Emotions Will Run High as Cats Look to Knock Off Top-10 Bears
Nov 19, 2021 | Football, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
Kansas State defensive back Reggie Stubblefield wore a gray ballcap with the white number 1 printed across the top while purple cursive lettering read, "Day by Day," — a nod to the mantra of the Wildcats' football team, whose 1-0 approach has worked extraordinarily well in Manhattan.
The day-by-day preparation is apparent. K-State owns the longest active winning streak in the Big 12 Conference in riding four consecutive victories with wins at Texas Tech (25-24), against TCU (31-12), at Kansas (35-10) and against West Virginia (34-17).
It's been a remarkable turnaround after a tough start to the Big 12 Conference season and speaks to the leadership and daily improvement by a squad high in character and expecting to win.
"I marvel at what we've done the last four weeks," K-State head coach Chris Klieman said at his weekly news conference. "I don't care what your schedule is. If you're not ready to play, you're going to get beat, and our kids have come each day the last four weeks with an unbelievable mindset, great preparation, and confidence to say, 'We're going to play our friggin' best today.'
"Have we played our best? I don't know. We're getting there, though, and it's fun to watch, because when you're playing with confidence, you're tough to beat."
K-State, 7-3 overall and 4-3 in the Big 12, has an opportunity to accomplish several feats if it can get past No. 11 Baylor, 8-2 and 5-2, in Saturday's 4:30 p.m. kickoff at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
A win would:
- Give K-State a win over a Top 25 team for the first time this season.
- Give K-State a fifth-straight win, which would be the longest win streak in the same season since 2014.
- Allow 29 seniors and two juniors an opportunity to win on Senior Day during their last home game.
All are marks that the Wildcats aren't taking lightly.
"I think the bigger thing that I've always tried to look at is if you're (an underclassman) not going out there on Senior Day, it's your duty — you have to honor these guys with your play," Klieman said. "You have to honor these guys with your preparation throughout the week. You have to honor these guys with how much this game means to you to try and find a way to get a win for these guys. Because for these guys, it's an emotional game."
It will mark the final home game for Skylar Thompson, who a week ago won his 23rd career game, the most by a K-State quarterback since at least 1990. Thompson heads into the twilight of his sixth season. He ranks 11th nationally with a pass efficiency mark of 164.9 that is one pace to set the single-season record in K-State history. His passing completion percentage (71.6%) ranks sixth nationally and is on pace to set another school record.
Baylor has won three straight in the series, but the Wildcats hope that can change Saturday. K-State suffered a 32-31 loss to Baylor on a last-second field goal last season.
"I'm excited for this opportunity we have this weekend to finish out on a really high note at home," Thompson said. "We're playing a really, really good football team that's coming off a big win. It's going to be a great challenge for us."
Baylor upset No. 8 Oklahoma, 27-14, last Saturday in Waco, Texas to snap the Sooners' nation-leading 17-game winning streak, keeping the Bears in contention for a spot in the Big 12 Championship game.
Baylor joins Alabama and Georgia as the only Power 5 teams to rank top-20 nationally in scoring offense and scoring defense. Baylor ranks 20th in scoring offense (35.4) and 20th in scoring defense (19.9). Baylor is holding opponents to an average of 11.7 points below their scoring average.
In fact, Baylor held the Sooners to their fewest points since 2014.
"We have to be at our best," second-year Baylor head coach Dave Aranda said. "We're going to get everybody's best shot when we come to town. People want to see us lose and we have to fight daily to make the right choices and do the little things right, so we are strengthening our standing."
Saturday's matchup will feature two of the most electrifying players in the Big 12.
K-State sophomore running back Deuce Vaughn is the only player in the FBS with more than 900 rushing yards and 400 receiving yards. The Doak Walker Award Semifinalist needs just 13 more rushing yards and 73 receiving yards to become just the fourth player in Big 12 history and the third FBS player in the last five years to reach 1,000 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards in a single season.
