WACO, Texas _ What would happen if Kansas State used Alex Barnes like a workhorse running back?
It's a question K-State football fans have been asking all season, and they finally got their answer during a 42-21 Wildcats victory over Baylor on Saturday at McLane Stadium.
Barnes, a bruising yet seldom-used rusher, took control of K-State's backfield in the second half and erupted for 129 yards and four touchdowns. He hurdled a defender for his first score, bulldozed a defender for his second, slipped through a crowd for his third and easily crossed the goal line on his fourth.
The freshman once again displayed the speed and power that allowed him to average a team-high 7.8 yards per rush in K-State's first nine games, only this time he saw extended action instead of three carries he entered the day averaging. On this day, he carried 19 times.
The Wildcats have rotated between four running backs, but they scrapped that approach in favor of Barnes in the second half. The move paid dividends.
K-State (6-4, 4-3 Big 12) is now eligible for a bowl game for the seventh consecutive season. It can improve its postseason stock in its final two games against Kansas and TCU. Baylor (6-4, 3-4) has lost four in a row.
Barnes helped K-State break open an ugly game it trailed 14-7 at halftime. His three touchdowns, all in the third quarter, let K-State jump ahead 28-14.
That was a huge contrast from a dull first half.
It featured a 15-play drive from Baylor that covered 80 yards and lasted nearly five minutes, but failed to result in a single point. Then came an 11-play drive from K-State in which the Wildcats never crossed midfield.
K-State scored its lone touchdown thanks to a 40-yard scamper from quarterback Jesse Ertz on a broken play. It occurred on a fourth-and-two from midfield, and Baylor was in position to stuff Ertz, but he bounced to the outside and eventually found room for a long gain.
Winston Dimel punched in a short touchdown run moments later.
Baylor capitalized on a pair of K-State fumbles to score its first 14 points. First, Dominique Heath dropped a punt to set the Bears up with excellent field position. Baylor quarterback Zach Smith took advantage and found Blake Lynch for a 25-yard touchdown.
Later, Ertz fumbled while trying to scramble at midfield and Baylor capitalized with a 24-yard touchdown pass from Smith to Chris Platt.
K-State's defense played a stellar first half, but penalties and turnovers negated their positives. It looked like Baylor, even with a freshman quarterback making his first start, was in good position to win.
That changed when K-State turned to Barnes.
He led the Wildcats on three touchdown drives in the third quarter and helped Dimel score with a nice block in the fourth quarter.
K-State controlled the clock and maintained the ball. With Donnie Starks intercepting two Smith passes and Dante Barnett picking off one, that was more than enough for the Wildcats to win.
Coach Bill Snyder won his 199th game at K-State. The Wildcats will be a heavy favorite to win him No. 200 next Saturday at home against Kansas.
