An interception that was returned 32-yards for a touchdown by Kansas State safety Ty Zimmerman was a big play in the second half of the Wildcat’s 48-27 win over Louisiana Saturday night in Manhattan.

At that point in the game the Rajun’ Cajuns had some momentum after scoring two consecutive touchdowns in the third quarter. But Zimmerman’s score gave Kansas State a 24-point lead with 7:09 remaining in the third period.

After the game Zimmerman reflected back on that play. “It was just a great play by Blake Slaughter. He made sure number three didn’t get inside of him.  Quarterback kind of had to throw it behind him and I was just able to pick it and get into the end zone.”

KSU Coach Bill Snyder said after the game. “Well, Ty’s a tremendous young man, and a quality person. Obviously he’s been a very fine player for us for four years. Knows exactly what he’s doing and how to go about doing it. Doesn’t get himself out of position too often. The fact that he caught the ball, I mean it wasn’t the easiest catch in the world, but the fact that he caught it….the path was open for the touchdown, but just the fact that he made a difficult catch was that I thought was important, because I’ve seen him drop those in practice. That tells me the focus was there.”   Snyder also noted whether or not Zimmerman caught the ball he’s a “quality young man and a good player for us.”

Kansas State ( 1-1 ), hosts Massachusetts next Saturday night.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) – Alex Smith threw two early touchdown passes, Kansas City’s defense dominated all day and the Chiefs began the Andy Reid era with a 28-2 victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Jamaal Charles ran for 77 yards and a touchdown before leaving the game with a quadriceps injury, but that was about the only negative for the Chiefs.

Jacksonville advanced past its own 36-yard line just once, a stunning display of offensive futility for the rebuilding franchise. The Jaguars finished with 178 yards, but for most of the game were challenging the team low of 117 yards set last year against Houston.

It wasn’t even close to the start the new coach Gus Bradley wanted, but it was a clear indication of how far the team has to go.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Bruce Chen picked up Kansas City’s beleaguered starters with seven solid innings and the Royals defeated the Detroit Tigers 5-2 Sunday.

Chen (7-2) limited the Tigers to five hits and two runs over seven innings, earning the first victory for a starter on the Royals’ seven-game homestand. He moved into the rotation on July 12 after 19 relief appearances.

Eric Hosmer, who had three hits for his 53rd multi-hit game, blasted a three-run homer with two outs in the fifth inning and the Royals took the final two games of this series from the division-leading Tigers after losing 16-2 Friday.

Hosmer hit Doug Fister’s 2-2 pitch out to center after Alex Gordon and Emilo Bonifacio singled with two outs.

Kansas State jumped out to a 20-3 first half lead and rolled on to a 48-27 win over Louisiana on Saturday night at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.

There were good points and some concerns for Kansas State in this ballgame.  Positives included a kickoff return for a touchdown by Tremaine Thompson, and nearly a punt return for a score by Thompson in which his 61-yard return was stopped at the Ragin’ Cajuns two-yard line, but set up a Wildcat touchdown.

On the other side the Wildcats gave up 24 points to Louisiana in the second half, with seven due to a 100 yard kickoff return by Darryl Surgent for the Ragin’ Cajuns.

After the game K-State coach Bill Snyder was asked how much room for improvement for his team, particularly with the second half defense? “It’s a collective effort. If you put your defense on the field and they get off, and the offense puts them back on the field in three snaps,  or the kickoff cover unit puts them back in one snap you know sometimes you put them in compromising situations.” Snyder added, “That wasn’t totally the case but that was part of it.”  The coach  noted the defense did a nice job holding Louisiana to three points in the first half, but commented the second half was different.

Snyder did see progress in his team from a season opening loss to North Dakota State a week. “But consistency isn’t one of them quite obviously. The game has to be played that way in the conference that we’re in.” Snyder said the Wildcats do not have the consistency and ability to play “a solid four quarters” right now.

