Kansas State Football
Game No. 5
Marshall (1-2) at No. 6/6 Kansas State (4-0)
Saturday, Sept. 20, 2003
11:40 p.m. (Central)
KSU Stadium
(50,000 FieldTurf)
Manhattan, Kan.
Kickoff: 11:40 p.m. (Central)
Television: Live nationally on Fox Sports Net. Joel Meyers will call the action with Dave Lapham providing the color analysis. Jim Knox will serve as the broadcast's sideline reporter. The producer is Bob Steinfeld. The game is Kansas State's second national telecast of the young season after opening the year vs. California on ESPN.
Radio: Live across the 28-station Mid America Sports Network. Wyatt Thompson (color), Stan Weber (play-by-play) 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 enters the game with a 4-0 record after defeating Massachusetts, 38-7. It is the Wildcats' ninth 4-0 start in the last 11 seasons. Marshall is coming off a 24-17 loss to Toledo in its conference opener and is 1-2.
Rankings: Kansas State enters the contest ranked No. 6 in the AP Top 25 and No. 6 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll. Marshall is not ranked.
Series: Saturday's game is the first meeting on the gridiron between Kansas State and Marshall.
Coaches: Kansas State's Bill Snyder, enters Saturday's contest with a 120-51-1 (.701) record in 14-plus seasons with the Wildcats. Bob Pruitt owns a career record of 81-15 (.844) and is in his eighth season as head coach of the Thundering Herd.
No. 6/6 K-State wraps up non-conference slate vs. Marshall
The No. 6/6-ranked Kansas State Wildcats put the finishing touches on their 2003 five-game non-conference schedule Saturday, when the Marshall Thundering Herd rumbles into KSU Stadium for an 11:40 a.m. kickoff.
The game is the last of a season-long four-game homestand for K-State, which secured its ninth 4-0 start in the past 11 seasons with a 38-7 victory over Massachusetts.
Fox Sports Net will be on hand for a national cable system broadcast of the contest, which is first ever between the Cats and Herd. Joel Meyers will call the action with Dave Lapham providing the color commentary and Jim Knox serving as the sideline reporter.
The Marshall at Kansas State broadcast, the Wildcats' earliest kickoff of the young season, will be K-State's second national television appearance of the year. Kansas State opened the season in the BCA Classic at Arrowhead Stadium vs. California on ESPN. Overall, Kansas State has been a part of 24 Fox Sports Net broadcast since the formation of the Big 12 in 1996, including 13 national broadcasts.
At stake for K-State
Kansas State brings a number of streaks into Saturday's non-conference finale vs. Marshall:
K-State will put the nation's fourth-longest overall winning streak on the line vs. the Thundering Herd. The Wildcats have won 10 in a row dating to last season. Only defending national champion Ohio State (17), Boise State (13) and Southern California (11) own longer current winning streaks.
The Wildcats have won 39 consecutive regular-season games against non-conference opposition, including K-State's victories over California, Troy State, McNeese State and UMass this season. The win over Troy State was also the Wildcats' 14th straight in a home opener.
Overall, K-State has won 41 consecutive non-conference home games. The Wildcats' last non-conference loss on Wagner Field occurred on Sept. 23, 1989, when Northern Illinois handed K-State a 37-20 loss.
Scintillating Septembers
Kansas State's victories over California and Troy State improved the Wildcats' all-time record in August to a perfect 6-0. However, K-State hasn't been too shabby in September home games either, winning its last 38 straight during the month in KSU Stadium. In all September games, the Cats are 37-1 since 1992. The lone loss during that stretch occurred on Sept. 29, 2001 at then-No. 3 Oklahoma, 38-37.
One for the thumb
With its ninth 4-0 record in the last 11 seasons already in the record books, Kansas State takes aim at its sixth 5-0 start of the Bill Snyder era Saturday vs. Marshall. K-State came close a year ago, running out to a 4-0 record before dropping a heartbreaker at Colorado, 35-31, in game No. 5. Snyder's Wildcats produced their first 5-0 start during the 1993 season, a break-out campaign that produced K-State's first bowl victory (Copper). Kansas State also opened 5-0 during the 1995, '98, '99. The Cats' last 5-0 debut occurred three seasons ago in 2000. K-State's best start occurred during the 1998 campaign, when the Wildcats rolled to 11 straight wins and a No. 2 national ranking before falling to Texas A&M in the Big 12 Championship game. Overall, K-State has been 4-1 or better through its first five games in 10 of 14 seasons under Snyder.
