If K-State coach Ron Prince wanted to use Big 12 Conference play as a gauge to see how good his team was, he certainly got a vivid picture of reality as the Wildcats were embarrassed on their home field by No. 7 Texas Tech, 58-28.

Down 38-14 at the break, many fans sensed the humiliating outcome before the start of the second half as dozens of cars flowed out of the east side parking lot of Snyder Family Stadium, and the game did not get any better for the Wildcats in the second half.

“We were thoroughly beaten today by a very good football team on both offense and defense, particularly on both lines,” Prince said. “Pretty disappointing all the way around and can’t really find any silver linings to this thing.”

The Red Raiders (5-0, 1-0 Big 12) shredded the Wildcat defense early and often, gaining a ridiculous 626 yards of offense. The air assault was led by Tech quarterback Graham Harrell, who passed for 454 yards and tied a career high with six touchdown passes, five of which came in the first half. Getting dominated on the defensive side of the ball has become a common theme in the last three games, as the once feared K-State defense has given up an average of just more than 570 yards a game.

“I’m just really disappointed,” linebacker Reggie Walker said. “I feel sick. There’s the best way to put it, I feel really sick.”

“We need to learn how to face adversity and learn how to push through it, like when things get bad, you can’t hold your head down,” he said.

K-State (3-2, 0-1 Big 12) clearly displayed its worst offensive performance of the season, as the Wildcats were only able to muster 296 yards. Josh Freeman started the game on fire but hit a stretch where he completed only 1-of-10 pass attempts. Freeman completed 13-of-28 for 170 yards and one touchdown in the defeat.

“I’m definitely embarrassed for the type of offense I feel that we have — we under-achieved tonight,” Freeman said. “As a quarterback and the leader of the offense, it’s unacceptable the way we played, the way I played in particular.”

The road doesn’t get any easier for K-State, as the Wildcats play four of the next five games away from Manhattan. With that in mind, Prince offered the K-State faithful a much-needed glimpse of hope when looking ahead to the rest of the season.

“Those folks who were there today and came out and stayed, I appreciate it and thank them,” Prince said. “It’s a very challenging time for all of us, and the only thing I can tell them is we will fight and compete to get this thing turned around.”

Comments

1 comments

Georgia

Tue Oct 7 2008 10:33

We like to hear the facts. We depend upon Mike to tell it like it is.

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