Strong second half helps Kansas State top Texas-San Antonio, 30-3

SAN ANTONIO, Texas Kansas State may not have aced its first road test of the season, but a 30-3 victory over Texas-San Antonio on Saturday at the Alamodome certainly qualified as a passing grade.

The Wildcats made big plays at opportune times and outmuscled the Roadrunners in a game that felt closer than the score indicated.

K-State trailed 3-0 at the end of the first quarter and led 7-3 at halftime. The game was in doubt until running back Justin Silmon scampered 14 yards for a touchdown at the start of the fourth quarter to give the Wildcats a 20-3 advantage. They dominated from there.

Work remains before K-State is ready to begin the always difficult Big 12 schedule, but it appears to be headed in the right direction.

Its defense, in particular, looks strong. Even with standout safety Dante Barnett watching from the sidelines with an injured shoulder, the Wildcats held a Roadrunners offense without a touchdown one week after it amassed 525 yards and 32 points against No. 22 Arizona.

UTSA managed 229 yards in 62 plays. Its only scoring play occurred on the opening drive, a 51-yard field goal from Daniel Portillo.

The Roadrunners flirted with the end zone on other occasions, especially late in the second quarter when tight end David Morgan caught a pass in the red zone and rumbled forward for eight yards with K-State safety Nate Jackson draped over his back the entire way. But K-State flexed its defensive muscles when things mattered most. Moments later, linebacker Will Davis swatted a pass at the goal line intended for an open Triston Crossland that easily could have been a touchdown.

Davis lead K-State with nine tackles. With help from corner Danzel McDaniel, playing in his first game of the season, and Donnie Starks, who made seven tackles, the Wildcats frustrated the Roadrunners to the point where they tried a fake punt on fourth-and-long rather than lineup in a normal offensive set. Penalties plagued UTSA all afternoon.

K-State’s offense performed better, but it did start slow.

After a scoreless first quarter, quarterback Joe Hubener led the Wildcats on five scoring drives. He scored K-State’s first touchdown on a goal-line sneak in the second quarter and often made something out of nothing with his legs to set up Jack Cantele with field-goal attempts. He also avoided mistakes and didn’t lose a turnover.

Hubener completed 12 of 23 passes for 243 yards. He also ran for 58 yards and a touchdown. Not bad considering it was his first start at any level.

He managed the game well enough that he left the game midway through the fourth quarter, allowing freshman Alex Delton to take over. The younger lineup marched down field and set up fullback Winston Dimel with a short touchdown run.

Dimel had several highlights, including two catches for 80 yards.

Silmon also ran the ball well, finishing with 40 yards and a score in six carries.

Cantele, K-State’s backup kicker, handled field goals after Matthew McCrane was injured on a kick in the first half. Cantele converted all three of his attempts.

The victory gave K-State its first victory in a domed stadium since 1993, ending a streak of seven consecutive losses. It was also the team’s first victory at the Alamodome.

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