MANHATTAN — Kansas State opendc its 2023 season at home Saturday with a dominating 45-0 victory over Southeast Missouri State at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
The Wildcats came in with high expectations after posting a 10-4 record last year that included a Big 12 championship and a first-ever trip to the Sugar Bowl. They were picked to finish second in a Big 12 preseason media poll and are ranked nationally at No. 16 by The Associated Press and No. 17 in the USA Today coaches poll.
K-State blew the game open with four touchdowns in the second quarter to lead 35-0 at halftime. Will Howard threw for 297 yards and two touchdown , ran for a score and caught a pass from running back Treshaun Ward for another.
The Wildcats racked up racked up 588 yards total offense, with DJ Giddens rushing for 128 yards and RJ Garcia catching five passes for 119 yards and a touchdown. The defense limited SEMO to 227 total yards and just 6 on the ground while recording 11 tackles for loss and four sacks.
Here's how the game played out:
Kansas State game time, TV channel, betting odds today vs. Southeast Missouri State
Kickoff: 6p.m.
TV: ESPN+/Big 12 Now
Betting odds: Kansas by 28 points
FINAL: Kansas State 45, Southeast Missouri State 0
Avery Johnson gets the call as QB2
Apparently Kansas State's coaches weren't kidding when they said true freshman Avery Johnson was challenging for the backup quarterback job.
Johnson got the call as QB2 with 3:12 left in the third quarter and the Wildcats up 38-0, and promptly directed a 79-yard scoring drive, picking up the final 7 yards himself on a keeper with 14:30 left in the game. He completed both of his passes for 40 yards and ran three times for 27 yards on the drive.
END 3Q: Kansas State 38, SEMO 0
Freshman quarterback Avery Johnson has K-State on the doorstep of another score as the Wildcats continue to cominate.
K-State kicker Chris Tennant passes first test
Kansas State junior kicker Chris Tennant, whose inconsistency cost him the job to Ty Zentner midway through last season, showed that he is ready for a second chance by splitting the uprights for a 51-yard field goal to give the Wildcats a 38-0 lead early in the second half.
Tennant's kick tied a career long from his freshman year in 2021. He also was perfect on five first-half point-after attempts.
HALFTIME: Kansas State 35, Southeast Missouri State 0
Kansas State scores 28 points in the second quarter to lead Kansas State at halftime, 35-0.
Kansas state amassed 395 yards total offense in the half, with Will Howard throwing for 252.
K-State opens bag of tricks for 35-0 lead
Kansas State offensive coordinator Collin Klein dialed up a rare trick play in the final minute of the half when Treshaun Ward took a handoff from Will Howard, then threw back to Howard in the left flat for an 8-yard touchdown.
Chris Tennant tacked on the extra point to give the Wildcats a 35-0 lead with 38 seconds left in the half.
Wildcats on a roll, push lead to 28-0
Kansas State scores its third touchdown of the second quarter to a 3-yard Treshaun Ward run.
Everything is bouncing the Wildcats' way. On the previous play, Will Howard threw for 33 yards to Ben Sinnott, who fumbled the ball, only to have RJ Garcia recover at the SEMO 11 and advance it 8 yards to the 3.
Kansas State offense heating up with another score
Will Howard is spreading the ball around, this time hitting RJ Garcia with a 37-yard touchdown strike to give K-State a 21-0 lead with 8:13 left in the half.
With the exception of an early interception, Howard has been sharp for K-State. He has completed 12 of 16 passes for 179 yards and two TDs.
Will Howard TD run doubles K-State lead
Will Howard fakes a handoff to DJ Giddens up the middle, then walks into the left side of the end zone on third-and-goal from the 1 to give K-State a 14-0 lead with 11:57 left in the half.
It took the Wildcats three tries to pick up that yard after an electric 15-yard run by Treshaun Ward put the ball at the 1. The drive covered 84 yards in 13 plays.
END 1Q: Kansas State 7, SEMO 0
Kansas State scored on its first possession, but Will Howard threw an interception on the Wildcats' second drive.
K-State is driving again, facing a third down at the SEMO 24-yard line when the second quarter resumes.
K-State wastes no time, scores on first drive
After stopping SEMO cold to open the game — nose tackle Damian Ilalio had a sack — Kansas State drives 67 yards for a touchdown with Will Howard hitting Jadon Jackson on a 33-yard bomb for the score. The drive covered 67 yards in nine plays and took 4:03 off the clock.
Howard was 6 of 6 for 46 yards on the drive.
Uso Seumalo and Daniel Green suited up, Keagan Johnson not
Kansas State starting nose tackle Uso Seumalo and middle linebacker Daniel Green, both of whom had missed practice time during training camp, suited up and went through pregame warmups for the Wildcats ahead of the game. Same with wide receiver Seth Porter.
But Keagan Johnson, the Iowa transfer expected to lead the Wildcats' receiver corps, was in street clothes and apparently will have to wait a week to make his K-State debut.
Weather report: Hot, hot, hot
The temperature leading up to kickoff was an even 100 degrees under clear skies with the wind from the South at 9 mph.
Summer football at its best.
Related:Here’s how to watch Kansas State football’s season opener against Southeast Missouri State
Related:Why Kansas State football offensive coordinator Collin Klein is ready to use all three QBs
Related:Kansas State football's injury outlook improving ahead of season opener
Arne Green is based in Salina and covers Kansas State University sports for the Gannett network. He can be reached atagreen@gannett.comor on Twitter at @arnegreen.
