Kansas State University Athletics
Kansas State University
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K-State Rides Schwinn To 38-7 Victory Over Massachusetts
Sep 13, 2003 | Football
by DOUG TUCKER, AP Sports Writer
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) -- Even though he was about to take over for a quarterback in the running for the Heisman Trophy, Jeff Schwinn had no trouble sleeping.
The problem for the nervous career backup was getting to sleep.
But after tossing and turning for more than an hour, the rarely used senior got enough rest to pass for 228 yards and lead No. 7 Kansas State (4-0) past Division I-AA Massachusetts 38-7 on Saturday.
It was not a perfect debut for the rarely seen backup to Ell Roberson, who is out indefinitely with an injury to his left hand.
It was not bad, though, for a guy who hadn't started a game since he played for tiny McLouth, Kan., High School five years ago.
``I laid there going over the preparation for the game, trying to think about the defenses, visualize what I had to do to get us in the right plays,'' Schwinn said. ``I think overall I did all right.''
As expected, he had plenty of help. Darren Sproles rushed for 152 yards and three touchdowns and the defense held the Minutemen to 27 yards on the ground.
Four years of anonymity for the former walk-on, running the scout team and never getting near the spotlight all seemed worth it when Schwinn finally took the field.
``It's everything it could be, playing for the No. 7 team,'' Schwinn said. ``Out there on the field, it is totally different. I felt real comfortable after I got a few snaps in.''
Sproles had 115 yards at halftime and sparked a 21-0 burst in the second quarter after the Minutemen seized a surprising 7-3 lead.
Schwinn was intercepted twice, including on his first possession. But he eventually found his range and went 17-of-26 with one touchdown pass against a Massachusetts defense that was clearly at a speed disadvantage.
``Jeff had a little rocky start with an interception,'' said Kansas State coach Bill Snyder. ``He threw a couple of balls which probably shouldn't have been thrown. Overall ... he did fine.''
Schwinn threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to tight end Brian Casey in the second quarter to give the Wildcats a 10-7 lead.
His 31-yard completion to James Terry set up Sproles with a 1-yard TD run in the third that put the Wildcats on top 31-7 and sent them on their way to their 41st straight nonconference home win. It was the 10th victory overall for Kansas State, the fourth-longest streak in the nation.
The Minutemen (1-1) stunned Kansas State when Jeff Krohn connected with Jason Peebler on a 65-yard touchdown play on the game's first series. Peebler got behind Louis Lavender, who replaced departed All-America cornerback Terence Newman, and went the final 30 yards untouched.
``That's what we wanted to do, to come in and establish ourselves and let them know we were here to play,'' Krohn said. ``It was awesome to come in and see the crowd and see the fans support Kansas State. They are such a fast and good team. They deserve to be ranked where they are.''
Terry had eight catches for 120 yards for the Wildcats, who have won 10 in a row over I-AA opponents.
Sproles, who had a career-high 175 yards the week before against I-AA McNeese State, broke a 42-yard run in the second quarter and a moment later scored on a 2-yard plunge.
On the Wildcats' second touchdown drive, he had runs of 7, 13 and 16 yards on consecutive carries. The 5-foot-7 junior also had an 8-yard TD run.
The Minutemen were effectively shut down the final three quarters and wound up with a net 27 yards rushing compared with Kansas State's 235.
``They're fast and they run to the ball. They're good,'' said Minuteman running back Steve Baylark. ``They have fast players who run hard and get to the plays.''
Late in the fourth quarter, the crowd roared when redshirt freshman Dylan Meier replaced Schwinn and hit Terry for a 27-yard gain on his first pass. Meier capped a 57-yard drive with an 8-yard TD run.
Joe Rheem's 38-yard field goal was the only score the sputtering Wildcats could muster in the first quarter -- on a drive that was aided by a 15-yard pass interference penalty against the Minutemen.
