The Nebraska vs. K-State game was not played in the mid 1990s, but the final score looked as if it was actually played in the decade that the Cornhuskers dominated. The Wildcats were whipped by the Big Red, 73-31.
It didn't look that bad in the first quarter, when senior wide receiver Jordy Nelson capped off a 10-play, 72-yard drive with a 21-yard touchdown catch from sophomore quarterback Josh Freeman. That put the Wildcats up 7-0.
The following kickoff, though, was a key play in the game. It was returned 94 yards by Nebraska's Cortney Grixby to tie the game at 7-7 and foreshadowed what was going to happen the rest of the game.
K-State kicked a field goal on the next possession, but that would be the last points the Wildcats scored in the first half.
Meanwhile, Nebraska (5-6, 2-5 Big 12) would go on to score 31 more.
"Obviously, it was a big play," Nelson said of the kickoff return. "When you get a lead, you can't give seven points right back to them."
The Cornhuskers scored in a variety of ways. They had a 73-yard drive where they ran the ball every single down. Another drive was only one play, a 36-yard strike from junior quarterback Joe Ganz to senior Frantz Hardy.
K-State's defense was torched all day. It gave up a total of 702 yards and 15 plays that went for more than 20 yards. Nebraska was controlling the line of scrimmage on almost every play. The Wildcats looked as if they couldn't match the physicality of the game.
"Tackling, not holding your gaps, we're not getting to the quarterback enough," junior Ian Campbell said of the issues plaguing the defense.
Ganz threw for 510 yards and seven touchdowns during his second career start. He completed 30 of 40 passes and broke the single game Nebraska record for yards and touchdowns.
"It's pretty clear that the quarterback was the key to this thing," Prince said of Ganz's role in the loss. "He was absolutely spectacular."
The K-State offense's day wasn't terrible statistically. Freeman finished 26 of 44 for 320 yards and two touchdowns. Nelson continued his amazing season with nine catches for 125 yards. He also set the season record for K-State in receiving yards on a 21-yard catch in the first quarter.
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