Manhattan ? Nebraska quarterback Joe Ganz helped rout Kansas State with his arm last year, setting school records for yards and touchdowns.

Another rout, another big game from Ganz – with a little help from his feet.

Ganz accounted for 365 total yards and four touchdowns, and Nebraska manhandled Kansas State for the second straight year, rolling over the Wildcats, 56-28, on Saturday.

Nebraska (7-4, 4-3 Big 12) routed Kansas State, 73-31, last season, thanks to Ganz’s 510 yards and seven TDs passing.

The senior had another solid game passing, throwing for 270 yards and a pair of scores after having his first pass intercepted and returned for a touchdown. This time, Ganz was just as effective running, getting 95 yards and a pair of scores on 11 carries.

So which was more satisfying?

“Both, really – anything that leads us to a win,” Ganz said. “Whatever it takes to get this team a win, I’m going to do it. If that means throwing for 300 yards or if I have to run it for 100, I’ll do whatever they ask of me.”

Nebraska’s dominance started up front.

The Cornhuskers established the running game early, punishing the Wildcats (4-7, 1-6 Big 12) at the line of scrimmage, scoring their first three touchdowns on the ground. Roy Helu Jr. had the first one on a one-yard run, then Quentin Castille turned a fourth-and-one into a 37-yard score late in the first quarter. Helu scored again in the second quarter, this time on a 24-yard run that put Nebraska up, 21-14.

Ganz took his turn through the air, hitting a pair of touchdown passes late in the second quarter, then went back to the ground in the fourth, scoring on runs of 25 and 14 yards.

By the time they were done, the Cornhuskers had 610 total yards – 340 rushing – for their fourth-straight victory over Kansas State.

“I thought we did a lot of good things,” Nebraska coach Bo Pelini said. “I thought Joe managed it really well, and the backs ran hard and tough. Joe was able to hurt them with his feet, and that helped open up our running backs, too.”

Nebraska’s defense wasn’t bad, either.

The Cornhuskers finally earned the coveted Blackshirts in practice this week and responded by harassing KSU quarterback Josh Freeman from the opening snap and completely squashing the Wildcats’ running game.

Freeman, the nation’s 13th-ranked passer at 292 yards per game, faced constant pressure and was sacked five times. He had to hurry or throw off his back foot on several other throws, going 7-for-18 for 114 yards before being replaced by Carson Coffman.

Kansas State’s running game managed a dismal 59 yards on 32 carries.

“Josh wasn’t his normal self,” Kansas State coach Ron Prince said. “He wasn’t doing some of the things that he has to be able to do, for whatever reason.”

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