Washington Deflates Kansas State, 56-3 : Nonconference: Hobert passes for three touchdowns; Bryant gets fourth punt return for a touchdown.

Washington quarterback Billy Joe Hobert passed for three touchdowns as the fourth-ranked Huskies routed Kansas State, 56-3, Saturday.

“They’re a pretty competitive team, but they picked a pretty bad day to play us,” Hobert said. “We know we can play against anyone in this nation.

“We weren’t overconfident this week. We prepared like Kansas State was No. 1.”

Kansas State had won its first three games.

The 56 points is the most scored by Washington since the Huskies beat Oregon State, 56-17, in 1981.

Third-year Kansas State Coach Bill Snyder said: “From what I’ve seen, they’re as good as any football team in the country right now.”

Hobert, a sophomore who became Washington’s starting quarterback when Rose Bowl MVP Mark Brunell was sidelined by an injured right knee in spring practice, passed for more than 200 yards for the third game in a row.

In three quarters, Hobert completed 13 of 18 passes for 234 yards, including two touchdown passes to Mario Bailey. He had a 71-yard touchdown pass play to Bailey in the first quarter, a 32-yarder to Bailey in the third quarter and also passed 28 yards to Orlando McKay for a score in the second quarter.

Beno Bryant, from Dorsey High, scored two touchdowns, on a four-yard run in the second quarter and a 53-yard punt return in the fourth quarter. Bryant was the heir apparent to Washington tailback Greg Lewis but he hasn’t started a game because he hasn’t been completely injury free.

“My legs are kind of tired right now,” said Bryant, who has been slowed by a knee injury this season. “Right now, I’m about 92% healthy.”

Bryant’s fourth punt return for a touchdown tied the Pac-10 record set by UCLA’s Sam Brown from 1953 to 1955. His career punt return yardage of 770 yards is a Washington record, breaking the mark of 704 set by Steve Bramwell.

Jay Barry scored on runs of three and 11 yards in the first half as Washington (3-0) took a 35-3 lead.

Napoleon Kaufman, Washington’s highly regarded freshman running back from Lompoc, scored the first touchdown of his college career on a three-yard run in the fourth quarter.