Thompson and K-State open with 24-7 win over Stanford
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Kansas State sixth-year quarterback Skylar Thompson ran for two touchdowns, bulling into the end zone for the first one after missing most of last season with a shoulder injury, and the Wildcats opened the season with a 24-7 win over Stanford on Saturday.
Deuce Vaughn sprinted 59 yards for a touchdown and finished with 124 yards rushing on 13 carries for the Wildcats, who finished last season with a five-game losing streak.
Stanford was down 24-0 before Tanner McKee's 14-yard touchdown pass to Brycen Tremayne with 3:16 left on its last offensive snap. The Cardinal, who last year won the last four games of their pandemic-shortened 4-2 season, have played 177 games since last being shut out, a 42-0 loss to Southern Cal on Nov. 4, 2006.
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Thompson injured his throwing (right) shoulder in the third game last season. Because of his love for football and the desire for a better finish, he called it an easy decision to return, taking advantage of the extra season of eligibility players got amid the pandemic.
Thompson, who later had a 13-yard TD run, opened the scoring when he put his left shoulder down and knocked cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly to the ground on a 6-yard TD run in the first quarter.
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On the possession before the first TD, Kelly had an impressive interceptio n in the end zone, leaping and reaching back over Phillip Brooks and then managing to get one foot down inbounds. But Stanford went three-and-out, setting up the two-play TD drive, Thompson finding a wide-open Brooks for a 56-yard pass to the 6.
THE TAKEAWAY
Stanford: With quarterback Davis Mills now in the NFL, Stanford used both 6-foot-6 sophomore McKee and senior Jack West. McKee finished 15-of-18 passing for 118 yards and the touchdown. West started was 8 of 12 for 76 yards with two interceptions, one pick coming right after completions of 27 and 15 yards. The Cardinal finished with only 233 total yards.
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Kansas State: With Thompson and Vaughn, their leading rusher and receiver as a freshman last season, the Wildcats have two talented players leading their offense. The opener was a boost for a defense that allowed at least 32 points six times last year, including 45 and 69 points in games over the last month of the season.
UP NEXT
Stanford: The Cardinal will be back in their home state of California, but will play their sixth consecutive road game dating back to last season, at Southern Cal on Saturday.
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Kansas State: After playing their first home game at a neutral site, the Wildcats will be home to play FCS team Southern Illinois next Saturday.