Kansas State University
1-0
Western Kentucky
0-1
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Western Kentucky | 0 | 6 | 7 | 0 | 13 |
| Kansas State | 7 | 3 | 10 | 7 | 27 |
Sproles Rolls to 221; Wildcats Win Opener
Sep 04, 2004 | Football
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) -- Darren Sproles ran for 221 yards and a touchdown on 42 carries, leading No. 12 Kansas State to a 27-13 victory over Western Kentucky on Saturday night in the season opener for both teams.
Sproles, the nation's leading rusher with 1,986 yards last season, extended his school record with his 20th 100-yard game. He has gone over 200 yards in four of his last six games. After his 32-yard touchdown run for a 17-6 lead in the third quarter, he needs two more TDs to tie Ell Roberson for the Wildcats' career record of 40.
Dylan Meier, a sophomore making his first start at quarterback as Roberson's replacement, threw for 183 yards and ran for 60 yards and one score. He was replaced by Allen Webb midway through a drive in the fourth quarter, and Webb capped that possession with an 8-yard run for a 27-13 lead with just over 6 1/2 minutes left.
Kansas State outgained the Hilltoppers, who play in Division I-AA and won that division's national championship in 2002, 502 yards to 259. Still, the Wildcats' 14th straight home-opening win was closer than it might have been.
They led 10-6 at halftime and 20-13 after three quarters, after struggling with ball control and penalties for much of the first half.
The Wildcats scored easily on their opening possession, capped by Meier's 9-yard run midway through the first quarter for a 7-0 lead. But Sproles fumbled at Western Kentucky's 18 on Kansas State's next drive, and Charles Thompson recovered for the Hilltoppers.
Western Kentucky converted turnover into Lerron Moore's 13-yard TD run with just over 10 1/2 minutes in the half, cutting the lead to 7-6. But the Hilltoppers missed the point after and could not capitalize on a successful onside kick.
Penalties killed another drive for Kansas State later in the second quarter, taking the Wildcats out of field goal range after they had reached Western Kentucky's 32.
The Wildcats then had first and goal on the 3-yard line with more than a minute left in the half -- but fumbled two exchanges and had to settle for Joe Rheem's 22-yard field goal as time expired for a 10-6 lead.
After Sproles' TD and Rheem's 19-yard field goal put the Wildcats up 20-6 in the third quarter, Justin Haddix's 5-yard pass to Earl Clayton in the closing seconds of the period got the Hilltoppers within 20-13.
Haddix finished 10-for-21 for 182 yards passing, and Maurice Perkins had five catches for 126 yards for the Hilltoppers.
Team Stats
WKU 0, KS 7
KS - Meier,Dylan 9 yd run (Rheem,Joe kick), 15 plays, 80 yards, TOP 7:49
WKU 6, KS 7
WKU - Moore, Lerron 13 yd run (Siewart, Tanner kickfailed), 10 plays, 86 yards, TOP 5:16
WKU 6, KS 10
KS - Rheem,Joe 22 yd field goal 9 plays, 54 yards, TOP 2:58
WKU 6, KS 17
KS - Sproles,Darren 32 yd run (Rheem,Joe kick), 10 plays, 80 yards, TOP 4:19
WKU 6, KS 20
KS - Rheem,Joe 19 yd field goal 10 plays, 80 yards, TOP 4:38
WKU 13, KS 20
WKU - Clayton, Earl 5 yd pass from Haddix, Justin (Siewart, Tanner kick) 8 plays, 58 yards, TOP 4:02
WKU 13, KS 27
KS - Webb,Allen 8 yd run (Rheem,Joe kick), 16 plays, 80 yards, TOP 8:38
