Kansas State 52, Miami 13
MANHATTAN, Kan. -- Kansas State scored early and often, opening a 24-6 halftime lead en route to a 52-13 victory over Miami. The 20th ranked Wildcats made a resounding defensive statement, holding the Hurricanes' running game to just 34 yards on 30 carries.
K-State quarterback Collin Klein was efficient and diversified, carrying the ball 22 times for 71 yards and completing 9-of-11 passes for 210 yards. The Wildcats were balanced on offense, passing for 210 yards and rushing for 288.
Kansas State sustained a hiccup late in the first half, missing a near-certain touchdown, then allowing Miami to move 70 yards for a field goal at the final gun. But after forcing Miami to punt on its opening second-half possession, the Wildcats moved 71 yards, capped by a Klein 1-yard touchdown dive.
The Wildcats, who had not allowed an offensive touchdown this season until 3:51 remained in the fourth quarter, made a big stop late in third quarter. Trailing 31-6, Miami drove to the Kansas State 3-yard line with a third and goal, but a sack by Arthur Brown pushed the Hurricanes back to the 11. Miami quarterback Stephen Morris could only get back to the 3 on a scramble. The Wildcats then ran the next 97 yards on 10 plays for a John Hubert 5-yard touchdown run to seal the victory.
The Wildcats tacked on seven more after recovering a fumble on the Miami 15. Redshirt freshman quarterback Daniel Sams bolted up the middle untouched on the first play. Sams then added an 11-yard run up the middle for a touchdown.
Miami's touchdown came after a 77-yard kickoff return by Duke Johnson. Backup quarterback Ryan Williams hit Clive Walford in the back of the end zone.
Kansas State took the lead on the opening drive and never looked back. A methodical 13-play, 65-yard drive was capped by a Klein 1-yard run. After a Mike James fumble that was recovered by Arthur Brown, the Wildcats added seven more points on another run by Klein, capping a 58-yard drive.
Miami got on the board with a Jake Wieclaw 40-yard field goal, but the Hurricanes had a chance to get more. A 56-yard pass from Morris to Walford put the ball at the K-State 10. But the Wildcats' defense stiffened and Miami settled for a field goal.
After an Anthony Cantele 21-yard field goal and a three-and-out by Miami on the subsequent drive, Kansas State drove 38 yards for a 24-3 lead. The touchdown came on a perfect 27-yard seam pass from Klein to Curry Sexton.
K-State missed a chance to pile on more points when a trick play on third-and-goal from the 1 backfired. Klein ran toward the goal line, then flipped the ball behind his back to Hubert. Hubert missed the lateral and the ball rolled back to the 20 before Chris Harper recovered. Cantele then missed a 37-yard field goal to the left.
Miami answered with a 70-yard drive to end the half with a field goal.
NOTES: Saturday marked the first home game for Kansas State against an ACC opponent since 1977. The Wildcats lost to Florida State 18-10 that season. It was the first visit to a Big 12 school for Miami since defeating Texas A&M 41-23 in 2008. ... Kansas State is 151-5 under Bill Snyder when leading at the half. ... Miami freshman running back Duke Johnson, who rushed for 135 yards and two touchdowns last week against Boston College, was held to 19 yards on six carries.
