Defending FCS champs North Dakota State upend Kansas State
Expectations and excitement were running high in Manhattan, Kan., on Friday night as Kansas State opened the 2013 season against North Dakota State.
The Wildcats honored longtime coach Bill Snyder by unveiling a statue of their legendary head coach as part of the dedication of the new West Stadium Center at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
By the time the final gun went off, it was the two-time defending FCS champion Bison that were celebrating after pulling off a 24-21 upset over the defending Big 12 champion.
Senior quarterback Brock Jensen led the Bison on a game-winning, 80-yard drive that ate up more than eight minutes. Jensen capped the 18-play drive with the game winner on a spin move into the end zone with 28 seconds remaining, according to the Kansas City Star.
Jensen also threw for 165 yards and two scores.
His Kansas State counterpart -- Jake Waters -- was making his first start for the Wildcats, who lost last year's starter and Heisman Trophy finalist Collin Klein to graduation. Waters tossed two touchdowns and 280 yards as the Wildcats jumped out to a 21-7 lead. But Waters also was intercepted twice.
The Bison have 18 returning starters from a team that successfully defended its FCS title last year. In addition to knocking off Kansas State in the FBS, they now have defeated Colorado State, Minnesota and Kansas in the past three years.
Kansas State lost an opening game under Snyder for the first time since 1989.
