Postgame: K-State 24, Iowa St. 23

Emmanuel Lamur's block made Sportscenter and Grant Gregory played so well that my columnist colleagues Bob Lutz and Jason Whitlock have anointed him the next Michael Bishop. OK, they didn't go anywhere near that far, but they were pretty impressed.

He indeed looked good at Arrowhead Stadium on Saturday during Kansas State's dramatic 24-23 victory over Iowa State. Scrambling all over the field for 206 yards through the air and 29 on the ground, the senior South Florida transfer was responsible for all three of K-State's touchdowns.

Struggling kicker Josh Cherry came through with the other three.

Both were surprises. Coming into the game, Carson Coffman looked like the sure starter. He had started each of the past four games and was coming off an 8 of 9 performance in his last game. But Gregory was given the ball, and he took full advantage.

Coach Bill Snyder said he went with Gregory because he had an outstanding week of practice, but didn't commit to him as his full-time starter when the game was over. He said he didn't know who he would start against Texas Tech, but I can't imagine a scenario in which a healthy Gregory doesn't start in Lubbock.

Most of all, he looked like an athlete out there. He eluded a heavy pass rush all game, which is big for K-State right now, and he got rid of the ball quickly. Combined with workhorse running back Daniel Thomas, who rushed for 96 yards, it finally looks like the Wildcats might have something on offense.

If that can continue, and K-State's defense can get back to tackling more effectively (despite a great first four games, the Wildcats were sub par on defense against the Cyclones giving up 371 yards and rarely making tackles on the first try) the Wildcats will be competitive as conference play continues.

At Texas Tech will be a difficult game, but Texas A&M and Colorado at home are looking like very winnable contests. The Wildcats are alone atop the Big 12 North standings right now at 3-2 overall and 1-0 in conference. Odds are they won't stay on top forever, but in a few weeks there is a decent chance they could be 5-3 and 3-1.

Whether both Gregory and the defense can play well on the same day is the question. We'll soon find out the answer.

But for now there is definitely reason to hope.

Key Stats
61 yards receiving by Lamark Brown, a welcome sight for K-State
201 rushing yards for Iowa State
47 rushing yards by ISU star running back Alexander Robinson
40,851 the attendance at half full Arrowhead Stadium
360 total yards of K-State offense
206 passing yards by Grant Gregory
3 touchdowns by Grant Gregory
84 rushing yards from ISU quarterback Austin Arnaud
39 length of Josh Cherry's knuckle ball made kick
11 tackles by Alex Hrebec
12 tackles by Jesse Smith
3 wild celebrations by K-State. They came after Cherry's field goal, Gregory's final TD pass and Lamur's block
2 times Iowa State has now left Arrowhead Stadium with crushing losses. The other coming against Florida State when Seneca Wallace's final seconds dive for the end zone was incorrectly ruled out of bounds.

Quotes to note
"He played real good. Just to go in and just get a start under his belt, where he's coming from and the long journey he's had, he's doing pretty good," -- Brandon Banks on Gregory.

"I'm going to block this," -- Emmanuel Lamur, talking to himself before the game's key play.

"When they threw that touchdown pass, it was meant to be. Then when we turned around and blocked the extra point, I can't remember the last time we blocked an extra point, maybe it was meant to be that way, too." -- Bill Snyder.

"Our defense didn't come through," -- John Houlik.

"I guess I almost got sacked," -- Grant Gregory, not remembering the beginning of his brilliant 54-yard TD pass to Brandon Banks.

"We were in a dogfight from the very beginning," -- John Houlik

"Validation. Six years worth of work I finally helped a team. That's the greatest feeling I've had in my life," -- Grant Gregory.

"I was shocked because I thought I hit it fine and I thought we were going to overtime," -- ISU kicker Grant Mahoney.

"What I saw was a leaper who looked like Matt Blair. He was well above the cross bar, I didn't see any penetration, and it looked like a fairly good trajectory. Kansas State made a hell of a play." -- ISU coach Paul Rhoads on Lamur's block.