Kansas State Rout Is a Dunn Deal

MANHATTAN, Kan. —  Marc Dunn threw two touchdown passes--both on one-play drives--and ran for another score as Kansas State beat Eastern Illinois, 63-13, Saturday.

Rashad Washington returned an interception 40 yards for a touchdown and set up another score with a blocked punt for Kansas State. The Wildcats (3-0) had two touchdowns before taking their first snap--on Danny Morris’ three-yard return of Washington’s blocked kick and Terence Newman’s 95-yard kickoff return.

Quarterback Tony Romo was impressive early for Eastern Illinois (0-2), completing 13 of 14 passes for 120 yards and a touchdown in the first quarter. But after that, Romo had three passes intercepted--two leading to touchdowns--including Washington’s scoring return for a 50-13 lead in the third quarter.

Kansas State didn’t take control of Eastern Illinois, ranked eighth in Division I-AA, until the second quarter. That’s when Dunn broke the game open, running two yards for a touchdown and throwing a 19-yard scoring pass to Thomas Hill less than two minutes later to put Kansas State ahead, 29-13.

Dunn was three for four for 67 yards, playing only the first half and one series in the second. Third-stringer Jeff Schwinn started the second half and threw a 41-yard touchdown pass to James Terry midway through the third quarter for a 56-13 lead.

Hill’s scoring catch from Dunn came one play after Eastern Illinois punter Tom Schofield threw an incomplete pass on fourth and eight from the Eastern Illinois 19.

Darren Sproles scored on a 54-yard run and Taco Wallace caught a 58-yard touchdown pass from Dunn later in the second quarter, giving the Wildcats a 43-13 halftime lead. Sproles’ run came two plays after Bobby Wallace intercepted a Romo pass and returned it 31 yards to the Wildcat 40.

Morris scored on a blocked punt return for the second consecutive game. He also returned one 16 yards for a score in last week’s 68-0 rout of Louisiana Monroe.