SE: K-State Looks to Ride Momentum, Clinch Bowl Bid vs. No. 23 West Virginia
Nov 08, 2017 | Football, Sports Extra
By Corbin McGuire
One moment, Brogan Barry was jumping in celebration with his teammates in a cramped locker room after a comeback victory against Texas Tech last Saturday. The next, he was holding a stuffed bobcat over his head.
The bobcat, named Phil, can be seen on a postgame celebration video posted on the K-State football team's Twitter account, as can the excitement the victory brought the Wildcat players.
K-State overcame an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter to secure the win and the largest fourth-quarter comeback victory on the road in K-State history. It also pushed the Wildcats to 5-4 for the season, placing them one victory away from securing a bowl bid.
"It's huge," Barry said of being one win away from bowl eligibility. "We practiced in the indoor (facility) all last week, and you look around and see all the banners and you realize that's something you want to be part of and you don't want to be the class that didn't make a bowl. These last three weeks are going to have intense focus and we're going to go out there and try to win as many games as possible."
With three games to go against all top-25 opponents, the Wildcats (5-4, 3-3) will look to lock up that crucial sixth victory against No. 23 West Virginia (6-3, 4-2) at Bill Snyder Family Stadium on Saturday at 2:30 p.m.
"We're one win away from really being a happy team and a happy program," senior punter Nick Walsh said. "We have bigger expectations than to just get one more win, obviously, but it's something we're thinking about and we're really excited about."
To become bowl eligible for the eighth-straight season, K-State will have to overcome another high-powered offense in West Virginia. Nationally, the Mountaineers, led by junior quarterback Will Grier, rank seventh in total offense, sixth in passing offense and 11th in scoring offense.
"(Grier) has shown how talented he is," Barry said. "We have to have a really good week at practice and I think everybody in the secondary is ready to do that."
The Wildcats, still collectively energized from its second road in as many weeks, look to take advantage of their current momentum, as well as the energy provided by what should be the 39th-straight sellout crowd on Saturday.
"I think that gives us an advantage, playing at home," senior kicker Matthew McCrane said. "We look forward to it."
If the Wildcats do win, Barry said not to necessarily expect an exact repeat of his postgame celebration at Texas Tech. He did not completely shut the door on it, however.
"Maybe if we have another crazy win this weekend," he said, "maybe we'll see a resurgence of Phil the bobcat."
One moment, Brogan Barry was jumping in celebration with his teammates in a cramped locker room after a comeback victory against Texas Tech last Saturday. The next, he was holding a stuffed bobcat over his head.
The bobcat, named Phil, can be seen on a postgame celebration video posted on the K-State football team's Twitter account, as can the excitement the victory brought the Wildcat players.
"This season, we've had a couple of close games not go our way. So for something like that, for the way it ended, the way we came back, the way we rallied, it was just an incredible feeling," Barry said. "I think everybody really let the emotions out afterwards and were really excited about it."Bigger than I, you, or me. It's about us, we, team.#Family, always. Fight, always.#EMAW #KStateFB pic.twitter.com/0q4EvrVtI9
— K-State Football (@KStateFB) November 5, 2017
K-State overcame an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter to secure the win and the largest fourth-quarter comeback victory on the road in K-State history. It also pushed the Wildcats to 5-4 for the season, placing them one victory away from securing a bowl bid.
"It's huge," Barry said of being one win away from bowl eligibility. "We practiced in the indoor (facility) all last week, and you look around and see all the banners and you realize that's something you want to be part of and you don't want to be the class that didn't make a bowl. These last three weeks are going to have intense focus and we're going to go out there and try to win as many games as possible."
With three games to go against all top-25 opponents, the Wildcats (5-4, 3-3) will look to lock up that crucial sixth victory against No. 23 West Virginia (6-3, 4-2) at Bill Snyder Family Stadium on Saturday at 2:30 p.m.
"We're one win away from really being a happy team and a happy program," senior punter Nick Walsh said. "We have bigger expectations than to just get one more win, obviously, but it's something we're thinking about and we're really excited about."
To become bowl eligible for the eighth-straight season, K-State will have to overcome another high-powered offense in West Virginia. Nationally, the Mountaineers, led by junior quarterback Will Grier, rank seventh in total offense, sixth in passing offense and 11th in scoring offense.
"(Grier) has shown how talented he is," Barry said. "We have to have a really good week at practice and I think everybody in the secondary is ready to do that."
The Wildcats, still collectively energized from its second road in as many weeks, look to take advantage of their current momentum, as well as the energy provided by what should be the 39th-straight sellout crowd on Saturday.
"I think that gives us an advantage, playing at home," senior kicker Matthew McCrane said. "We look forward to it."
If the Wildcats do win, Barry said not to necessarily expect an exact repeat of his postgame celebration at Texas Tech. He did not completely shut the door on it, however.
"Maybe if we have another crazy win this weekend," he said, "maybe we'll see a resurgence of Phil the bobcat."
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