FINAL
Behind a sensational performance from Taylor Martinez — 241 yards and four touchdowns rushing — the Nebraska football team thumped Kansas State 48-13.
Check back soon for a full postgame report.
9:57 4th Quarter
K-State has finally scored a touchdown. Carson Coffman hit Chris Harper in the right side of the end zone for a two-yard score. The game is still out of reach for the Wildcats at 45-13, but at least they found the end zone.
1:00 Third Quarter
Nebraska is scoring at will again. A long pass from Taylor Martinez to Kyler Reed now puts the Cornhuskers ahead 38-6
1:48 Third Quarter
Josh Cherry is coming through for the Wildcats tonight. The Nebraska native just kicked a career-long 48-yard field goal, and helped cut the Cornhuskers’ lead to 31-6.
11:22 Third Quarter
This game has slipped away from Kansas State. Taylor Martinez ran for an 80-yard touchdown on Nebraska’s first drive of the second half. Then Roy Helu Jr. sprinted for a 68-yard score the next time the Cornhuskers touched the ball.
Nebraska now leads 31-3, and is well on its way to a 5-0 start.
Halftime
Nebraska will have the opportunity to put this game away on its first drive of the third quarter. If the Cornhuskers throw a touchdown, they will likely have too big a lead for the Wildcats to overcome.
0:26 2nd Quarter
K-State was unable to pick up a first down, and Nebraska quickly moved down field and kicked a 39-yard field goal to take a 17-3 lead.
3:54 2nd Quarter
Taylor Martinez is hurting K-State with both his arms and feet. The freshman quarterback just sprinted up the right side of the field for a 36-yard touchdown. But before that he threw a nice 17-yard pass to Niles Paul.
With the Cornhuskers getting the opening kickoff of the second half, it is imperative that the Wildcats respond now.
8:47 2nd Quarter
K-State moved into field-goal range and didn’t hesitate to try the kick with the help of the wind. Josh Cherry booted a 46-yard field goal, and the Wildcats have pulled to within 7-3.
Start of 2nd Quarter
K-State went to Daniel Thomas on five straight plays and moved the ball to midfield, but then took Thomas out and couldn’t pick up any more first downs.
Ryan Doerr came through with a nice punt, though. So Nebraska starts the second quarter at its own 10-yard line.
6:22 1st Quarter
Kansas State moved the ball well on its first drive, and got all the way down to the Nebraska 24-yard line. But it wasn’t enough. The Wildcats came up one yard short on a fourth-down conversion try.
The conversion play was an odd one. Daniel Thomas was lined up as a wide receiver, and Coffman tried to run to the corner.
After the failed play, Nebraska took over and rumbled down field for a quick touchdown. The Cornhuskers moved the ball in a variety of ways, but ended up scoring on a 14-yard run by Taylor Martinez.
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We’re about 20 minutes away from kickoff now, so let’s analyze what K-State could do on offense today against a tough Nebraska defense.
So far this season, the Wildcats have been fairly vanilla with their play-calling. Daniel Thomas is yet to attempt a pass, and other than a few wide-receiver reverses and two fake field goals K-State hasn’t tried much razzle dazzle.
Expect Thomas to throw a pass or two, and Carson Coffman to maybe catch a ball. The Wildcats could use Chris Harper on a wide-receiver pass as well. Anything to keep Nebraska off balance.
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There’s still about one hour until kickoff, and the student section at Snyder Family Stadium is all but filled.
Fans have been camping out for tickets all day, and it’s safe to say the big-game football atmosphere has returned to Manhattan.
There is a fair amount of Red in the stadium, too, though. Nebraska’s band is playing, and red shirts can be spotted in every section. K-State fans have countered by making signs that read “N = Traitor” and “TREASON.”
