MANHATTAN, Kansas — Skylar Thompson threw for two scores and ran for another and Kansas State ran away from UTSA 41-17 on Saturday.
Thompson, who had been in a much-discussed quarterback battle with Alex Delton through the spring and early part of fall camps, stood out with some stellar play and might have sealed up the starting job. Thompson was tough to tame through the air and on the ground.
The Kansas State (2-1) signal caller threw for 213 yards on 13-of-18 passing and connected on long aerial bombs to Dalton Schoen and Isaiah Zuber. Thompson also was lethal on the ground with 66 yards rushing highlighted by a 27-yard scamper for a touchdown midway through the third quarter.
"I think Skylar did a nice job and Alex (Delton) only had one throw but it was extremely well," Kansas State head coach Bill Snyder said following the victory. "He (Thompson) played well, I do not think the demeanor of his approach was different; he just played a little better than he has. He made good decisions for the most part."
The Wildcat defense held the UTSA (0-3) offense at bay for most of the afternoon and limited quarterback Cordale Grundy to 108 yards passing.
"Unfortunately we did not always execute to the fullest," said UTSA head coach Frank Wilson. "But I think take away a couple of big-play opportunities, they weren't going methodically down the field and just shoving us around. We held them to some third-down opportunities, but we just couldn't get them off the field."
Backup quarterback D.J. Gillins helped make the score a little more respectable late with a 10-yard touchdown pass in mop-up duty.
TAKEAWAY
UTSA: The loss drops UTSA to 0-3 on the season and yet another game where the defense gave huge chunks of yardage. This time, the Roadrunners gave up more than 400 yards to a Kansas State offense that entered the game struggling to gain offensive consistency.
Kansas State: Despite the 72-yard TD pass from Alex Delton in the second half, Skylar Thompson more than likely ended the much-debated topic of who will be K-State's starting quarterback. From the first series of the game, the Wildcats were much more efficient and balanced than they had been in their first two matchups of the season.
STAT OF THE DAY
It took the Wildcats three games, but they finally scored their first rushing touchdown of the season after running back Alex Barnes rushed in from 3 yards out to give Kansas State its first score.
UP NEXT
UTSA: The Roadrunners face Texas State on September 22.
Kansas State: The Wildcats face West Virginia on September 22.