Baylor senior running back Abram Smith ranks fifth in the nation in averaging 120.3 rushing yards and has scored 11 touchdowns. Smith had 20 carries for 148 yards against the Sooners. He has seven 100-yard rushing efforts this season, needing one more to set the school record. His 75-yard run against the Sooners was the longest rush of his career.
"We're fearless," Stubblefield said. "It doesn't matter who we're going to play against, we're going to just try to play high-level ball. We're going to make the same effort, just go out there and try to make plays and win the game."
Aranda has been impressed by the Wildcats' winning ways.
"I think they're a complete team," he said, "and they're playing with a lot of belief."
Much of that belief starts with K-State's five Super Seniors — strong safety Jahron McPherson, defensive end Bronson Massie, linebacker Cody Fletcher, center Noah Johnson and Thompson. All went through senior ceremonies last year but opted to return after the NCAA paused eligibility clocks, allowing seniors to play an additional year.
Thompson anticipates having between 50 and 60 family members and friends at the game for what he definitely knows will be his final home game.
"I'm going to miss a lot about it, to be honest," Thompson said. "I've said a lot that my journey has been crazy. Thinking back to how it started and just the ups and downs and everything. This university and fan base has just meant a lot to me and just sticking with me and believing in me, no matter what."
K-State fans continue to believe as the Wildcats head toward a second bowl in three seasons. But Johnson believes it becomes paramount to win one more time in Manhattan as well.
"For us to come back together and try to end our careers on the right note for this university is important for us," Johnson said. "The job isn't finished."
For a few moments prior to kickoff, K-State fans will get the opportunity to shower the senior class with cheers and applause.
Then it will be time for the Wildcats to regroup with visions of potentially winning a fifth straight contest.
"Ultimately, you're still playing a football game, and I'm an emotional guy, and it's hard for me with these guys that you've spent so much time with, and have built relationships with," Klieman said. "They've meant so much to the program. They've meant so much to our coaching staff and myself.
"You've got to let them enjoy their time, then it's time to play."
And then it's time to put that 1-0 mentality back to work once again.
Kansas State defensive back Reggie Stubblefield wore a gray ballcap with the white number 1 printed across the top while purple cursive lettering read, "Day by Day," — a nod to the mantra of the Wildcats' football team, whose 1-0 approach has worked extraordinarily well in Manhattan.
The day-by-day preparation is apparent. K-State owns the longest active winning streak in the Big 12 Conference in riding four consecutive victories with wins at Texas Tech (25-24), against TCU (31-12), at Kansas (35-10) and against West Virginia (34-17).
It's been a remarkable turnaround after a tough start to the Big 12 Conference season and speaks to the leadership and daily improvement by a squad high in character and expecting to win.
"I marvel at what we've done the last four weeks," K-State head coach Chris Klieman said at his weekly news conference. "I don't care what your schedule is. If you're not ready to play, you're going to get beat, and our kids have come each day the last four weeks with an unbelievable mindset, great preparation, and confidence to say, 'We're going to play our friggin' best today.'
"Have we played our best? I don't know. We're getting there, though, and it's fun to watch, because when you're playing with confidence, you're tough to beat."
K-State, 7-3 overall and 4-3 in the Big 12, has an opportunity to accomplish several feats if it can get past No. 11 Baylor, 8-2 and 5-2, in Saturday's 4:30 p.m. kickoff at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
A win would:
- Give K-State a win over a Top 25 team for the first time this season.
- Give K-State a fifth-straight win, which would be the longest win streak in the same season since 2014.
- Allow 29 seniors and two juniors an opportunity to win on Senior Day during their last home game.
All are marks that the Wildcats aren't taking lightly.
"I think the bigger thing that I've always tried to look at is if you're (an underclassman) not going out there on Senior Day, it's your duty — you have to honor these guys with your play," Klieman said. "You have to honor these guys with your preparation throughout the week. You have to honor these guys with how much this game means to you to try and find a way to get a win for these guys. Because for these guys, it's an emotional game."
It will mark the final home game for Skylar Thompson, who a week ago won his 23rd career game, the most by a K-State quarterback since at least 1990. Thompson heads into the twilight of his sixth season. He ranks 11th nationally with a pass efficiency mark of 164.9 that is one pace to set the single-season record in K-State history. His passing completion percentage (71.6%) ranks sixth nationally and is on pace to set another school record.
