SE: Zuber, Lynch Pick Up Where Predecessors Left Off in K-State’s Season-Opening Win
Sep 02, 2018 | Football, Sports Extra
By Corbin McGuire
There's an internal expectation that no matter what happens or who graduates, K-State special teams will always be among the best in the country. Isaiah Zuber and Blake Lynch might be the best, and certainly the most recent, reasons why.
Both Wildcats stepped into starting special teams roles for the first time in their careers. Both were key in K-State's 27-24 win against South Dakota on Saturday night.
Zuber took a punt return for a score early in the fourth quarter, sparking K-State to outscore the Coyotes, 15-0, in the final period. Lynch went 4-for-4 in his career debut, each one proving crucial by game's end.
"By and large, we played pretty well on special teams and made some major plays on special teams," K-State head coach Bill Snyder said, before addressing the importance that unit has on the team. "We would be far less of a football program without the success that we've had with special teams."
Zuber and Lynch are both well aware of the successful history of their positions at K-State.
As one of K-State's go-to returners, Zuber stepped into the shoes worn by last year's dynamic tandem of All-American D.J. Reed and two-time All-Big 12 returner Byron Pringle. Then there's Zuber's offensive coordinator and position coach, Andre Coleman, whom was on the forefront of K-State's long stretch of game-changing returners.
Zuber took the responsibility seriously, evidenced by his 85-yard punt return score to cut K-State's deficit to 24-19 against South Dakota.
"I know all the guys who set the standard — Andre Coleman, Tyler Lockett, Tramaine Thompson, everybody. It's hard to live up to their legacy but I'm going to try my best," Zuber said. "It means a lot because all the guys who have been back there, those are the guys who have had great success in this program. So that means a lot to me to be talked about with them in the same category."
Zuber's momentum-shifting play was the 10th-longest punt return in school history and the longest sinceThompson took one 89 yards for a score in the 2012 season opener against Missouri State. Additionally, the Wildcats have now scored a touchdown off a punt or kick return in the first two games of the season in five of the last six years.
"Special teams gets it going. I'd say it's the same thing, or even better, as a defensive stop or defensive score," defensive tackle Trey Dishon said. "We needed that energy. We needed that juice."
Like Zuber, Lynch knew the expectations that come with being K-State's starting kicker are high. He practiced with one of the best to ever boot it in a K-State uniform, Matthew McCrane, all last year.
"I learned a lot from Matt. It was mainly just competing with a guy like that every day," Lynch said. "He helped out a lot just from that aspect, knowing where the bar is and trying to be just as good and not have a decline this year."
Lynch's four field goals, from 24, 22, 38 and 44 yards, set a school record for most made in a career debut. With all four coming in the first half, Lynch also became the first Wildcat kicker to make four in one half since Jamie Rheem did so in the first half against Utah State on October 16, 1999.
The 5-foot-5 sophomore said each make added to his confidence but he knows he can't take his performance for granted.
"I try to stay humble and not let that get to my head, stay grounded," he said. "I think the second you think you're the best is when you start to decline, so I just try to stay humble."
There's an internal expectation that no matter what happens or who graduates, K-State special teams will always be among the best in the country. Isaiah Zuber and Blake Lynch might be the best, and certainly the most recent, reasons why.
Both Wildcats stepped into starting special teams roles for the first time in their careers. Both were key in K-State's 27-24 win against South Dakota on Saturday night.
Zuber took a punt return for a score early in the fourth quarter, sparking K-State to outscore the Coyotes, 15-0, in the final period. Lynch went 4-for-4 in his career debut, each one proving crucial by game's end.
"By and large, we played pretty well on special teams and made some major plays on special teams," K-State head coach Bill Snyder said, before addressing the importance that unit has on the team. "We would be far less of a football program without the success that we've had with special teams."
Zuber and Lynch are both well aware of the successful history of their positions at K-State.
As one of K-State's go-to returners, Zuber stepped into the shoes worn by last year's dynamic tandem of All-American D.J. Reed and two-time All-Big 12 returner Byron Pringle. Then there's Zuber's offensive coordinator and position coach, Andre Coleman, whom was on the forefront of K-State's long stretch of game-changing returners.
Zuber took the responsibility seriously, evidenced by his 85-yard punt return score to cut K-State's deficit to 24-19 against South Dakota.
"I know all the guys who set the standard — Andre Coleman, Tyler Lockett, Tramaine Thompson, everybody. It's hard to live up to their legacy but I'm going to try my best," Zuber said. "It means a lot because all the guys who have been back there, those are the guys who have had great success in this program. So that means a lot to me to be talked about with them in the same category."
Zuber's momentum-shifting play was the 10th-longest punt return in school history and the longest sinceThompson took one 89 yards for a score in the 2012 season opener against Missouri State. Additionally, the Wildcats have now scored a touchdown off a punt or kick return in the first two games of the season in five of the last six years.
The momentum changer. Zuber took a punt return to the house to pull the 'Cats within a TD ????#KStateFB | #SpecialTeamsU pic.twitter.com/tIDKVnlmE1
— K-State Football (@KStateFB) September 2, 2018
"Special teams gets it going. I'd say it's the same thing, or even better, as a defensive stop or defensive score," defensive tackle Trey Dishon said. "We needed that energy. We needed that juice."
Like Zuber, Lynch knew the expectations that come with being K-State's starting kicker are high. He practiced with one of the best to ever boot it in a K-State uniform, Matthew McCrane, all last year.
"I learned a lot from Matt. It was mainly just competing with a guy like that every day," Lynch said. "He helped out a lot just from that aspect, knowing where the bar is and trying to be just as good and not have a decline this year."
Lynch's four field goals, from 24, 22, 38 and 44 yards, set a school record for most made in a career debut. With all four coming in the first half, Lynch also became the first Wildcat kicker to make four in one half since Jamie Rheem did so in the first half against Utah State on October 16, 1999.
Blake Lynch ????#KStateFB pic.twitter.com/rC9HJYCCSD
— K-State Football (@KStateFB) September 2, 2018
The 5-foot-5 sophomore said each make added to his confidence but he knows he can't take his performance for granted.
"I try to stay humble and not let that get to my head, stay grounded," he said. "I think the second you think you're the best is when you start to decline, so I just try to stay humble."
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