SE: Delton Steps Up in Second Start for K-State
Oct 22, 2017 | Football, Sports Extra
By Corbin McGuire
The pregame nerves felt the same. Once Alex Delton stepped behind center, however, everything seemed different, but in a good way.
In his second career start for K-State, Delton felt more comfortable, more collected and more prepared to lead K-State's offense against a top-10 ranked team.
It showed.
The sophomore quarterback directed a dynamic rushing performance against an Oklahoma team that came into the game ranked 36th nationally in defending the run. Delton ran for a career-high 142 yards and three touchdowns, also completing 12-of-14 through the air for another 144 yards that included a game-tying touchdown with 2:25 left on the clock.
"As the game went on I felt extremely comfortable and I just felt like I was just out there playing with my boys," Delton said after K-Sate's 42-35 loss to No. 9 Oklahoma on Saturday at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. "I just felt like today I was playing the game and letting the game come to me."
A week after the Wildcats put up six points against No. 6 TCU, Delton and the Wildcat offense showed vast improvement against the Sooners. The Wildcats totaled 268 rushing yards on the ground and surpassed 400 yards of total offense for the first time in Big 12 play this season.
"I took last week's loss and I put that on me," Delton said. "It was unfortunate and I learned from it. This week I was ready to prove to my teammates that I'm a better player than that and I'm capable of playing at a high level."
Delton not only played at a high level, he did so with the game on the line. Down 35-28 with 5:16 to play, Delton said only one thought ran through his mind: "Score."
To do so, he connected with Byron Pringle for a 40-yard gain on the first play of the drive. A few plays later, he hit Pringle again for a 30-yard completion. After a short run, Delton fired a 5-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Zuber to tie the game back up.
"We knew what he was capable of this whole time," K-State tight end Dayton Valentine said. "I think we definitely were able to see what he's made of and just show how tough he is. It was fun to be part of and watch him be multi-dimensional in everything he did."
Right tackle Dalton Risner said Delton has always been capable of this type of production. Against TCU, however, Risner said little breakdowns offensively hampered Delton's ability to get loose.
"It's just those little differences — getting to the backside linebacker, holding on that nose a little bit longer, cutting off the backside d-end to let him bust plays like he did tonight," Risner said. "I knew he was capable of those things. I was really pleased to see some of those things play out for him."
Against the Sooners, Delton was certainly given more room to work with on the ground and took full advantage. He tallied 138 rushing yards in the first half, highlighted by a 21-yard touchdown run that saw him lunge down the sideline for the score. He finished with the 11th-most rushing yards in a game by a K-State quarterback ever and the third-most by an underclassman (Fr. or So.) signal caller in school history.
The pregame nerves felt the same. Once Alex Delton stepped behind center, however, everything seemed different, but in a good way.
In his second career start for K-State, Delton felt more comfortable, more collected and more prepared to lead K-State's offense against a top-10 ranked team.
It showed.
The sophomore quarterback directed a dynamic rushing performance against an Oklahoma team that came into the game ranked 36th nationally in defending the run. Delton ran for a career-high 142 yards and three touchdowns, also completing 12-of-14 through the air for another 144 yards that included a game-tying touchdown with 2:25 left on the clock.
"As the game went on I felt extremely comfortable and I just felt like I was just out there playing with my boys," Delton said after K-Sate's 42-35 loss to No. 9 Oklahoma on Saturday at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. "I just felt like today I was playing the game and letting the game come to me."
A week after the Wildcats put up six points against No. 6 TCU, Delton and the Wildcat offense showed vast improvement against the Sooners. The Wildcats totaled 268 rushing yards on the ground and surpassed 400 yards of total offense for the first time in Big 12 play this season.
"I took last week's loss and I put that on me," Delton said. "It was unfortunate and I learned from it. This week I was ready to prove to my teammates that I'm a better player than that and I'm capable of playing at a high level."
Delton not only played at a high level, he did so with the game on the line. Down 35-28 with 5:16 to play, Delton said only one thought ran through his mind: "Score."
To do so, he connected with Byron Pringle for a 40-yard gain on the first play of the drive. A few plays later, he hit Pringle again for a 30-yard completion. After a short run, Delton fired a 5-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Zuber to tie the game back up.
"We knew what he was capable of this whole time," K-State tight end Dayton Valentine said. "I think we definitely were able to see what he's made of and just show how tough he is. It was fun to be part of and watch him be multi-dimensional in everything he did."
"We see it every day in practice. That Alex is the one that was out there today," added Alex Barnes, who collected 108 rushing yards that included a 75-yard touchdown run. "It was really nice to see him being comfortable, being confident with his throws and just really getting used to being the guy."What A Game in Manhattan. All Tied up at 35! #KStateFB pic.twitter.com/1M3GoSwU6m
— K-State Football (@KStateFB) October 22, 2017
Right tackle Dalton Risner said Delton has always been capable of this type of production. Against TCU, however, Risner said little breakdowns offensively hampered Delton's ability to get loose.
"It's just those little differences — getting to the backside linebacker, holding on that nose a little bit longer, cutting off the backside d-end to let him bust plays like he did tonight," Risner said. "I knew he was capable of those things. I was really pleased to see some of those things play out for him."
Against the Sooners, Delton was certainly given more room to work with on the ground and took full advantage. He tallied 138 rushing yards in the first half, highlighted by a 21-yard touchdown run that saw him lunge down the sideline for the score. He finished with the 11th-most rushing yards in a game by a K-State quarterback ever and the third-most by an underclassman (Fr. or So.) signal caller in school history.
"Our offensive line does a great job of making things clear to see. I just trusted my offensive linemen and followed them," Delton said as K-State travels to play Kansas next Saturday. "Really, I feel comfortable because my teammates have welcomed me so well and they just make me feel confident and comfortable back there, so all the credit goes to those guys."WHAT A PLAY @adelton005! @KStateFB pulling out the mayhem in Manhattan! #KStateFB up 20-7 on the Sooners #EMAW @CFBonFOX pic.twitter.com/DVZT61XZLg
— FOX Sports Southwest (@FOXSportsSW) October 21, 2017
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