Today we move into the Top 5 K-State victories, and at #5 we have the 2002 meeting between the Wildcats and the USC Trojans at KSU Stadium in Manhattan. The Trojans came in ranked 11th in the country, while the Wildcats had just cracked back into the Top 25 after having a disappointing 2001 season.This win is widely recognized as the biggest win in Manhattan for K-State against a non-conference foe. The USC Trojans were stacked, and later that season competed in the Orange Bowl. Their QB Carson Palmer was simply the best QB in the nation that year and also probably the best player as he won the 2002 Heisman Trophy, and ended up being the #1 pick in the June NFL draft by the Bengals. However just like in 1998 when the Wildcats shut down eventual Heisman winner Ricky Williams, Palmer was also frustrated by the Lynch Mob. K-State held Palmer to just 18-47 passing for 186 yards and just one touchdown, while also sacking him twice.
The Wildcats offense was the main concern at the start of the game. Starting QB Marc Dunn struggled so much in the first quarter that Bill Snyder went to the bench and found a guy by the name of Ell Roberson to take Dunn's place. With the success that Ell had at K-State many peopel forget that he did not start the first four games of the '02 season. Roberson took advantage of his opportunity and led K-State to a touchdown in the 2nd quarter on a pass play to James Terry and he also scored on a rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter to put K-State up 27-6 at that point. Roberson ended the game 10-15 passing for 134 yards and a TD and also gained 70 yards on the ground on 23 carries with a touchdown. Darren Sproles (pictured, upper left) was K-State's leading rusher with 78 yards on 20 carries, and Taco Wallace caught five passes for 81 yards to lead the Cats in receiving. Terence Newman (lower right) provided the biggest highlight of the game right after USC scored their only touchdown in the first half. As the second quarter was closing out, K-State led 10-6 after the USC score. The PAT attempt was blocked, and Newman picked it up at the 2 yard line on the right hash, weaved in and out of USC traffic and took it all the way down the left sideline 98 yards for two more points for K-State as they went into the half with a 12-6 lead.
USC tried their hardest to get back in the game after trailing 27-6, but the closest they would get would be the final. Keary Colbert led USC with 125 of the 186 yards that Palmer threw for in the game, but it wasn't enough. Final score 27-20.
Coming tomorrow...Stampede!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment