KSU draws difficult task
By Mike Kluck
First Down Reporter
Kansas State coach Stan Parrish said his team has drawn one ol
the toughest assignments in college football this weekend.
Parrish’s Wildcats lost to No. 1 Oklahoma 59-10 last Saturday.
And it that assignment wasn't enough, the Wildcats face No. 2
Nebraska today.
Kansas Slate enters the game with an 0-6 record overall and an
0-2 record in the Big Eight.
"We have to prepare for one game at a tune while making sure
our team continues to improve,” Parrish said. “I think overall we
have been improving throughout the season.”
The Wildcats offense has been hampered this season with an
injury to tailback Tony Jordan. Jordan, a6-foot-3 senior, rushed lor
738 yards last season on 202 carries and was fifth in the Big Eight
in rushing. Jordan was a second team United Press International
and The Associated Press all-Big Eight selection in 1986.
Jordan rushed tor 45 yards on z5 carries against iNcnraskd idsi
year.
Jordan is joined in the backficld by senior fullback Ray Wilson
of McPherson, Kan. Wilson missed theentire spring football season
recovering from leg surgery. He was the third leading rusher lor the
Wildcats last year with 254 yards on 76 attempts and caught six
passes for 49 yards.
Senior Rick Lewis has challenged Wilson at fullback this
season. Lewis played noseguard last year for the Wildcats, but
returned to fullback this year after having a strong spring practice.
In the Wildcat spring varsity-alumni game, he was the second
On the cover
Nebraska l-back Keith Jones cuts through an
opening of the Oklahoma State defensive line
last Saturday during the Cornhuskers 35-0 win.
Jones, a senior from Omaha, rushed for 115 yards
on 21 carries to out-duel Heisman Trophy candi
date Thurman Thomas. Thomas was limited to
seven yards.
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The First Down Magazine is a supplement of the Daily
Nebraskan. The magazine is published every Nebraska t orn
husker home football game.
leading rusher with 38 yards on five carries.
Gary Swim is the Wildcats’ starting quarterback. A 6-foot-3
junior from Vernal, Utah, Swim has become the starling quarter
back after transferring from Snow Community College in Ephraim,
Utah. Swim earned the starting position in the Wildcat spring game
by completing 10 of 14 passes for 87 yards. He had an 81-yard
touchdown pass to wide receiver John Williams last Saturday
against Oklahoma. . .
Swim finished eighth in the country among junior college
quarterbacks in both passing and total offense in 1986. His backup
at quarterback is senior Tim Hanson, who was the Wildcats starter
last season. .
The Kansas State receiving corps is lead by senior ughtend Kent
Dean. Dean had a limited role last year as a reserve player, but has
been playing more this year . . 1QQ,
Against Oklahoma, he had four receptions for 38 yards. In 1J84,
he caught a 28-yard touchdown pass against the Huskcrs.
Also returning" for the Wildcats is senior wide receiver John
Williams, whose 10.45-second clocking in the 100-mctcr dash
makes him one of the fastest players in the conference.
The offensive line for the WiIdeals lost three seniors last year but
senior Matt Garvcr and junior Rob Goode have taken over the
leadership responsibilities.
The Kansas State defense has been the most disappointing
aspect for Parrish so far this year.
“Our defense hasn’t played well all year, Parrish said.
One of this year’s brighter aspects is freshman defensive line
man Bobby Lawrence, who had five assisted tackles against
Oklahoma.
Junior noseguard Jim Ochm returned this season after having 53
tackles last year. He also recorded five tackles against the Sooners.
John Crawford and Tim MacDonald also return to the Wildcats’
line.
Senior Grady Newton returns as a starting linebacker. Newton
had knee surgery last fall after recording 51 tackles last season.
Senior David Wallace also returns at linebacker. Wallace was
hindered last season with a knee injury but still had 48 tackles.
The Kansas State defensive secondary is a young but experi
enced squad. Sophomore strong safely Erick Harper returns as the
lop tackier in the secondary w ith 54 lackles last year. Also returning
at defensive back is Tyrecse Herds, who earned his starting position
last year against Nebraska. Senior Brad Lambert also returns this
year after a knee injury last year.
Punters Shane Pouch and Ken Olson have been competing this
year to fill the punter spot for the Wildcats.
Scouting
Report
COACH: Stan Parrish, who is in his second year at Kansas
Slate.
RETURNING STARTERS: 10; five on offense, five on
defense.
BASIC OFFENSE: multiple
BASIC DEFENSE: 50
SERIES RECORD AGAINST NEBRASKA: 10-59-2
LAST TIME THE TWO TEAMS FACED EACH
OTHER: The Nebraska defense held the Wildcats to
106 yards of total offense and shut Kansas Slate out 38
0 last season.