Dreary skies and sheets of drizzle could not stop the Wildcat offensive firepower inside Snyder Family Stadium on Saturday as K-State scored 31 first-quarter points on its way to beating Montana State, 69-10.
The Wildcats (2-0) didn’t waste much time getting on the scoreboard as they scored their first touchdown a little over a minute into the contest. K-State was able to score in all three phases of the game: offense, turnovers from the defense and two blocked punts by the special teams.
“We expected to score,” said coach Ron Prince. “We expect to have big plays and find those things. I think what we are looking for is a consistent effort to put a lot of good plays together in a row.”
Junior quarterback Josh Freeman had another near perfect game, accounting for four total touchdowns, two through the air and two on the ground.
In the first two games of the season, Freeman has racked up 520 yards passing with five touchdowns and 58 yards on the ground with four touchdowns.
“I did all right,” Freeman said. “Our goals as quarterbacks here are to manage the game, put our team in position to win and be turnover free, and we were able to do that tonight.”
Montana State (1-1) immediately responded to the Wildcats’ first score, which resulted from a botched punt, by taking advantage of a failed onside kick attempt on the ensuing kickoff.
Seven plays later, the game was tied 7-7, but then the Bobcats let the game spin out of control. Blocking mistakes up front led to only 191 total yards of offense and multiple turnovers.
“I think we did a very good job,” defensive end Ian Campbell said. “I realize we didn’t have any sacks, but I felt like the quarterback was running a lot and often, and that’s something we need to have.
“Hopefully we’ll be able to keep consistent pressure on the quarterback because that’s something we just need to do.”
K-State pressured the Bobcats into committing four turnovers, one of which was a 43-yard fumble return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
The game was not enjoyable for all Wildcat fans, however. Jonathan Beasley, the former Wildcat quarterback who led the Wildcats to a 21-4 record as a starter, had to experience another blowout at the hands of the Wildcats, though this time from the opposing sideline.
Beasley was hired in July 2007 to be the current Montana State wide receiver coach.
“It sucks, I’m going to be honest, but it’s just something that happened,” Beasley said. “K-State came out and played a great game, and we had some mental errors, but those are mistakes we can learn on for next week.
“It was different being on the other sideline with mixed emotions, but it was something I had to do, and I’m grateful for the opportunity.”