Jake Waters completed 22 of 31 passes but threw two interceptions. Daniel Sams saw more time at quarterback than a week ago. He rushed eight times for 63 yards and a touchdown.

One of the big plays in the game was an interception returned 32 yards by K-State safety Ty Zimmerman for a touchdown. That score with 7:09 remaining in the third quarter vaulted Kansas State to a 41-17 lead after Louisiana ( 0-2 0 ), had scored two touchdowns earlier in the quarter.

Kansas State, ( 1-1 ), hosts Massachusetts next Saturday night.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) – James Sims scored twice and Jake Heaps passed for 110 yards and one TD in his much-anticipated debut, leading Kansas past South Dakota 31-14 Saturday night and matching the Jayhawks’ entire victory total of 2012.

His yardage may not look impressive. But Heaps displayed a strong arm and a quick release in his first action since transferring from BYU, where he smashed most freshman passing records, and sitting out last season while the Jayhawks sank to 1-11 in Charlie Weis’ first year as coach.

He was 10 for 20 and several of his misses probably could have been caught. The Jayhawks (1-0) rushed for 280 yards against the lower-division Coyotes (1-1) with Sims going 94 yards on 16 carries.

Josh Vander Maten was 8 for 18 for 67 yards and one touchdown for South Dakota. He also had 78 of the South Dakota’s 219 yards rushing.

 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Salvador Perez hit a two-run homer off Justin Verlander and the Kansas City Royals beat the Detroit Tigers 4-3 on Saturday night.

Perez drove a two-out pitch over the left-field wall to put the Royals ahead 4-2.

Verlander (12-11) is 0-3 with three no-decisions in six starts since an Aug. 6 victory at Cleveland.

The Tigers have dropped his past six starts and are 13-17 in his 30 starts this season.

The Royals have won all five games Verlander has started against them this season. Verlander allowed four runs and eight hits in seven innings, while walking one and striking out seven.

Wade Davis (7-10), the second of five Kansas City pitchers, picked up the victory on his 28th birthday.

Greg Holland worked a perfect ninth for his 39th save in 42 chances.

 

