Kansas State shuts out USD in season opener

Kansas State kick returner Morgan Burns burned the University of South Dakota’s special teams unit for a 103 yard touchdown on the opening kickoff, and the Coyote’s football season opened the way its players hoped it wouldn’t.

The Coyotes were shut out 34-0 with only glimmers of hope that will have to carry into the next week of practices, film sessions and scouting reports.

“You’ve got to remember this is a team that beat Oklahoma, scored 31 points on Oklahoma, scored 34 on us,” head coach Joe Glenn said.

Kansas State scored two touchdowns in the second quarter as well as a field goal to go up 24-0 at the half. USD was able to hold them to a field goal in the third quarter but allowed another touchdown in the fourth quarter.

The final score wasn’t what the Coyotes dreamed about prior to kickoff, but quarterback Ryan Saeger walked away with a career performance. Saeger completed 18 of 30 passes for 205 yards, his career high.

Saeger said he is optimistic about his team moving forward.

“Really no different for us, we were just going to try and play as hard as we could regardless of what the score was or regardless of what they were doing,” Saeger said. “We just stayed in our system, and I’d say we did a pretty good job.”

Wide receiver Eric Shufford caught six of those passes for 79 yards and led the team in receiving. The Coyotes 205 receiving yards bested the 147 put up by Kansas State, but Kansas State was superior in rushing with 185 yards to USD’s 61.

Still, despite the scoreline, the Coyotes saw flashes of and improvement over the course of the contest. Especially on the defensive end.

“Everything started clicking and I’m excited for next week and ready for practice,” safety Tyson Graham said.

Graham had seven tackles on the night, the second most on the USD defense, along with two forced fumbles. The defense had moments they can take away as positives, including a Graham fumble recovery when the defense was pinned at the goal line.

USD had problems holding onto the ball, though, with Shufford fumbling and losing a fumbled punt.

The game was decided by that point.

Kansas State coach Bill Snyder took the time to shake Saeger’s hand after the game, and Glenn had good things to say about Snyder.

“He’s an icon, the only thing good about it is if we went out for beer I’d get carded.” Glenn said. “He did it once, built it up, then they lost it and he came back built it up again and he’s got it. Whatever it is, he’s got it.”

The Coyotes travel to Davis, Calif., Saturday to take on University of California-Davis. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m.

(Photo: Offensive lineman Nile Banks holds back a Kansas State defensive lineman in the Coyotes’ matchup against the Wildcats on Sept. 5 at Bill Snyder Stadium in Manhattan, Kan. The Coyotes fell to Kansas State 34-0. Jacob Lutz/The Volante)