SportsDirect Inc. staff
Sep 11, 2010
Just when it looked like Missouri State might get back in the game before halftime, Kansas State slammed the door shut on a 48-24 win over the visiting Bears from the Football Championship Subdivision.
The Bears (1-1) scored on a 66-yard touchdown pass from Cody Kirby to Jermaine Saffold (8 receptions, 113 yards) with 1:22 left in the first half, trimming the Wildcats' lead to 20-7. Kansas State (2-0) marched right back down the field though, needing just four plays and 54 seconds to go 68 yards, scoring on a 23-yard touchdown pass from Carson Coffman to Aubrey Quarles.
Coffman was stellar, throwing for 280 yards and three touchdowns in three quarters of play. Last week in a win against UCLA, the fifth-year senior threw for just 66 yards and was sacked five times.
Kansas State running back Daniel Thomas was dominant once again, rushing for 137 yards and two touchdowns after exploding for 234 yards and two touchdowns last week.
Brodrick Smith caught two touchdown passes for the Wildcats and ended up with 99 yards receiving.
The Bears relied on their senior quarterback Kirby for most of their offense. He was 20-of-42 with two touchdown passes and was the Bears' leading rusher with 52 yards.
Missouri State scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter and ended up with 447 yards, compared to Kansas State's 493.