Kansas State opened their season Saturday on the right foot when Morgan Burns returned the opening kickoff 100 yards in 12 seconds to take the early 7-0 lead following Matthew McCrane’s PAT.

The kick return was followed by the defense giving up one 23 yard pass by South Dakota before holding them on the next four downs forcing a punt that pinned the Wildcats to their five yard line.

Jesse Ertz came in to lead the offense for the first time as the starting quarterback and started out pretty well picking up five yards on a quarterback rush, but things weren’t as good as they seemed. Ertz came up with a bit of a limp and then following the next play was helped off the field, and was later carted off the field and into the locker room.

“I feel dramatically bad for him,” said Coach Bill Snyder following the game. “We’ll see how it plays out, I have no idea right now. Anytime anybody gets hurt, you know they work so hard all of them do, and then to have it take you out of a game like it did, that you prepared so hard for to play. Our prayers will be with him, and hopefully it’s something that he can get back on his feet real quick.”

Last years backup Joe Hubener came in to replace Ertz and following a few growing pains, including a fumble on the South Dakota 1 yard line following a nine play 74 yard drive, Hubener seemed to find a rhythm leading the Wildcats on three scoring drives to finish out the second quarter and eventually the 34-0 shutout.

“I definitely didn’t expect to get that opportunity quite that quick,” said Hubener. “That’s unfortunate for Jesse, I don’t know exactly what happened, but I know he wasn’t able to come back tonight. That’s tough on him and I feel sorry for him and wish him a quick recovery whatever is going on.”

On his own performance Hubener said that he thought he did alright,”there’s definitely some things that I’m not happy about, I wish I didn’t fumble that ball in the end zone, but I think for the most part I handled business and we got the win and that’s what matters.”

Kansas State was led by two freshman both rushing and passing. Justin Silmon rushed for 51 yards on six carries and Dominique Heath caught three passes for 54 yards.

Defensively, Kansas State also lost preseason All-Big 12 Safety Dante Barnett early in the first half due to an apparent shoulder injury. The severity of both Barnett’s and Ertz’s injuries are unknown at this time.

The Wildcats will next travel to San Antonio, Texas to take on the University of Texas, San Antonio next Saturday.