K-State Defense Keys in Big Victory Over Miami, 28-24

Sept. 24, 2011

MIAMI (AP)—Kansas State stopped Miami quarterback Jacory Harris' fourth-down run at the goal line with 49 seconds left, capping a brilliant late stand that sealed the Wildcats' 28-24 win over the Hurricanes on Saturday.

Sophomore running back John Hubert ran for a career-high 166 yards and the go-ahead touchdown for the Wildcats, who moved to 3-0 on the year for the second consecutive season. Fellow junior quarterback Collin Klein was equally impressive through the air as on the ground, completing 12-of-18 passes with two touchdowns to go with 96 yards rushing and another score.

Harris threw for 272 yards and two touchdowns for Miami (1-2), which got 106 yards and a touchdown from Lamar Miller. Miami had first-and-goal at the Kansas State 2 with 1:52 left, but a first-down pass fell incomplete, two Mike James runs were stopped and then Harris' knee was deemed down by replay officials after the on-field call was that he scored.

It was the 145th time in the last 150 games where K-State won when leading at halftime, and the Wildcats earned this one.

Miller's 59-yard touchdown run with 2:52 left in the third quarter got Miami within 21-17, and Harris found Travis Benjamin with a 34-yard scoring pass 43 seconds into the fourth quarter to give Miami a three-point lead.

A short-lived lead, at that.

Bolstered by a 47-yard run by Hubert on third-and-1—Miami was in something akin to goal-line defense, with just about everyone on the line of scrimmage 70 yards from its own end zone—K-State went 80 yards on eight plays. Hubert's burst from 2 yards out capped the drive, putting Miami in need of late heroics.

Harris almost delivered.

Buoyed along by 33-yard pass to Chase Ford, and a pass interference call against defensive back Nigel Malone in the end zone, the Hurricanes were 2 yards away from the win with four plays to get there. They wound up a few inches short.

Harris completed 21 of 31 passes, and Benjamin caught six balls for 91 yards to lead Miami.

Klein set the tone on the first possession, leading K-State 63 yards on 11 plays and going in from 2 yards out to give the Wildcats a 7-3 lead with 5:57 left in the first quarter. He was a perfect 6-for-6 passing for 80 yards in the first quarter—against a Miami defense that in four quarters against Ohio State last week allowed four completed passes for 35 yards.

Klein connected with freshman wide receiver Tyler Lockett from 20 yards out with 13:28 left in the half, and the Wildcats were up 14-3.

Here's how good Klein was: When K-State seemed on the brink of trouble, his feet were more than enough to keep the Wildcats afloat.

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Team Stats

Collin Klein

Players Mentioned

John Hubert

Tyler Lockett

Nigel Malone

Players Mentioned

John Hubert

Tyler Lockett

Nigel Malone

Kansas State University Athletics