LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — When Nicholls’ Damion Jeanpiere’s muffed punt attempt led to Kansas taking the lead late in the fourth quarter Saturday night, it seemed as though the Colonels’ resilient upset attempt could go to waste.

But then, using just nine plays, they marched down the field and forced overtime with a game-tying 43-yard field goal. In overtime, Chase Fourcade ran in a 4-yard touchdown, and the Colonels prevailed over the Jayhawks, 26-23, in both teams’ season opener.

“Big win for the football program, for the school, for the whole community,” Nicholls coach Tim Rebowe said. “I told the guys, I’m always proud of them, but I’ve never been more proud of them than tonight, how they came in and fought. It’s a group of guys who believe.”

Viewed as Kansas’ easiest opponent of the season, Nicholls came into an optimism-filled David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium and spoiled the Jayhawks’ home opener in a game few expected them to win.

The Colonels, of course, belong to that few.

“None of our players thought, ‘Well, since we’re playing an FBS team, we don’t have a chance to win,'” Fourcade said. “I feel like everybody on this team, we’ve always got that confidence and that mentality that we can win every game.”

After the Nicholls defense held Kansas to just a field goal on the first possession, Fourcade capitalized, leading a five-play touchdown drive aided by a pass interference call. He finished with just 142 yards passing and no scores in the air, but rushed for 51 yards and the late touchdown.

“I’m just really happy for this school, this team,” Fourcade said. “We’ve been through a lot . it’s been a real big turnaround for this program. We’re just really excited about our first win.”

Texas A&M transfer Kendall Bussey added 123 yards rushing and a score out of the backfield, and Dontrel Taylor punched in a touchdown as well.

The Colonels got the ball rolling early, marching down the field for an impressive nine-play, 78-yard touchdown drive on their first possession. It wasn’t anything unheard of, but to come out of the gates with a commanding scoring drive certainly set the tone for the rest of the game that Nicholls was here to play.

Kansas’ offense had some success early as Peyton Bender found Steven Sims for a touchdown on the second drive to cap an efficient effort that included two nice runs for first downs. But then Sims dropped an easy score in the end zone next time out, and Kansas had to settle for a field goal.

Bender finished 19-of-35 passing for 187 yards and two touchdowns. Kerr Johnson, Jr. led the Jayhawks in receiving, hauling in three catches for 54 yards and the go-ahead score late off the arm of Bender.

“At times I thought he did really, really well,” Kansas coach David Beaty said of his quarterback. “There were some times tonight where I think he kind of got locked on a little bit and he held the ball a little bit longer . but he showed some flashes tonight.”

There were fumbles, interceptions and penalties, but despite those issues the Kansas State Wildcats found a way to win their season opening football game over South Dakota 27-24 Saturday night in Manhattan.

An 85-yard punt return by Isiah Zuber with 12:12 remaining in the fourth quarter proved to be a key for the Wildcats as they began to erase a 12 point deficit in that period. Zuber credited his punt return team on the big play. “Everybody was blocked, it was 10-on-10. I just had to make a move on the kicker, was in the end zone.” Zuber also caught the game winning touchdown pass from Skylar Thompson with 7:21 when he leaped into the air, caught the pass and came down with one still in the end zone before falling out of bounds.

The Wildcats were trying to secure a first down and run out the clock late in the game in South Dakota territory when running back Alex Barnes fumbled for the third time in the ballgame. The football was recovered by South Dakota with :52 seconds to play. The Coyotes drove down the field but a 51-yard field goal attempt by Mason Lorber on the final play of the game was short, allowing the Wildcats to claim the 27-24 win.

After the game Barnes addressed his last fumble. ” It was really tough, I

took it for granted today. And I also want to apologize to all the K-State fans that came today. I didn’t come ready and I’m a better player than that. I know I am, my teammates know that to and we’re going to take some responsibility for this offensive poor performance, we’re going to come back better next week.”

K-State placekicker Blake Lynch turned in a strong effort, scoring the first 12 points of the game for the Wildcats when he made 4-of-4 field goal attempts.

Kansas State had five turnovers in the game, and 13 penalties for 129 yards. K-State Coach Bill Snyder was asked in his postgame press conference about his emotions at that moment. “Well, I am, you know, all of them…angered, disappointed, etc. But it goes back again, we can say all we want about anything, but I just didn’t have them prepared to play. If they were ready to play and played the way we wanted them to, which is my responsibility, we would have probably fared a little better than what we did.”

Total attendance was 50,063 fans at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.

The Wildcats host Mississippi State next Saturday.

 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Rockies have acquired Drew Butera from the Kansas City Royals, giving Colorado a veteran backup catcher as they try to chase down the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NL West. The Royals received minor league left-hander Jerry Vasto. Butera was in his fourth season with the Royals, where he served as the backup to six-time All-Star Salvador Perez. He was hitting just .188 with two homers and 18 RBIs in 52 games, but will be remembered by Kansas City fans for catching the final out of the Royals’ 2015 World Series championship.

The Fort Riley Middle School football teams split a pair of games with Clay Center on Thursday. Clay Center won the 7th grade game 6-0 with a touchdown on the last play of the game. The Fort Riley Middle School 8th grade team won their game 36-28 with the winning touchdown coming with 2:14 remaining in the contest.

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The football stadium at the University of Kansas will be renamed David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium on Saturday.

The renaming ceremony to honor Booth will be held during halftime of the Kansas game against Nicholls State.

Last September, Booth said he planned to donate $50 million — the largest gift in the history of Kansas Athletics — to help the football program. The first phase of the improvements is an indoor practice facility, which is currently under construction.

More than a decade ago, Booth funded construction of the Booth Family Hall of Athletics in Allen Fieldhouse, which houses the KU Athletics Hall of Fame. He also allowed James Naismith’s original rules of basketball to be permanently housed on the Lawrence campus.

Week one of the high school football season unfolds Friday night.

The schedule finds the Junction City Blue Jays hosting the Hays High Indians at 7 p.m. at Al Simpler Stadium.- In other games:

–Manhattan hosts Olathe Northwest

–Chapman hosts Marysville

–Abilene goes to Clay Center

–Wamego travels to Concordia

–Washburn Rural is at Emporia

–Rock Creek hosts Riley County

–Council Grove travels to Burlington

–Chase County goes to Herington

–Solomon hosts Rural Vista

–Blue Valley Randolph is at Rock HIlls

–Wakefield travels to Bennington