AP-FBH–Kansas Prep Scores
Friday’s Scores
By The Associated Press
PREP FOOTBALL
Alma, Neb. 38, Northern Valley 28
Andale 30, Wichita Collegiate 28
Andover 41, Wichita Campus 12
Andover Central 49, Valley Center 7
Atchison 35, Pleasant Ridge 16
Augusta 33, Circle 20
Axtell 42, Lewiston, Neb. 16
Baldwin 46, Wellsville 12
Balko, Okla. 60, Moscow 14
Basehor-Linwood 27, KC Bishop Ward 6
Beloit 48, Concordia 0
Bennington 60, Remington 20
Bishop Miege 46, BV North 3
Bixby, Okla. 32, Garden City 27
Blue Valley Southwest 52, KC Washington 22
Blue Valley Stilwell 28, Gardner-Edgerton 0
Bonner Springs 51, KC Turner 40
Buhler 42, Rose Hill 3
Burlingame 26, Southern Coffey 24
Burlington 28, Anderson County 24
BV Northwest 27, St. Thomas Aquinas 14
BV Randolph 54, Flint Hills Christian 8
Cair Paravel 50, St. John’s Military 20
Caldwell 59, Central Burden 14
Caney Valley 21, Girard 0
Canton-Galva 50, Hutchinson Central Christian 0
Central Heights 39, Jayhawk Linn 7
Central Plains 72, Stafford 44
Centralia 16, St. Mary’s 0
Centre 62, Goessel 14
Chanute 28, Mulvane 21
Cheney 43, Belle Plaine 0
Chetopa 46, Marmaton Valley 0
Christ Preparatory Academy 40, Jefferson North 7
Cimarron 57, Wichita County 15
Clay Center 14, Riley County 12
Clearwater 23, Goddard-Eisenhower 3
Clifton-Clyde 78, Kenesaw, Neb. 56
Coffeyville 63, Independence 20
Conway Springs 62, Bluestem 0
Council Grove 56, Herington 6
Dodge City 44, Wichita Southeast 6
Douglass 14, Garden Plain 13
Elkhart 44, Turpin, Okla. 13
Emporia 44, Shawnee Heights 0
Eureka 28, Haven 19
Fairfield 52, Burrton 0
Fort Scott 57, Parsons 13
Frontenac 27, Riverton 21, 2OT
Galena 47, Baxter Springs 6
Glasco/Miltonvale-Southern Cloud 30, Frankfort 22
Goodland 43, Hugoton 24
Great Bend 35, Hoisington 7
Hanover 48, Linn 0
Hays 27, Junction City 22
Hays-TMP-Marian 24, Ellinwood 8
Hesston 20, Halstead 0
Hiawatha 14, Perry-Lecompton 13, OT
Hitchcock County, Neb. 54, Cheylin 14
Hodgeman County 64, Fowler 18
Holcomb 21, Meade 20
Holton 27, DeSoto 7
Holyoke, Colo. 28, St. Francis 8
Hoxie 54, Greeley County 6
Humboldt 20, Northeast-Arma 14
Hutchinson 42, Salina Central 31
Ingalls 34, South Gray 30
Inman 15, Moundridge 6
Iola 21, Cherryvale 7
Jackson Heights 26, Horton 0
Jefferson West 47, Sabetha 21
KC Piper 12, Eudora 7
KC Sumner 58, Immaculata 18
Kiowa County 56, Minneola 8
LaCrosse 45, Ellis 0
Lakin 38, Syracuse 0
Larned 37, Ellsworth 25
Lawrence Free State 57, SM North 7
Liberal 56, Ulysses 41
Lincoln 52, Lakeside 6
Logan 44, Tescott 6
Louisburg 28, Spring Hill 0
Lyndon 52, Mission Valley 0
Lyons 26, Hillsboro 12
Madison 29, Baileyville-B&B 28
Maize 42, Newton 22
Maize South 35, Arkansas City 7
Marais des Cygnes Valley 54, Hartford 0
Marion 35, Ell-Saline 6
McPherson 27, El Dorado 13
Mill Valley 26, Manhattan 21
Minneapolis 34, Russell 0
Natoma 17, Sylvan-Lucas 12
Nemaha Valley 41, McLouth 8
Ness City 46, Kinsley 14
Norborne, Mo. 50, KC East Christian 34
Northern Heights 28, West Franklin 20
Oakley 26, Colby 0
Oberlin-Decatur 19, Cambridge, Neb. 12, OT
Olathe East 16, Olathe North 13
Olathe Northwest 21, SM Northwest 14
Osawatomie 47, Neodesha 36
Osborne 64, Trego 38
Oskaloosa 30, Maur Hill – Mount Academy 26
Oswego 24, Fredonia 6
Ottawa 28, Prairie View 8
Paola 28, St. James Academy 14
Peabody-Burns 60, White City 14
Phillipsburg 32, Plainville 0
Pittsburg 42, Labette County 2
Pratt 12, Nickerson 8
Pretty Prairie 40, Cunningham 14
Quinter 44, Golden Plains 8
Rawlins County 46, Wheatland-Grinnell 0
Riverside 26, Doniphan West 6
Rolla 42, Tyrone, Okla. 36
Rossville 55, Chapman 12
Salina Sacred Heart 28, Hutchinson Trinity 0
Salina South 41, Derby 35
Santa Fe Trail 28, Royal Valley 22
Satanta 36, Goodwell, Okla. 8
Scott City 40, Abilene 13
Sedgwick 57, Olpe 35
Silver Lake 49, Wabaunsee 0
SM East 34, Leavenworth 0
SM West 10, SM South 3
Smith Center 34, Norton 13
Smoky Valley 42, Sterling 12
Solomon 36, Hope 34
South Barber 46, Pratt Skyline 20
South Central 52, Ashland 6
South Haven 54, Norwich 38
Southeast Saline 51, Republic County 8
Southwestern Hts. 41, Sublette 6
Spearville 60, Bucklin 14
St. John 64, Otis-Bison 44
St. John’s Beloit-Tipton 45, Pike Valley 14
Stockton 30, Hill City 24
Sunrise Christian 48, Oxford 32
Thunder Ridge 60, Rock Hills 30
Tonganoxie 58, Lansing 42
Topeka 68, Highland Park 0
Topeka Hayden 27, Topeka Seaman 16
Topeka West 24, KC Schlagle 20
Triplains-Brewster 44, Western Plains/Healy 0
Troy 28, Atchison County 27
Udall 30, Attica/Argonia 12
Uniontown 58, Bishop Seabury Academy 22
Valley Heights 30, Valley Falls 24
Van Horn, Mo. 49, KC Wyandotte 48
Victoria 58, Macksville 30
Wakefield 52, Little River 14
Wallace County 51, Dighton 0
Wamego 34, Rock Creek 0
Washburn Rural 35, BV West 7
Washington County 31, Onaga 20
Waverly 40, Lebo 28
Wellington 34, Goddard 28
West Elk 48, St. Paul 0
Wichita Bishop Carroll 45, Wichita Heights 12
Wichita East 33, Wichita North 7
Wichita Independent 61, Medicine Lodge 33
Wichita Trinity 55, Chaparral 28
Wichita West 43, Wichita South 12
Wilson 62, Chase 42
Winfield 44, Marysville 8
Yates Center 48, Sedan 22

