True freshman runs for 115 yards, TD in first start

By ARNE GREEN

Salina Journal

MANHATTAN -- Logan Dold is no sleek racehorse.

Then again, in Kansas State coach Ron Prince's eyes, there's nothing wrong with slow and steady.

What Dold lacked in flash Saturday at Texas A&M, he more than made up for with substance.

"After watching the tape, I was very impressed," Prince said of Dold, who rushed for 115 yards and a touchdown in his first collegiate start -- a 44-30 K-State victory over the Aggies. "I thought he had good continuity and chemistry with the line.

"I thoug ht he hit the holes at the right time when they were blocking and a lot of good things happened. The most important thing, as a young runner, he held onto the ball."

Dold, a true freshman from Garden Plain, drew the start in place of an injured Lamark Brown, who did not make the trip to College Station. He was a key component in the Wildcats' season-best 215-yard rushing performance, with each of his 21 carries resulting in positive yardage.

"Being a running back, ball security is something you've really got to focus on," said Dold, whose longest run covered 15 yards. "I think that's the major influence on how we run the ball."

His steadiness notwithstanding, Dold still is no pack mule. As a senior last year at Garden City High School, he rushed for 2,388 yards in leading the Owls to their first-ever state championship, and his 7,144 career yards rank second all-time in the state of Kansas.

"Anybody who's run for that many yards has a lot of confidence -- has a lot of confidence in their ability and trust their vision and what's going on around them," Prince said. "(But) he was real smart with the ball -- we kept emphasizing it -- and I was real pleased with him. He's a real calm and poised kid."

Dold wasted little time throwing himself into the mix at running back for the Wildcats, who took two hits at the position before fall practice started when junior Leon Patton was dismissed from the team and touted junior college recruit Danny Thomas failed to qualify academically.

He opened the season behind former walk-on Keithen Valentine on the depth chart, and after Brown moved from wide receiver into the starting role, moved past Valentine into the No. 2 slot.

His performance at A&M only helped his chances for increased playing time, especially if Brown is unavailable again this Saturday at Colorado.

"Logan had a great game," said quarterback Josh Freeman, who contributed 95 yards and four touchdowns to the rushing attack. "He made some cuts, broke some tackles, ran some people over.

"H e did it all - exactly what we expect him to do."

Dold had no complaints after helping add life to an inconsistent Wildcat running game that ranks 59th nationally.

."There's always going to be room for improvement, but I got my opportunity and just wanted to make the best of it," he said. "The offensive line did a great job blocking."

Wait and see

K-State coach Ron Prince said Monday that it remains to be seen whether starting running back Lamark Brown and center Jordan Bedore will be available when the Wildcats travel to Boulder, Colo., on Saturday to face the Colorado Buffaloes.

Brown missed last week's Texas A&M trip with an undisclosed illness, while Bedore hurt his right arm early in the previous game against Texas Tech.

More TV time

Kansas State's next two games both will be televised by Fox Sports Midwest (Salina cable channel 34).

The Wildcats face Colorado at 6 p.m. (Central) this Saturday, then play host to Oklahoma at 11:30 a.m. Oct. 25.

Freeman nominated

Wildcat quarterback Josh Freeman is one of six candidates for this week's USA Today College Football national player of the week.

Freeman, a junior, led K-State to a 44-30 victory at Texas A&M with 329 total yards - 234 passing and 95 rushing - and four rushing touchdowns. He completed 21 of 26 passes in the game.

Fans can vote for the award online at www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football.

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