Early start
Kansas State played in one of the nation's first contests of the year, when the Wildcats opened their 108th year on the gridiron Aug. 23 in the 2003 BCA Classic vs. California at Arrowhead Stadium. The game was the earliest start in school history for the Wildcats. To put things in perspective, as recently as 1999 K-State did not start its season until Sept. 11. Last Saturday on Sept. 13, the Cats played their fourth game of the year.
Come early, stay late
Not only did Kansas State play its earliest game ever, but if the Wildcats were to win the Big 12 North they would also play a record number of games - 15. K-State played a current school-record 14 games in 2000, opening in the Eddie Robinson Classic vs. Iowa on Aug. 26 before taking on its 11-game regular season schedule, advancing to the Big 12 Championship game and playing in the Cotton Bowl. Should the Cats win the North, their season could span seven months (including two practice day's in July and a possible New Year's Day or post New Year's bowl berth), and at least 156 days.
Marshall Minute
Kansas State will be facing a dangerous Marshall squad when the Wildcats and Thundering Herd do battle Saturday. The defending Mid-American champions are coming off an 11-2 campaign in 2002, but have gotten off to an up-and-down start to their 2003 campaign. The Herd opened the year with a 45-21 win over Hofstra, before traveling to Tennessee and taking the Vols to the wire in a 34-24 loss at Neyland Stadium. Marshall slipped to 1-2 on the year Friday night in its conference opener, falling to Toledo, 24-17.
Similar to Kansas State, the Herd was without its primary offensive weapon last week in it its loss to the Rockets as quarterback Stan Hill, a 67-percent passer on the year, was sidelined for the game with an injury. If he is again unable to go Saturday in Manhattan, Marshall will hand the ball to Graham Gochneaur, who is connecting on nearly 80 percent of his passing attempts (39-of-50), to lead its high-percentage passing attack.
On the ground, Franklin Wallace (59.3 ypg) and Earl Charles (41.3 ypg) have proven to be more than capable rushing threats, while place-kickers Nick Kelly and Ben Lewis are a combined 3-of-4 on the year on field goals, making all three attempts inside of 40 yards.
Defensively, Willie Smith leads the Herd defense with 28 total tackles. Marshall has already recorded eight sacks as a team thus far on the year, including 3.5 by Toriano Brown.
Marshall is led by Bob Pruett, one of college football's most successful coaches. In his seven-plus seasons at the helm, Pruett has guided the Thundering Herd to an 81-15 (.844) record, including 11-win seasons in five of the last seven years. Since 1997, he and K-State head coach Bill Snyder rank first and second, respectively, in coaching victories.
MAC Daddies
Saturday's match up between Kansas State and Marshall will be the first ever between the two schools. The Wildcats are a perfect 6-0 when facing a Mid-American Conference opponent. Overall, K-State is 8-2 vs. current MAC members. K-State's most recent encounter with a MAC program occurred on Sept. 16, 2000, when the Wildcats manhandled Ball State, 76-0, at KSU Stadium. In 1997, K-State opened the season with three-straight Mid-American Conference opponents, knocking off Northern Illinois, Ohio and Bowling Green. Overall, the Cats have outscored their MAC rivals by an average score of 48-13.
Finally, tape to review
Marshall (1-2) will be the first Kansas State opponent of the season not to be playing in its season opener or its second game of the year. The Cats faced California in the season opener for both squads before K-State hosted Troy State for the Trojans' 2003 debut. Both McNeese State and Massachusetts had just one game under their belts before arriving in the Little Apple.
Among the unbeaten
It's still early, but Kansas State is one of only 29 unbeatean teams left in college football, six of which -- including the Wildcats -- hail from the Big 12 Conference. K-State, the nation's lone 4-0 club, is also one of just 16 teams in the country with at least a 3-0 record.
Streaking with the Cats
Kansas State brings the nation's fourth-longest active winning streak into Saturday's game vs. Marshall after rolling up victories in each of its final six games of 2002 and sprinting to a 4-0 start in 2003. The Wildcats have not tasted defeat since dropping a 17-14 heartbreaker to Texas on Oct. 19 last season. The nation's longest winning streak belongs to 2002 national champ Ohio State, which has won 18 straight. Boise State (13) and Southern California (11) are the others with longer intact streaks that K-State.
