Tyler Lockett adds a career record, Jake Waters has another fantastic passing day, and K-State cruised to an easy 51-13 win over rival Kansas on Senior Day at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
K-State jumped out early, scoring on their first two possessions of the game, the first a one yard QB sneak from Jake Waters after the defense forced a 3 and out on KU’s opening drive. The second score would come just 2 plays later. Following a juggling Dante Barnett interception, Waters found senior Tyler Lockett streaking down the sideline for a 44 yard TD catch on the next play for a quick 14-0 Wildcat lead just four minutes into the 1st quarter.
Waters was superb all afternoon in his final home contest. The senior quarterback was again easily over the 200 yard mark for the 11th straight game, throwing for 294 yards on 21 of 27 attempts and 4 touchdowns and adding another 21 yards on the ground and a rushing score.
On the receiving end of much of Waters production were the pair of senior receivers, Tyler Lockett and Curry Sexton. Lockett added to his list of career K-State receiving records, and is now the K-State career receptions leader (222), passing his father Kevin, and tied for the career receiving touchdown mark (26) after adding 9 catches for 119 yards and 2 touchdowns. Fellow senior Curry Sexton had another great game in his final outing at home with 9 catches for 141 yards, including a 37 yard TD reception in the 3rd quarter.
K-State turned around recent rushing struggles behind a group effort led by DeMarcus Robinson. 9 different K-State rushers combined for 194 yards just a week after K-State was held to a single yard rushing in Morgantown. Robinson paced the group with 8 carries for 64 yards followed by Charles Jones who added 9 carries for 42 yards and a TD.
The K-State defense kept KU off balance throughout the game, picking off Jayhawk quarterback Michael Cummings twice and recording 4 sacks. The defense was sparked by senior defensive end Ryan Muller, who took the field for senior day accompanied by 9 year old Kaiden Schroeder, who Mueller has befriended over the past 2 seasons as Kaiden battles leukemia.
With the win K-State remains tied atop the Big 12 standings and can clinch at least a share of the Big 12 Championship with a victory over Baylor next Saturday in Waco. Kickoff for the game is set for 6:45 p.m.