It was a see saw game in Hays on Friday night, but in the end the Hays Indians topped the Junction City Blue Jays 27-22.

Hays led at halftime 14-0, but the Blue Jays scored two touchdowns and then two points on a safety to go ahead 15-14 in the third quarter.

Late in the third quarter Hays scored on a 24-yard touchdown run by tailback Preston Weigel and then in the fourth quarter a 14 yard T-D run by fullback Ty Whittington.

Junction City rallied once more, scoring  in the fourth quarter on a three-yard touchdown run by Sean Gustad.   The Blue Jays had the ball on what appeared to be a potential scoring drive. On two plays receivers were wide open,  in one case had to dive to make a catch far shy of looked like a scoring opportunity, and in the other the ball glanced off the hands of the receiver. The drive stalled, Hays took over and ran out the clock.

On the way home the Junction City Blue Jay bus sustained a mechanical breakdown at a location a short distance west of Abilene on I-70. The team was traveling in two busses. More than 50 people returned to Junction City on one, and another bus was sent to pick up the remaining 32 passengers on the stalled bus. Everyone was safe. The cause of the mechanical breakdown was unknown, but antifreeze was reported on the highway.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) – Jake Heaps and Justin McCay are finally ready to take the field for Kansas.

The two high-profile transfers were forced to run the scout team thanks to NCAA rules while the Jayhawks scuffled along to a single win last season. Now, former BYU quarterback Heaps and the former Oklahoma wide receiver will lead the Jayhawks into Saturday night’s game against South Dakota.

It’s the season opener for the Jayhawks, who had a rare Week 1 bye. South Dakota will be trying to build on a 10-7 win over UC Davis in its opener.

The Jayhawks say they won’t overlook the Coyotes, especially after eight Football Championship Subdivision schools knocked off their FBS counterparts last weekend.

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) – Kansas State plans to bounce back from a rare season-opening loss to North Dakota State on Saturday night when Louisiana-Lafayette comes to town.

The Wildcats were stunned by the Bison 24-21 last Friday night, and coach Bill Snyder said afterward that he didn’t see any anger among his players in the locker room. That anger eventually showed up earlier this week, and Snyder believes the mood of the team has changed once again.

Now, Snyder said, he thinks the Wildcats want to atone for the disappointment.

The Ragin’ Cajuns come to town trying to get on the right track themselves. After back-to-back 9-4 seasons, they lost 34-14 to Arkansas in their season opener last weekend.