More streaking
In addition to its current 10-game winning streak, here are a couple more K-State streaks:
Kansas State has won 11 games in five of the last six seasons and joins Nebraska and Florida State as the only two programs in the history of college football to accomplish that feat.
K-State has won at least nine games in nine of the last 10 seasons.
Kansas State has capped each of its last 10 seasons with a bowl trip, making K-State one of just seven programs with an intact double-figure bowl streak.
The Wildcats have won 14 straight season openers and 14 consecutive home openers.
Kansas State has won 39 straight regular-season games vs. non-conference opposition. The Cats' last non-conference loss was on Oct. 17, 1992, when K-State dropped a 28-16 decision at Utah State.
K-State has won 41 straight non-conference home games. The last loss to a non-league foe at KSU Stadium was a 37-20 setback vs. Northern Illinois on Sept. 30, 1989.
Piling up the yards
Kansas State continues to be one of the nation's most potent offensive attacks in terms of total offense. The Wildcats enter the week ranked 11th in the nation in rushing offense with 241.5 yards per game and 24th in terms of total offense, averaging 454.25 per contest. Though K-State just missed hitting the 400-yard make vs. Troy State (392), the Cats have totaled at least 400 yards in seven of their last nine games, including a 535-yard effort vs. California and a 400-yard performances against McNeese State and UMass. The only other miss during that nine-game stretch, besides the Troy State game, was a 385-yard outing against Iowa State on Nov. 9, 2002. Dating to the start of the 2002 season, Kansas State has produced over 400 yards of total offense in 11 of 17 games.
Rushing to victory
Kansas State has out-rushed each of its four opponents this season, and is averaging 241.5 yards per game on the ground while allowing just 62.5. For the season, the Wildcats have rolled up an impressive 966 yards rushing compared to only 250 by its opponents. Including the Massachusetts game, Kansas State has now out-rushed each of its last 17 opponents, rolling to a 15-2 record in those games.
Topping 200
The Wildcats have topped the 200-yard plateau on the ground in eight of their last 10 games, including a 235-yard effort vs. Massachusetts last week. Since 1990, Kansas State is 64-3 when rushing for at least 200 yards and 66-9 with a 100-yard rusher. K-State, which had four rushing scores vs. the Minutemen, has also scored a rushing touchdown in each of its last 31 non-bowl games.
Roaring 40s
With its 42 points against California, 41 points vs. Troy State and 55 points against McNeese State, Kansas State has topped the 40-point mark in seven of its last 10 games -- all wins. The misses during that stretch were a 34-point outing vs. Arizona State in the 2002 Pacific Life Holiday Bowl, a 38-point performance at Missouri in the 2002 regular-season finale and a 38-point effort last week vs. Massachusetts. Dating back to the start of the 2002 season, the Wildcats have eclipsed the 40-point mark in 11 of 17 games and have not been held out of the end zone since scoring just three points vs. Syracuse in the 2001 Insight.com Bowl.
Purple lightning
Kansas State has unleashed a vicious, quick-strike attack in the past three games. The Wildcats got off to a bit of a slow start in the driving rain vs. Troy State before putting five touchdowns on the board in just 13:26 and roaring to 35-5 halftime edge. Against McNeese State, the strikes came even quicker. Already ahead 10-0, K-State reeled off 21 points in a 2:05 stretch of the first half behind a 34-yard touchdown run by Darren Sproles, a 45-yard interception return by Rashad Washington and a blocked put return by David Rose for a commanding 31-0 lead with 13:45 still to play before intermission. Versus UMass, K-State put 21 points on the board in the second quarter for a 24-7 lead at the break. Overall, 21 of K-State's 28 scores have come on dives of less that 3:00, with 14 resulting from drives of 2:00 or less.
Midwest sack exchange
Despite replacing three starters on its defensive front from a year ago, Kansas State continues to get incredible productivity out of its defensive line. Entering the Marshall game, the Wildcats have recorded a Big 12-best 19 sacks, including five by junior Kevin Huntley. In all, 12 different players have recorded sacks for K-State. On the flip side, the Wildcat offensive line has allowed just six sacks in its first four games of the year.
