Klein leads No. 21 K-State to rout of Miami
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) -- Collin Klein threw for 210 yards and ran for 71 more Saturday, accounting for four touchdowns and leading No. 21 Kansas State to a 52-13 rout of Miami.
John Hubert added 106 yards rushing and a touchdown, and Daniel Sams added two scores on the ground as the Wildcats (2-0) rolled up 498 yards of total offense while holding Miami to 262.
The blowout stood in stark contrast to last season's meeting in Coral Gables, Fla., when Kansas State needed a dramatic goal-line stand in the closing minutes to secure a 28-24 victory.
Stephen Morris threw for 215 yards for Miami (1-1), but was sacked five times. The Canes lost three fumbles and managed just 40 yards rushing -- an average of 1.4 per attempt.
Kansas State linebacker Arthur Brown, who began his career with the Hurricanes, ground a bit of dirt in their wounds. The Butkus Award candidate recovered a fumble in the first quarter to set up a short TD drive, then helped cause a turnover-on-downs with a third-quarter sack.
The Wildcats improved to 6-0 at home against BCS non-conference opponents under Bill Snyder, who has the program he elevated to elite status humming again. Kansas State hosts North Texas next Saturday, which means it likely will be 3-0 heading to No. 5 Oklahoma on Sept. 22.
The Hurricanes' performance was summed up by a 5-second span in the fourth quarter: Morris fumbled the ball away while getting sacked, and Sams sprinted 15 yards on the next play to give Kansas State a 45-6 lead with 10:51 remaining in the game.
Miami (1-1) scored its only touchdown in the closing minutes, when backup quarterback Ryan Williams completed a short scoring pass following a long kickoff return.
The Canes, opening with consecutive road games for the first time since 2005, looked like an inexperienced bunch against the senior-laden Wildcats. They had 14 players appear in their first game a week ago, including 12 freshmen from a roster that has 42 first-year guys.
Talented freshman Duke Johnson managed only 19 yards on the ground after gaining 135 in last Saturday's win at Boston College, when Miami rallied from an early 14-0 deficit.
The Canes' defense never gave them a chance to come back this time.
Kansas State scored on its first four possessions, the streak ending when Anthony Cantele missed a short field goal. Klein had touchdown runs of 1 and 6 yards, and hit Curry Sexton down the seam for a 27-yard scoring strike before the Hurricanes knew what hit them.
Jake Wieclaw's second field goal as the first half expired trimmed the Wildcats' lead to 24-6.
Klein added his third touchdown run early in the third quarter, and after the Wildcats held Miami on fourth down deep in their own territory, the gritty senior quarterback led Kansas State on a 97-yard drive highlighted by a 58-yard pass to backup tight end Zach Trujillo.
This time it was Hubert capping the drive with a touchdown run.
Klein's day was done after that, and when Miami fumbled on its next possession, Sams took over the offense. The elusive freshman needed one play to scoot 15 yards for a touchdown, and then added an 11-yard scoring run late in the fourth quarter to punctuate the victory.