Baylor has won three straight in the series, but the Wildcats hope that can change Saturday. K-State suffered a 32-31 loss to Baylor on a last-second field goal last season.
"I'm excited for this opportunity we have this weekend to finish out on a really high note at home," Thompson said. "We're playing a really, really good football team that's coming off a big win. It's going to be a great challenge for us."
Baylor upset No. 8 Oklahoma, 27-14, last Saturday in Waco, Texas to snap the Sooners' nation-leading 17-game winning streak, keeping the Bears in contention for a spot in the Big 12 Championship game.
Baylor joins Alabama and Georgia as the only Power 5 teams to rank top-20 nationally in scoring offense and scoring defense. Baylor ranks 20th in scoring offense (35.4) and 20th in scoring defense (19.9). Baylor is holding opponents to an average of 11.7 points below their scoring average.
In fact, Baylor held the Sooners to their fewest points since 2014.
"We have to be at our best," second-year Baylor head coach Dave Aranda said. "We're going to get everybody's best shot when we come to town. People want to see us lose and we have to fight daily to make the right choices and do the little things right, so we are strengthening our standing."
Saturday's matchup will feature two of the most electrifying players in the Big 12.
K-State sophomore running back Deuce Vaughn is the only player in the FBS with more than 900 rushing yards and 400 receiving yards. The Doak Walker Award Semifinalist needs just 13 more rushing yards and 73 receiving yards to become just the fourth player in Big 12 history and the third FBS player in the last five years to reach 1,000 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards in a single season.
🚨 HE'S LOOSE 🚨@C_Vaughn22 named @DoakWalkerAward Semifinalist, given annually to the nation's premier running back
— K-State Football (@KStateFB) November 17, 2021
📄 https://t.co/YZ0JHn9krk#KStateFB pic.twitter.com/QHi1DA0Lsq
Baylor senior running back Abram Smith ranks fifth in the nation in averaging 120.3 rushing yards and has scored 11 touchdowns. Smith had 20 carries for 148 yards against the Sooners. He has seven 100-yard rushing efforts this season, needing one more to set the school record. His 75-yard run against the Sooners was the longest rush of his career.
"We're fearless," Stubblefield said. "It doesn't matter who we're going to play against, we're going to just try to play high-level ball. We're going to make the same effort, just go out there and try to make plays and win the game."
Aranda has been impressed by the Wildcats' winning ways.
"I think they're a complete team," he said, "and they're playing with a lot of belief."
Much of that belief starts with K-State's five Super Seniors — strong safety Jahron McPherson, defensive end Bronson Massie, linebacker Cody Fletcher, center Noah Johnson and Thompson. All went through senior ceremonies last year but opted to return after the NCAA paused eligibility clocks, allowing seniors to play an additional year.
Thompson anticipates having between 50 and 60 family members and friends at the game for what he definitely knows will be his final home game.
"I'm going to miss a lot about it, to be honest," Thompson said. "I've said a lot that my journey has been crazy. Thinking back to how it started and just the ups and downs and everything. This university and fan base has just meant a lot to me and just sticking with me and believing in me, no matter what."
K-State fans continue to believe as the Wildcats head toward a second bowl in three seasons. But Johnson believes it becomes paramount to win one more time in Manhattan as well.
"For us to come back together and try to end our careers on the right note for this university is important for us," Johnson said. "The job isn't finished."
For a few moments prior to kickoff, K-State fans will get the opportunity to shower the senior class with cheers and applause.
Then it will be time for the Wildcats to regroup with visions of potentially winning a fifth straight contest.
"Ultimately, you're still playing a football game, and I'm an emotional guy, and it's hard for me with these guys that you've spent so much time with, and have built relationships with," Klieman said. "They've meant so much to the program. They've meant so much to our coaching staff and myself.
"You've got to let them enjoy their time, then it's time to play."
And then it's time to put that 1-0 mentality back to work once again.
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