Stanford Cardinal running back Ethan Bonner (13) can’t catch up to Kansas State Wildcats running back Deuce Vaughn (22) and who is cheered on by Wildcats wide receiver Malik Knowles (4) for a first half touchdown on Sat Sep 4, 2021 in Arlington (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

Kansas State Wildcats quarterback Skylar Thompson scored two touchdowns on two carries against the Stanford Cardinal in the season opener in Arlington on Saturday. Thompson who missed most of last season due to a shoulder injury show no signs of anything amiss throwing for 144 yards.

The Wildcats opened up their regular season with a 24-7 win and got help from running back Deuce Vaughn who ran for 59 yards for a touchdown and finished the day running for 124 yards the most running yardage all day.

With the score 24-0 in the fourth quarter Stanford quarterback Tanner McKee saved the Cardinal from being shutout throwing a touchdown pass to Brycen Tremayne for 14 yards with 3:16 left in the game on what would be the Cardinal’s last offensive play of the game avoiding being shutout.

The last time the Cardinal were shutout was Nov 4, 2006 against the USC Trojans convincingly 42-0. Last season the Cardinal started the season at 0-2 but won the last four games of the season to finish 4-2.

For Thompson who injured his right shoulder on his throwing side last season in only the third game was out for the remaining three games. Thompson pushed hard to return to football he was dedicated to Kansas State and to return to the program and his first game back on Saturday against Stanford he had to be pretty satisfied with the results.

Stanford used both of their quarterbacks McKee went 15-18 for 118 yards and one touchdown and Jack West 8-12 for 76 yards, West threw for two interceptions. McKee and West couldn’t find receivers and convert much in the red zone all day.

It’s try, try, try all over again as the Cardinal head to the Southland to face the USC Trojans in their next attempt to get in the win column Sat Sep 11 for a 7:30 pm PDT kick off.