K-State runs right over Oklahoma State

Football

Kansas State beat Oklahoma State 31-12 on the strength of four rushing touchdowns from Alex Barnes. The win was the Wildcats’ first conference win this season, and the ninth win in 11 tries over the Cowboys.

As Jon Morse noted in his game recap, the result was due to Kansas State returning to its strengths: running the ball and playing defense. This was the first time this season that all the pieces came together for Kansas State; that a solid defensive effort went right alongside a consistent and effective offensive effort (Kellis Robinett, Wichita Eagle).

The day belonged—without a doubt—to Alex Barnes. All he did was run all over the Big 12’s top rushing defense, scoring four touchdowns and gaining 181 on 34 carries, along with three catches for 51 yards. Barnes had more rushing yards than all of Oklahoma State. For all intents and purposes, Barnes looked like the conference’s best running back (Robinett, Eagle), and he owes his great form to the work he put in this summer as an intern at Barr Fitness (Corbin McGuire, K-State Sports Extra).

Skylar Thompson played well enough to win. He had no touchdowns through the air, but also no turnovers. He went 11/22 for 130 yards at a clip of almost 6 yards an attempt. But Thompson’s bigger contribution was in the run game, where he showed plenty of resolve in running the ball and managed 80 yards on 12 attempts to help move the sticks.

Neither Thompson nor Barnes would have been able to do much were it not for the offensive line. The much-maligned unit finally engaged beast mode, and never looked back. As Dalvin Warmack put it, the line is finally playing with “nastiness.” (Justin Toscano, Manhattan Mercury).

On the other side of the ball, Duke Shelley had himself a game. Not only did he snag two interceptions, but he allowed just five catches and also had six tackles on the day. Shelley’s big day was part of a stellar outing for the entire defense. The linebackers and defensive line went after the Pokes running game hard, holding running back Justice Hill to just 41 yards on 11 carries and hurrying quarterback Taylor Cornelius into two picks. Sound tackling was also on display, a sharp contrast to the Baylor game (Greg Woods, Manhattan Mercury).

All in all, this was a great game, a much-needed win, and now for the Wildcats, a bit of relief as they head into a bye week.

Golf

On the second day of the Big 12 Match Play Tournament, 10th seed Kansas State started well, upsetting seventh-seeded Iowa State 3-2-1 in the morning session. Ben Fernandez, Jeremy Gandon, and Will Hopkins all won their head-to-head matches against the Cyclones. Unfortunately, the afternoon session did not go as well, and the Wildcats lost to Texas 3-2-1. This time around, Jacob Eklund and Kyle Vance each won their head-to-head matches, but it wasn’t enough.

The final day of play concluded today, with the Wildcats taking on Baylor in the morning session. The Wildcats lost 4-0-2 with Gandon, Fernandez, Eklund and Roland Massimino all losing head-to-head.

The afternoon round of play is currently underway, with Kansas State playing TCU. The Wildcats are currently leading by two.

Tennis

At the ITA Central Regional Championships in Iowa City, Kansas State singles players Maria Linares, Margot Decker, and Maria Ponomareva each advanced to the round of 32. Linares beat Ashley Ishimura (Creighton), Decker defeated Thea Rice (Arkansas), and Ponomareva outlasted Vivien Abramam (Missouri).

Ines Mesquita won her initial match over Iowa’s Adorabol Huckleby to advance to the round of 64, but lost to Kansas’ Plobrung Pipluech in the next round.

The doubles teams had also made the round of 32, but all three teams failed to advance, with each losing in a tiebreaker to drop out of the tournament.

Singles play is underway in the round of 32 right now, and will continue through Tuesday when the tournament ends.