Tough vs. the Run
Kansas State has held 11 of its last 12 opponents and three of four this season under 100 yards rushing. McNeese State stopped K-State consecutive games streak of holding opponents under 100 yards at 10, gaining 122 vs. the Wildcats. Still, it took the Cowboys 45 attempts (2.7 ypc) to hit the mark. K-State, however, returned to form last week vs. Massachusetts, holding the Minutemen to just 27 yards on 30 attempts. So far this season, opponents are averaging 62.5 yards per game, which ranks 12th in the nation and first in the Big 12. K-State held Cal to just 62 yards on 29 attempts (2.1 ypc), before limiting Troy State to just 39 yards on 37 carries (1.1 ypc) in the first two games of the year.
No red-zone rushing
Kansas State has been especially stingy on the ground inside the red zone. So far in 2003, the Wildcats are just one of 10 teams in the nation yet to yield a rushing touchdown and only one of five teams not to allow a score on the ground that have played at least three games (USC, Georgia, Missouri and San Diego State are the others). In fact, K-State has only given up three rushing scores in its last 12 games and just seven rushing TDs in its last 17 outings.
Point-less
Kansas State has held 10 of its last 18 opponents to 10 points or less, including Troy State and UMass this season. Over that stretch, the Wildcats have given up more than 20 points just twice (at Colorado; vs. California). K-State, which leads the Big 12 in shutouts with 11 since the formation of the league, ranks 13th in the nation in scoring defense and third in the Big 12, allowing 13.5 points per game. Since 1990, the Wildcats are 59-0 when holding foes to 10 or fewer points.
More Defense
Though Kansas State has yet to notch a shutout in 2003, the Wildcats did recorded three shutouts during the 2002 campaign. Since Bill Snyder's arrival in the Little Apple, K-State has posted 18 shutouts, including at least one in each of the last nine seasons. On the yardage front, Snyder-coached K-State teams have held opponents to less than 200 total yards 33 times, including five in 2002 and two already in 2003.
Stop, Thief
Kansas State continues to be tough on opposing offenses.
With five picks already this season, K-State has now had at least one interception in 54 of the last 62 games and in 64 of the last 71 outings, counting bowl games and including all 3 of 4 games so far in 2003.
The Wildcats have had 33 interceptions in their last 22 games, a string dating back to 2001 that includes the Insight.com Bowl.
K-State has grabbed 20 pics in its last 12 games.
Overall, the Cats have had 80 takeaways in the last 35 games, including 24 in the last eight games of 2002 (14 interceptions/10 fumbles) and eight (5 interceptions/3 fumbles) so far this season.
Hustle points
A team's hustle on the field is often gauged by fumble recoveries. So far in 2003, there have been eight fumbles in Kansas State's four games. Of the eight, the Wildcats have pounced on six, including all three of their opponent's miscues and three of their own five drops.
Very Special Teams
Kansas State has developed a knack for superior special teams play in recent years. The Wildcats have turned in a pair of superior efforts in the past three weeks. Against Troy State, Ted Sims blocked a Trojan punt during the second quarter that was scooped up by Danny Morris, who vaulted into the end zone for a touchdown for his third career touchdown on special teams. Versus McNeese State, the Cats snuffed two more punts with David Rose taking the first in for a score and K-State downing the second at the 1-yard line. Last week, vs. Massachusetts, the Wildcats recorded their first field goal block of the season as Scott Edmonds got a paw on a second-quarter attempt by the Minutemen.
Doubling up
Kansas State has proved to be virtually unbeatable when the Wildcats score on special teams and defense in the same game. K-State turned the trick for the 13th time since 1990 against McNeese State taking both a blocked punt and an interceptions in for scores. Since 1990 the Cats are 13-0 when scoring on defense and special teams in the same game.
Poll watching
Kansas State moved up one spot in the Associated Press Top 25, checking in at No. 6, and held steady in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll at No. 6, following its 38-7 win over Massachusetts. The Wildcats, who have been ranked in both polls for 19 consecutive ranking periods, dating to the Sept. 15 polls of last season, are one of five Big 12 teams ranked in this week's polls. 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 7 preseason AP and ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Polls since joining the Big 12 in 1996, but never higher than the No. 6 ranking the Cats earned prior to the 1998 season. In the AP Top 25, K-State's No. 7 preseason ranking was the highest debut for the Wildcats since opening at No. 6 in 1998.
More poll talk
Kansas State opened the 2003 season ranked No. 7 in the preseason Associated top 25 and No. 5 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll.
