With Roberson and Sproles rushing for 145 and 175 yards, respectively, and Terry hauling in four passes for 116 yards, the threesome marked the first time in K-State history that the Wildcats have had two 100-yard rushers and a 100-yard receiver in the same game.
The trio hit another milestone against Nebraska. Roberson’s 313 yards passing combined with Sproles 141 on the ground and Terry’s 175 through the air marked the first time Kansas State has had a 300-yard passer, a 100-yard rusher and a 100-yard receiver in the same game since Jonathan Beasley passed for 311 yards, Joe Hall gained 112 yards rushing and George Williams hauled in 146 yards receiving at Oklahoma State on Oct. 23, 1999.
Buhl having big season
Kansas State linebacker Josh Buhl, the Big 12’s defensive player of the week for games of Sept. 13 and the league’s leading tackler with 13.0 per game, has consistently ranked among the top two in the NCAA in total tackles all season. After receiving credit for eight stops at Nebraska -- just his second single-digit effort of the season -- he now has 156 on the year, which ranks fifth on K-State’s single-season chart. On pace to threaten K-State’s single-season tackle record currently held by Gary Spani (1977) and Danny Lankas (1967) with 178, Buhl has recorded double-figure stops in 10 of 12 games this season, including 18-tackle performances three times, a 15-tackle outing vs. Baylor, a 12-tackle performance vs. Colorado and an 11-tackle game at Texas. At his current pace, Buhl would end the regular season in the top three on K-State's single-season tackle chart with 176.
Buhl’s 148 total tackles includes 89 solo stops and are 66 more than Kansas State’s No. 2 tackler, Bryan Hickman, who has received credit for 90 total tackles. He enters the Missouri game ranked fifth on the Wildcats’ career tackles chart with 370.
Rheem adding up
Junior place-kicker Joe Rheem has shrugged off a shaky 2002 campaign and has proved to be a reliable weapon thus far in 2003.
Through 12 games, Rheem is second on the team in scoring with 88 points (55 extra points and 11 field goals). He also ranks nationally in two categories, including 50th in scoring (7.33 points per game) and 65th in field goals (0.92 per game).
For his career, Rheem has scored 200 total points and ranks fifth all-time in scoring at K-State.
He entered the Colorado game having made 46 consecutive PAT attempts dating back to the second quarter of the Iowa State game on Nov. 9, 2002, including all 25 tries this year, before having his second attempt of the game blocked.
Overall, Rheem has made 128-of-137 extra-point attempts in his career, which ranks third on K-State's career list for both PA
