Kansas State Is Stunned by Colorado

Gary Barnett’s “return to dominance” theme has become such a focal point for Colorado, the players have made it an acronym.

With a few performances like Saturday’s 16-6 victory over No. 12 Kansas State at Manhattan, Kan., they’ll make it a reality.

“This is going to put us on the way to our RTD,” said tackle Brandon Dabdoub, who had five tackles on his 20th birthday to help a smothering defense intercept two of Ell Roberson’s passes and sack him six times.

Barnett, who became coach in 1999 and took plenty of heat for his “return to dominance” promise after last season’s 3-8 flop, said he had “never seen that defense play better.”

“We wanted a Big 12 North title and we know we had to win this game to get it,” he said.

Craig Ochs threw a 21-yard touchdown pass and Roman Hollowell set up Jeremy Flores’ third field goal with a 53-yard punt return for the Buffaloes, who broke a four-year losing streak to Kansas State with their biggest victory yet under Barnett.

Colorado (4-1, 2-0 Big 12), whose only loss was to a then-unranked Fresno State in the season opener, held the Wildcats (2-2, 0-2) scoreless until midway through the fourth quarter.

“They thought we were going to get rolled over,” defensive end Matt McChesney said. “But we came in with huge confidence.”

Kansas State’s kicking game was miserable. Kyle Altvater missed two field goal attempts, including a 27-yarder, Jared Brite missed an extra point and punter Travis Brown bobbled a center snap and was tackled for a huge loss that led to Flores’ 31-yarder.

No. 24 Texas A&M; 16, Baylor 10--The Aggies spotted Baylor a 10-3 first-half lead, then rallied in the second half at College Station, Texas.

Texas A&M; (5-0, 2-0), which has not yielded any points in the fourth quarter, held the Bears (2-2, 0-2) scoreless in the second half and avoided some last-second heroics to scratch out a 16-10 victory.

Keith Joseph ran six yards for a touchdown and Cody Scates kicked three field goals to account for all the A&M; scoring and send Baylor to its 23rd consecutive conference loss.

The Bears, who never have won a Big 12 road game, had a chance in the final minute after Scates missed a 48-yard field-goal attempt.

Baylor ran six plays in the last 37 seconds. A desperation toss by Greg Cicero from the A&M; 40 was batted away in the end zone with two seconds left, then another pass into a crowded end zone was intercepted by Dawon Gentry as time ran out.

Kansas 34, Texas Tech 31--Freshman Johnny Beck kicked his fourth field goal in the second overtime as the Jayhawks rallied to win in two overtimes at Lubbock, Texas.

Trailing, 24-13, in the third quarter, the Jayhawks (2-2, 1-1) rallied with two scores in 4:11 to force overtime. The Red Raiders fell to 2-2 and 0-2.

Missouri 41, Oklahoma State 38--Brad Hammerich’s 36-yard field goal in the third overtime, after the Tigers blocked a Cowboy field goal try, gave Missouri the victory in three overtimes at Stillwater, Okla.

Missouri (2-2, 1-1), which trailed, 14-0, in the first half, blocked a 39-yard try by Luke Phillips in overtime, then ran three plays up the middle to set up Hammerich’s fourth field goal.

Oklahoma State (2-3, 0-2) forced overtime with two fourth-quarter touchdowns, the second in the final minute.