Wildcat report: K-State 30, TCU 6

K-State wide receiver Byron Pringle runs for the end zone leaving TCU defenders in his wake. Bo Rader The Wichita Eagle

First quarter

The key: TCU appeared to score the game’s first touchdown after a Jesse Ertz fumble, but the turnover ruled an incomplete pass after review.

Second quarter

The key: Winston Dimel lost a fumble late in the second quarter that led to a TCU field.

Third quarter

The key: Jesse Ertz found Byron Pringle for an 83-yard touchdown pass that gave the Wildcats a 17-6 lead.

Fourth quarter

The key: Trent Tanking intercepted a Kenny Hill pass on the game’s final play to preserve the 30-6 score.

Report card

Offense: A. Something clicked in the second half. TCU could do nothing to stop the Wildcats on the ground, and K-State made things happen when it threw the ball.

Defense: A. K-State is the first team to hold TCU without a touchdown in 10 years. The Wildcats were ready for Gary Patterson’s offense.

Special Teams: B. Nick Walsh had some excellent punts and Ian Patterson connected on a field goal.

Coaching: A. Bill Snyder had the Wildcats ready for the elements and the opponent.

Player of the game

Jesse Ertz. The junior quarterback threw for 159 yards and a touchdown, while rushing for 170 yards and a touchdown. He is quietly developing into a playmaker.

Reason to hope

K-State is a young team that will return the bulk of its roster next season. Win or lose in the bowl game, the future appears bright.

Reason to mope

K-State benefited from a weak Big 12, losing to the top three teams and beating up on the bottom six. None of its eight victories came against teams that finished with winning records.

Up next

The Texas Bowl should officially invite K-State to its game at about 2 p.m. on Sunday. There is some mystery about the SEC selection, but most expect it to be Texas A&M. The Aggies also went 8-4 this season.

Barnes sidelined

Snyder said earlier this week that he expected Alex Barnes to start at running back for K-State, but he missed the game with an injury he suffered during practice leading up to the game.

Barnes, a freshman, was coming off back-to-back 100 yard games.

“He got banged up doing something that he wasn’t supposed to be doing,” Barnes said. “It wasn’t his fault. It was our fault. Consequently, it set him back.”

Barnes watched the game from the sidelines in full uniform, suggesting he was a game-time scratch.

Moore exits

Senior linebacker Charmeachealle Moore left Saturday’s game with an injury late in the first half and didn’t return. Trent Tanking took his place and performed well, making five tackles and an interception.

“Trent played lights out,” Snyder said. “He was excellent today. Once again, it wasn’t anything that surprised anybody, because that is what he does day in and day out. He is a great teammate. He will do anything he can to help his team and this is exactly what he did here.”

Kellis Robinett

This story was originally published December 3, 2016 at 5:09 PM with the headline "Wildcat report: K-State 30, TCU 6."