Manhattan ? Most football teams make time of possession a priority. The way Kansas State played without the ball, it wasn’t such a big deal.

The Wildcats’ defense dominated for the second straight game and forced three turnovers, and the offense found its groove late in a 23-7 victory over Marshall on Saturday.

“I used to worry about the offense and what they were doing,” linebacker Brandon Archer said. “Now it’s at the point where, collectively as a defense, we come out and play with some pride and do what we have to do – stop them in whatever situation.”

The Wildcats (3-0) have not yielded an offensive touchdown since the fourth quarter of their opener against Division I-AA Illinois State. Marshall (1-2) scored its only TD on James Johnson’s 17-yard return of a blocked punt.

“It’s only been three games,” said safety Marcus Watts, whose interception in the second quarter set up the go-ahead field goal. “You’ve got to keep building on your identity and keep getting better and better, and that’s what we want to do. We’ve built an identity that we’re going to be a tough defense and we’re going to swarm to the ball.”

Kansas State's Dylan Meier, left, passes over Marshall's Albert McClellan. KSU won, 23-7, Saturday in Manhattan.

Kansas State outgained the Thundering Herd 355 yards to 142 but didn’t mount a sustained TD drive until late in the fourth quarter.

Thomas Clayton, who had 152 yards and two scores for Kansas State in last year’s victory over the Herd, scored a touchdown on his first carry Saturday but never really got untracked until he ran for 34 yards on the game’s last possession. He finished with 76 yards on 14 carries.

And while Dylan Meier was 19-of-35 for 256 yards passing, including a 44-yard TD throw to Jermaine Moreira with about four minutes left in the game, he also overthrew several open receivers and threw one interception.