BIG EIGHT ROUNDUP : Colorado Runs Over Kansas State in a Stampede, 54-7

If Colorado was looking for a confidence-builder, it got one Saturday against Kansas State.

The Buffaloes generated 514 total yards while holding the Wildcats to 16. The result, a 54-7 victory at Boulder.

Colorado had 30 first downs to three for Kansas State. The Buffaloes ran a school-record 105 plays. The 16 total yards by Kansas State set a Big Eight Conference record for offensive futility, eclipsing the previous low set in 1961 when Nebraska was limited 31 yards by Colorado.

With three minutes left in the game, the Wildcats had only three total yards. On third-down conversions, they were 0 for 12. They were forced to punt 13 times.

“We needed a good, resounding victory,” Colorado Coach Bill McCartney said. “If you looked at our last seven Big Eight games, they were all close. Obviously, we had been squeaking by. Today was much more definitive.”

The Buffaloes, 6-0-1 overall and 2-0-1 in the Big Eight, will turn their attention to Nebraska, next week’s opponent at Lincoln.

“This win gives us the momentum we need going into Nebraska,” McCartney said. “Nebraska won 34-24 (over Missouri) and Kansas won 27-10 (over Oklahoma), so it appears that our last four games will tell us a lot. We’re going into the stretch in good shape.”

Kordell Stewart ran and passed for first-half touchdowns and Mitch Berger kicked four field goals to complement the defensive effort.

Said Kansas State Coach Bill Snyder of the 3-3, 0-2 Wildcats: “Obviously, we are not a very good football team.”

Oklahoma State 27, Iowa State 21--Gary Porter threw two touchdown passes and the Cowboys took advantage of eight Iowa State turnovers at Stillwater, Okla.

Oklahoma State (4-3, 2-1) scored 13 points off turnovers to move above the .500 mark this late in a season for the first time since 1988.

Iowa State (2-5, 0-3) was held to 288 total yards one week after amassing 516 against Kansas.

Iowa State played most of the game without quarterback Bob Utter, who suffered a concussion and possible neck injury in the second quarter.

Porter finished 11 of 23 for 161 yards.