Kansas State University
McNeese State
No. 7 Wildcats Improve to 3-0 with 55-14 Win Over McNeese State
Sep 06, 2003 | Football
By STEVE BRISENDINE, AP Sports Writer
MANHATTAN, Kan.(AP) -- Rashad Washington had two interceptions, returning one 45 yards for a touchdown, and blocked a punt to set up another score as No. 7 Kansas State beat McNeese State 55-14 Saturday night.
Darren Sproles made a strong return to form a week after being injured, running for 101 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries for the Wildcats.
Ell Roberson threw his fifth touchdown pass of the year for Kansas State but left holding the wrist on his left, non throwing hand after being knocked down midway through the second quarter.
He did not return, and his condition was not immediately available. Each of his backups, Jeff Schwinn and Dylan Meier, ran for one score.
Kansas State(3-0) blocked two punts, converting one into a touchdown for the second straight week.
The Cowboys, ranked No. 1 in Division I-AA, fell to 1-1.
The Wildcats scored three touchdowns -- one each on offense, defense and special teams -- over a span of 2 minutes, 5 seconds in the late first quarter and early second.
Sproles, who left in the second quarter of last week's 41-5 win over Troy State with a leg injury, played only the first half against McNeese State. He started the quick scoring burst with a 34-yard touchdown run that gave the Wildcats a 17-0 lead with 1:20 left in the first quarter.
Two plays -- and just 22 seconds -- later, Washington intercepted Scott Pendarvis' pass and took it all the way back to make it 24-0.
Then, on the second play of the second quarter, Maurice Thurmond blocked Jason Cook's punt at the Cowboys' 15-yard line. It rolled into the end zone, where David Rose fell on it to put Kansas State up 31-0 with 14:15 still left in the half.
Washington's block, recovered just outside the end zone by Brandon Archer, set up a 1-yard TD plunge by Schwinn. That gave Kansas State a 38-7 lead midway through the third quarter.
Meier, who replaced Schwinn in the fourth quarter, ran 15 yards for a 48-14 lead with just over 4 minutes to go. After Scott Edmonds recovered Chris Thomas' fumble three plays later, Donnie Anders ran 11 yards for the game's final score.
After Joe Rheem's 40-yard field goal on Kansas State's opening drive, the Wildcats' next possession lasted just one play -- long enough for Roberson to throw 43 yards to James Terry for a 10-0 lead.
Terry finished with 112 yards on four receptions. Roberson was 3-for-6 passing for 63 yards and ran for 37 yards on five carries.
Pendarvis was 8-for-22 for 129 yards and two scores. He was sacked twice and intercepted once.
After he was briefly replaced by Ryan Corcoran in the second quarter, Pendarvis returned to throw a 7-yard TD pass that cut Kansas State's lead to 31-7 with just over a minute left in the half.
His 37-yard touchdown pass to B.J. Sams made it 38-14 late in the third quarter.
Corcoran, who traded duties with Pendarvis in the second half, was 3-for-9 for 16 yards with an interception and was sacked once.
Rheemhit a career-long 44-yarder in the fourth quarter to put Kansas State up 41-14.
