Eastern Kentucky Colonels vs Kansas State Wildcats Match Player Stats On Sep 03, 2011

SportsDirect Inc. staff
Sep 3, 2011

Collin Klein’s 33-yard touchdown pass to Chris Harper with 1:39 left helped Kansas State escape with a 10-7 victory over Eastern Kentucky on Saturday in Manhattan, Kan.

Kansas State overcame five turnovers - including four fumbles - to earn its 22nd straight win in a home opener. The Wildcats trailed 7-3 when they took over at their own 14-yard line with 7:20 left before moving the ball 53 yards on 10 plays to set up the decisive score.

Eastern Kentucky, which finished with only 129 total yards and seven first downs, was intercepted by Nigel Malone near midfield on its final possession.

The win would have been a big one for Eastern Kentucky, an FCS school with a rich tradition. The Colonels' defense controlled the line of scrimmage against the Wildcats, and limited them to 175 yards on 56 carries, a 3.1 average.

Kansas State's John Hubert finished with 91 yards on 17 carries, while Klein, who was 13-of-21 passing for 128 yards, rushed for 78 yards on 25 carries.

Eastern Kentucky quarterback Jared Mcclain scored on a 1-yard run late in the third quarter to give the Colonels a 7-0 lead. The score was set up by Brown's fumble near the Kansas State goal line.

Anthony Cantele’s 36-yard field goal with 10:11 left pulled Kansas State within 7-3.

The Wildcats were particularly sloppy in the first half with three turnovers. Klein was involved in two of them as he threw an interception and failed to control a bad snap. A muffed punt return by Ty Zimmerman represented the third.