MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) - Kendall Adams hadn’t scored since high school.
On Saturday, the defensive player reached the end zone twice in the first half returning an interception and fumble for touchdowns to lead Kansas State. The No. 19 Wildcats used those scores to rout Charlotte 55-7.
Kansas State (2-0) led 14-0 midway through the first quarter, before Adams took an interception 30 yards up the far sideline and made it 21-0.
“Coach Hayes had help set up what they were going to do,” Adams said. “We had that game plan and I sat on the route, broke on it, got the ball and just ran it in.”
The pick was Adams first of the season. With just over four minutes remaining before halftime, Adams was in the right place again as he picked up a fumble from 46 yards out to make the score 31-7.
“Coaches always tell us to pick up the ball if it’s borderline and that’s what I did, I couldn’t tell if it was a live ball or not so I just picked it up and took it in.”
The last Wildcat to accomplish this feat was Dyshod Carter against Missouri in 1999.
On offense, the Wildcats were just as effective with Alex Barnes, Jesse Ertz and Winston Dimel scoring.
After struggling in the running game a week ago, the Wildcats scored five rushing touchdowns and gained 304 yards on the ground against Charlotte (0-2).
One of the many highlights on the day for the Wildcats was a 20 yard gain by Alex Barnes that ended with him hurdling over a Charlotte defender.
Barnes ended his day with 102 yards rushing along with his one score.
“It just shows how diverse of an offense we are,” Barnes said. “Last week we were not getting it done on the ground so we threw for 400 yards. This week it was a little tougher in the air so wee just grounded the rock all day.”
TAKEAWAYS:
Kansas State: Bill Snyder improved to 19-1 all-time against Conference USA opponents.
Charlotte: Saturday’s loss to Kansas State marks the first time Charlotte has started 0-2 to begin the season since they became a member of NCAA’s FBS division starting in 2015.
INJURY REPORT:
Kansas State right tackle Dalton Risner left in the game’s first series with an injury and did not return for the rest of the game.
POLL IMPLICATIONS
Kansas State will remain ranked in the AP’s Top 25 this coming week.
UP NEXT
Kansas State: The Wildcats visit Vanderbilt.
Charlotte: The 49ers host North Carolina A&T.
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