There’s no need to look under piles of offensive or defensive statistics to find the Kansas State Wildcats’ most eye-opening number.

The Wildcats are straddling a historical line as they bring a 2-0 record into Huskie Stadium Saturday night. It is the first time since its 1982 Independence Bowl season that KSU has been undefeated through two weeks. History also says the Wildcats have not won a road opener since 1975.

The Huskies will have to slap down a Wildcat offense wired from a 28-point first quarter last week in KSU’s 52-7 pasting of New Mexico State. The Wildcats crammed 42 points into that first half, the best scoring half for any Wildcat team since World War II.

All seven Wildcat touchdowns were on the ground against NMSU, four on Pat Jackson rushes (1990 total—32 rushes, 193 yards), as KSU gathered 303 running yards. The Wildcats could squeeze just 59 rushing yards through the Huskies’ defense last year in a 37-20 Huskie win in Manhattan, Kan.

When the Wildcats have aired it out, senior quarterback Carl Straw has completed 56.7 percent of his efforts (22-38, 395 yards this year). Straw’s two main targets, wideouts Frank Hernandez (nine catches, 224 yards) and Mike Smith (six for 136) are among five KSU receivers averaging more than 15 yards per grab.

Straw and his three backups have thus far been snug in the pocket provided by an offensive line staffed by two sophomores, two juniors and a freshman. The line which lost four starters and so concerned head coach Bill Snyder in spring practice has allowed just one sack in 54 pass attempts.

“Coming out of the spring we felt like we did adequately replace our offensive line,” said Snyder. “We came out with an offensive line that, with the possible exception of one position, was on par with where we were at the end of (last) season.”

Defensively, the Wildcat 11 which gave up 464 total yards in last year’s NIU victory has been reduced to the Wildcat six. The new blood has responded well, giving up just 13 points in KSU’s victories. All four defensive backs are gone as well as one of the five defensive line starters.

Sophomore linebacker Brooks Barta, last year’s Big Eight Conference Defensive Newcomer of the Year, is joined by sophomore Chris Patterson, who is second in team tackles (15) to Barta’s 20.

Young though they may be, the Wildcat defensive backfield has snagged five of the team’s seven interceptions. The seven steals (all by different players) equal the Wildcats’ 1989 total and go along with 11 pass break-ups and seven fumble recoveries.

Last year NIU quarterback Stacey Robinson’s 5-of-9 for 91 yards passing included a 53-yard scoring strike to Corey Ray. Robinson also busted through the 100-yard rushing mark for the first time in that game, gaining 168 yards and two TDs on 22 tries.

The KSU special teams will bring some momentum along as well. Last week, junior cornerback Rogerick Green blocked an NMSU punt and freshman wide receiver Thomas Randolph scooped it up and dashed 36 yards for a TD. True freshman place-kicker Tate Wright tied the KSU record for extra points in a game (seven) last week as well as kicking a 44-yard field goal in his first collegiate attempt.

While both KSU and NIU (1-2) have gotten off to surprising starts, Snyder said the recent Huskie hard times only make him more cautious.

“It’s a little frightening to me,” said Snyder. “They have quality players. My guess is they’re motivated to get on track and they have the good players to do it. They’re focused on what’s going on.”

In KSU’s opening 27-6 win over Western Illinois, receivers Hernandez (137) and Smith (107) became the first Wildcat players to post 100-yard receiving days in the same game. Hernandez has caught at least one pass in 14 straight games, Smith has caught at least one in 13 straight.