Pouring it on
Kansas State clobbers Kansas behind Bishop, Gramatica
Posted: Saturday October 31, 1998 06:09 PM
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Gramatica connected from 30, 45, 36 and 26 yards, as he broke the Kansas State record for kicker's points in one game with 18 AP |
LAWRENCE, Kansas (AP) -- On the worst day any Kansas offense ever had, Kansas State tacklers seemed to come pouring out of the stands.
"It looked like they had the entire sideline chasing me," running back David Winbush said after the unbeaten, fourth-ranked Wildcats routed the Jayhawks 54-6 Saturday in a cold, relentless rain.
"They really fly to the ball. You think you're going to be able to make a cut and all of a sudden everybody's flashing across," Winbush said.
With rain falling all day, Kansas State (8-0, 5-0 Big 12) totaled 556 yards of offense and held the Jayhawks (3-6, 1-6) to just 44 yards on 48 plays -- the lowest output in Kansas history.
"I don't think the field conditions were that big a deal," said Winbush, whose 19 yards were 249 fewer than his total the week before against Colorado. "They just outplayed us."
Michael Bishop scored two touchdowns and amassed 320 yards of offense and Martin Gramatica kicked a school-record four field goals as the Wildcats went to 8-0 for the first time in their history and stretched their school-record winning streak to 16 games.
In 95 previous meetings in this high-spirited state rivalry, Kansas State had never scored as many as 54 points or beaten the Jayhawks by as many as 48.
"They won the battle everywhere," Kansas coach Terry Allen said. "They won it at the line of scrimmage and they won it in the secondary."
Quarterback Zac Wegner, for the second week in a row, was knocked out of the game with a concussion on Kansas' second possession. He also suffered a painful finger injury on the same play.
"I'll be surprised if he plays again this year," Allen said.
Former walk-on Jay Alexander, who rallied Kansas to a 33-17 victory over then-No. 17 Colorado last week, was overwhelmed along with the rest of the Jayhawks by a Kansas State unit ranked No. 1, 2 and 4 nationally in scoring, rush and total defense. The Jayhawks had only three yards rushing.
"I was awful pleased with the way we played on defense with the exception of that one series and the penalties we had," Kansas State coach Bill Snyder said. "Outside of that, I thought we played very, very well."
Even the Kansas State offense was passing out compliments.
"We have the best defense, I feel, in the nation," wide receiver Darnell McDonald said.
Gramatica connected from 30, 45, 36 and 26 yards and broke the record he'd shared with several others. Gramatica's 18 points also broke the Kansas State's record for a kicker.
"I'm just glad I could help the team out. But I'm not going to be happy because I also missed two field goals," he said.
Bishop rushed for 95 yards and passed for 225. He ran 10 yards for the Wildcats' first TD and flipped a 1-yard scoring pass to Justin Swift for a 30-6 lead in the third.
Following Kansas' fourth turnover, he made it 47-6 with a 9-yard run with 12:48 left.
Kansas scored its only touchdown on what may have been the ugliest 70-yard drive of the year. All but 18 yards came on penalties, including pass interference calls that wiped out two Kansas State interceptions.
On second and goal from the 8, Alexander hit Michael Chandler in the end zone to make it 13-6 with 7:14 left in the half.
Late in the first half, Bishop's 26-yard run gave the Wildcats a first and goal from the 1. But the Big 12's total offense leader then fumbled the snap and kicked the ball backward 27 yards, leading to Gramatica's 36-yarder. He first missed from 41, but an offsides penalty gave him a second chance.
Bishop hit a wide open Aaron Lockett for 47 yards late in the first half to set up Frank Murphy's 1-yard run for a 20-6 lead. With 6:01 left in the third period, Alexander fumbled on the 16 and Eric Hickson two plays later scored on a 9-yard run for a 37-6 lead.
The Wildcats closed out the scoring on Marlon Charles' 31-yard run with 7:08 remaining.
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