Four In A Row: K-State Routs KU, 56-16

The first half started badly. It ended even worse.

K-State inexplicably called three straight passing plays on its opening possession. One completion and two incompletions later, Ryan Doerr punted to KU. The Jayhawks promptly drove down the field to take a 7-0 lead, and visions of North Texas danced in our heads.

Once K-State committed to running the ball, things turned around, and the Wildcats took a 14-7 lead. After trading touchdowns -- KU's the result of a ridiculous drive featuring a successful fake punt and fake field goal -- Nigel Malone picked off a Dayne Crist pass and took it to KU's five-yard line with 19 seconds remaining. The Wildcats had a timeout remaining, and a 28-14 lead at halftime seemed like a lock.

Except Collin Klein inexplicably burned the timeout before snapping the ball on first down, and then Dana Dimel inexplicably called a running play (or so it appeared) with no timeouts remaining. Klein was taken down one yard short of the end zone, and time ran out before K-State could snap the ball again.

OK, we've covered all the bad. Let's move on to the good.

In the third quarter, K-State outscored KU 28-2. Turnovers and fumbles and the running of John Hubert and Klein buried the school down the river.

Overall, this was a bizarre football game. KU dominated the time of possession with almost a 14-minute edge, and ran 30 more plays than K-State. But the Wildcats gained 87 more yards and had five fewer turnovers. Despite the first-half mistakes, Klein threw for two touchdowns and ran for two more, and Hubert added four touchdowns and 101 yards of his own.

It wasn't a perfect game, but we'll never turn down 40-point wins over KU. We're at four wins in a row now. Sure would like to keep that rolling, but for now it's time to focus on Iowa State.