K-State Eases by Pesky North Texas 35 - 21

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) -- Bill Snyder saw it coming all week in practice.

The missed tackles. The dropped passes. The lousy blocking, terrible execution and distressing lack of focus gave the Kansas State coach trepidation with North Texas coming to town.

If not for another gutsy performance by Collin Klein, and a 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Tyler Locket, the No. 15 Wildcats might have been saddled with an embarrassing defeat before heading into next Saturday's showdown against fifth-ranked Oklahoma.

Instead, they managed to eke out a 35-21 victory on Saturday night.

''If you don't prepare yourself well then most anything can happen,'' Snyder said afterward. ''It was the attitude we took into the ballgame. There wasn't anything else to blame it on.''

Of course, Snyder was also quick to credit North Texas.

The Mean Green (1-2) scratched and clawed their way within 14-13 late in the third quarter before Klein hit and Tramaine Thompson for their second touchdown. John Hubert tacked on a TD run moments later, and Klein's fourth-quarter score allowed the Wildcats (3-0) to escape.

Albeit with a far less impressive showing than last week's 52-13 romp over Miami.

''North Texas is better than people think, first of all,'' said Klein, who passed for 230 yards and accounted for three scores. ''There was a lot of emotion coming off a big game, but the great teams are the exact same no matter who the opponent is.''

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