K-State's preseason ranking marks the seventh time in the last eight years that the Wildcats have debuted in the top 25 of both polls. It is also the third time in the last six years that the Cats have been ranked in the top 10 of each poll, as Kansas State was ranked in the preseason top 10 in 1998 and 2000.
The Wildcats' 2003 preseason rankings are among the highest in school history. Kansas State's initial ranking of No. 5 is its highest debut ever in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll. Prior to 2003, K-State's highest preseason ranking by the coaches was No. 6 in 1998. In the AP Top 25, K-State has been ranked higher in the preseason just once when the Cats debuted at No. 6 in 1998.
The only time in the last eight years the Wildcats have not been ranked in either preseason poll occurred last season. Ironically, Kansas State finished 2002 by equaling its highest final ranking in the coaches' poll in school history - No. 6. K-State also finished up ranked No. 6 in both 1995 and 1999.
Just Schwinn, baby
Kansas State quarterback Jeff Schwinn made his collegiate debut in a starting roll last week vs. Massachusetts and the Wildcat offense hardly missed a beat. K-State rolled up 490 yards in total offense behind a balance attack the featured 235 yards on the ground and 255 yards via the air with Schwinn at the at the controls. With early Heisman candidate Ell Roberson on the sidelines, Schwinn stepped in and led the K-State with 246 yards of total offense, including a 17-for-26, 228-yard passing performance that included a 7-yard touchdown pass to tight end Brian Casey. In fact, Schwinn passed for more yardage vs. UMass (228) than he had previously in his entire K-State career (197). The senior quarterback also totaled 18 yards rushing on seven attempts.
Quarterback Keeper
If he is able to go Saturday, Kansas State's offense will be directed by one of the early, early candidates for the 2003 Heisman Trophy in senior Ell Roberson. One of the nation's most dangerous dual-threat quarterbacks, Roberson proved to be a lethal weapon in K-State's first three games of the season, rushing for 251 yards and passing for 502 in just nine quarters of action. With 3,056 yards passing and 2,094 yards rushing, he is the only player in K-State history to rush for over 2,000 yards and pass for over 3,000 yards in a career.
Roberson's 145-yard rushing effort vs. California was the fourth-best ever by a K-State quarterback and the seventh time he has topped 100 yards on the ground in his career.
More Roberson
Roberson's seven 100-yard rushing games leads all quarterbacks at K-State and ranks sixth among all players.
Roberson scored four touchdowns in the first two games, giving him 29 for his career and moving him into fourth place on K-State's career TD list and second on the school's rushing TD chart.
Roberson has also proved to be a solid aerial threat, passing for 502 yards and throwing five touchdowns thus far in 2003.
On this week's NCAA charts, Roberson ranks sixth in the nation in points responsible for (18.67 ppg) and 30th in total offense (251.0 ypg). His is also the country's No. 3 rushing quarterback and ranks 45th overall with a 107.0 yards per game average. In passing Roberson checks in at No. 12 in efficiency with a rating of 161.0.
Chart watching with Ell
Ell Roberson became just the fifth Wildcat to go over the 5,000-yard mark for total offense in a career. Roberson (5,150) needs just 630 yards to break Lynn Dickey's school record of 5,779.
Roberson also became just the fifth Wildcat and the first quarterback in school history to top 2,000 yards on the ground in a career with his 69-yard rushing performance vs. the Trojans. With 2,094 yards rushing after the McNeese State game, he needs just 444 yards to break Erick Hickson's school mark of 2,537.
Roberson's three rushing touchdowns vs. Troy State gave him 29 for his career. That figure ranks fourth on K-State's career touchdown chart and second on the school's career rushing TD list.
With his 145-yard rushing effort vs. Cal in the season opener, Roberson now owns seven of the top 10 single-game rushing performances by a quarterback in school history, including three of the top four.
Nothing new for Ell
Ell Roberson's performances thus far in 2003 are nothing new for the senior quarterback. Below are just a few of Roberson's exploits from 2002:
Roberson set a Kansas State single-game rushing record against Nebraska, amassing 228 yards on 29 carries and scoring three touchdowns.
Roberson set single-play, single-game and single-season records for rushing yards by a K-State quarterback with the performance vs. the Huskers. His 91-yard touchdown with 2:27 left in the first quarter vs. Nebraska was the longest on record by a Wildcat QB, and the longest by any Wildcat since Gerald Hackney went a school-record 96 yards against Kansas in 1948.
