After a pregame filled with announcers on their knees for CMac, the game starts out rough. K-State gets a field goal on the first drive and is held to a three and out on the second. In the same time Stanford scores two touchdowns. The rest of the first half shows that the defenses came to play and the new QBs struggle. Halftime score: Stanford 17 K-State 10.
Stanford fans and K-State fans alike are unsure what to expect but are able to enjoy a halftime show that pokes fun at the midwest. While the Stanford band makes us all laugh, The Purple Wizard is scheming up an incredible second half strategy.
Out of the gate Stanford can't move the ball at all, much to the dismay of the home crowd. CMac just can't seem to find any room to move. Jesse Ertz starts to find his stride and the K-State offense starts to look like it deserves to be on this field. But, Stanford has made some adjustments too. Their DLine is giving the young front from KSU a lot to handle, and the game drudges on.
Entering the end of the fourth quarter the score is knotted at 27. K-State has the ball but is unable to move anywhere near field goal range. The punt sails well and deep and CMac looks to have some open field. He makes it all the way to the opposite 20 as the crowd goes wild. On the first play Burns drops to pass. CMac is heavily guarded but Burns spots a wide open receiver. Confident he brings his arm forward. . .but what is this? Will Geary has broken through the line and makes contact with Burns as he throws. This sends the throw off target and into the hands of Dante Barnett. Dante races down the field and is almost to the endzone when he is caught from behind and tackled by CMac.
Barnett pops up excited and runs to celebrate with his teammates. CMac tries to get up but settles back down. Something is wrong. Stanford fans watch in silence as he is carted off the field. They barely notice the field goal unit trot on the field and are in despair as the clock runs out and Matthew McCrane's kick flies through the uprights.
Stanford 27
K-State 30