Add Roberson
With 1,032 yards in 2002 Roberson surpassed the single-season record for rushing yards by a QB of 748 by Michael Bishop in 1998 and became just the seventh Wildcat to top 1,000 yards in a single season.
With 4,397 total offense yards during 2002, Roberson became just the eighth Wildcat past the 4,000-yard mark in school history.
Ell Roberson's final pass efficiency rating of 136.5 would have ranked 20th in the nation if he had enough attempts to qualify for the national list. He finished five attempts below the 15 per game required.
Sproles continues to roll
Darren Sproles had another banner day last week vs. UMass, finishing the game with 152 yards on a career-high 28 attempts, including touchdown runs of 2, 8 and 1 yards in just three quarters of work. The three TDs equaled a career-high for Sproles and moved him into K-State's No. 5 slot for career rushing touchdowns with 24. He also climbed into the No. 5 spot on K-State's career rushing chart and enters the Marshall game with 2,152 yards, just 114 yards shy of becoming the Wildcats' No. 2 all-time rusher.
Right where he left off
Darren Sproles has picked up right where he left off in 2002:
Through four games, Sproles had gained 477 yards on 76 carries (6.3 ypc) and ranks 15th nationally and second in the Big 12 with a 119.25 rushing yards per game average, despite seeing action in just 11 of 16 quarters this season.
Sproles' 152-yard effort vs. UMass stands as the third-best of his career and marked the second time already this season that he has topped 150 yards on the ground. The junior gaining a career high 175 yards on 22 carries, including a 5-yard touchdown run, against California in the season opener.
Sproles has now cleared the 100-yard rushing mark in 3 of 4 games this season, 11 of the last 12 games overall and a K-State record 13 times during his career.
Included in Sproles' 152 yards vs. UMass was a 42-yard run during the third quarter that was his fifth in excess of 25 yards so far this season.
With his three rushing touchdowns vs. Massachusetts, Sproles has now scored at least one rushing touchdown in each of the last 10 games.
Sproles rewind
Darren Sproles' 2002 campaign was filled with one highlight after another, as he gained 1,465 yards on the ground during to become the Wildcats' all-time single-season rushing leader. Below are a few of Sproles' 2002 accomplishments:
Sproles ended the regular season with 1,465 yards, eclipsing the mark of 1,263 set during 2001 by Josh Scobey for tops on K-State's single-season list.
Sproles set eight other K-State records during 2002, including the single-season mark for most all-purpose yards with 1,800. The old record of 1,648 was set by Henry Hawthorne in 1970.
Sproles ended the year with a streak of nine consecutive 100-yard games and 10 for the season.
Josh Scobey had seven 100-yard games in 2002, while Isaac Jackson had six straight 100-yard games in 1973. Jackson and Sproles are the only Wildcats ever to string together more than three 100-yard games.
During 2002 Sproles became the fastest Wildcat ever to reach 1,000 yards, hitting the mark on his 159th carry of the 2002 season.
Sproles averaged 124.9 yards per game and 6.3 yards per carry during conference play, gaining 999 yards.
Sproles finished the 2002 season ranked 19th in the nation in rushing. On the list of NCAA rushers, Sproles' 6.18 per-carry average ranked fourth among players with at least 200 attempts. The only players with 200 carries ranked ahead of Sproles in yards per carry were Heisman Trophy candidates Larry Johnson of Penn State (7.70), Quentin Griffin of Oklahoma (6.56) and Willis McGahee of Miami, Fla. (6.22).
Sproles' per-carry average was nearly a full yard better than the school record of 5.34 set by Eric Hickson in 1998.
Sproles ranked 29th nationally in all-purpose yards and T34th in scoring.
Sproles' scored 104 points during 2002, becoming just the fifth Wildcat to top 100 points in a single season.
Dynamic Trio
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. It also was just the ninth time in school history that the Wildcats have had two 100-yard rushers in the same contest.
Big Play James
When the Wildcats need to make a long-distance call, they are increasingly dialing the number of senior wide receiver James Terry. Terry, who has hauled in a team-leading 17 receptions in Kansas State's first four games, has made every one count, averaging 23.0 yards per reception for a team-leading 391 yards receiving. In fact, Terry's receiving yards are the third best through four games during the Bill Snyder era at Kansas State.
Through four games, Terry has already topped 100-yards receiving three times this season and has accounted for nearly 46 percent of K-State's passing yardage.
Inside those totals are a number off big plays for the senior, who has already hauled in eight receptions in excess of 20 yards. He finished the Cal game with two 52-yard catches, including a touchdown, and added a 43-yarder vs. Troy State. Versus McNeese State, Terry hauled in four catches for 112 yards and a 43-yard touchdown. He may have had his best day in a K-State uniform vs. UMass, hauling in a career-high eight receptions for 120 yards, including strikes of 24 and 35 yards. And his numbers could have been even better had a 35-yard TD catch in the BCA Classic not been call back due to a holding penalty. Overall, Terry has had at least one catch in each of his last 11 games in which he played.
Terry, who is averaging 97.8 receiving yards per game, ranks 23rd nationally and third in the Big 12 in receiving yardage.
Buhl Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week
Kansas State senior linebacker Josh Buhl was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week after a stellar performance vs. Massachusetts. Buhl, who last week ranked eighth on the NCAA's tackles per game chart, equaled his career high for total tackles for the second straight week, making 18 stops vs. Minutemen, including nine solos, as the Wildcats limited UMass to just 191 yards of total offense. Included in Buhl's totals were a tackle for loss as the senior was involved in 38 percent (18 of 47) of the Massachusetts' non-punting plays from scrimmage. For the year, Buhl has been involved in 59 total tackles, nearly twice as many as K-State's No. 2 tackler Bryan Hickman (32 total stops). At his current pace of nearly 15 stops per game, Buhl would end the regular season tops on K-State's single-season tackle chart with 192, just ahead of NFF College Hall of Famer Gary Spani and Danny Lankas with 178 in 1977 and 1967, respectively.
More from Moriera
True freshmen haven't traditionally made a huge impact under head coach Bill Snyder with just 34 seeing action in his 14-plus seasons in Manhattan. Bucking the trend is wide receiver Jermaine Moriera. Just the fourth freshman wide out to crack the Wildcat lineup under Snyder, Moriera has appeared in all four games this season and has averaged 17.1 yards on eight receptions to rank second on the team. He has also taken over K-State's punt and kick return duties and owns the Cats' longest punt return of the season with his 39-yarder vs. McNeese State.
Iron Man
Center Nick Leckey has been a stalwart on the offensive line for Kansas State. The senior, who enters the Marshall game with 29 straight starts (30 career) dating back to the 2001 season opener, has been tapped as a preseason All-American by Sports Illustrated, The Sporting News and Playboy and is on watch lists for the Rimington, Outland Trophy and Lombardi awards.
Dennis stepping up
Sophomore wide receiver Davin Dennis appears ready to take on the role of K-State's No. 3 receiver after hauling down a career-high three receptions vs. McNeese State. Overall Dennis has snared five passes on the year, including touchdown grabs of 57 and 28 yards. As a freshman in 2002 Dennis had just three catches for 45 yards for the entire season.
Spreading the wealth
In the first four games of the season, Kansas State's quarterbacks have been able to spread the ball around. No less than 10 different receivers dot the Cats' stat sheet so far this season, with eight players having five or fewer receptions.
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 four games, Rheem ranks nationally in three categories, including T37th in scoring (9.00 points per game), 39th in field goals (1.25 per game) and T100th in points responsible for (9.00 points per game). He is tied with Darren Sproles for the team lead in scoring with 36 points (21 extra points, five field goals). For his career, Rheem has scored 148 total points and needs just 10 points to move into K-State's top 10 in career scoring.
He enters the Marshall game having made 38 consecutive PAT attempts dating back to the second quarter of the Iowa State game on Nov. 9, 2002, including all 21 tries this year. Overall, Rheem has made 94-of-101 extra-point attempts in his career, which ranks fourth on K-State's career list for both PATs and PAT attempts and needs just eight more PATs to move into the top 10 in a single-season
Rheem has also been much more consistent on field goal attempts in 2003, connecting on 5-of-6, including a career-long 44-yarder against McNeese State. His five field goals this year rank tied for 13th nationally.
Washington watch
Safety Rashad Washington stepped up big time in Kansas State's win over McNeese State. The senior finished the game with seven total tackles (three solo), but that was just the beginning. He also snared a pair of interceptions (one of which he returned for a touchdown, was credited with a pass break-up and had a blocked put. In all, Washington was directly responsible for 14 of K-State's 55 points as the punt block was recovered on the 1-yard line and resulted in a Jeff Schwinn TD plunge. Washington's interception return for a touchdown was the second of his career.
