Solely Focused on the Task at Hand
Nov 18, 2022 | Football, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
The magic number is two. But No. 15 Kansas State is only thinking about one — as in one game, the next game, which could lead to great heights.
Awash in talk of a potential spot in the Big 12 Conference Championship Game, and coming off a dominant 31-3 win at Baylor, the Wildcats remain focused on one thing — capturing a win at West Virginia in Saturday's 1 p.m. kickoff (Big 12 Now on ESPN+) at Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown, West Virginia.
"Nobody believed in us to get to this point and nobody thought we'd be in the place we are now," center Hayden Gillum said. "We keep the same mindset. We're going to go each week and attack."
A victory over the Mountaineers coupled with a loss by Texas at Kansas would clinch a spot in the league title game for K-State.
The Wildcats, 7-3 overall and 5-2 in the Big 12, are adamant that they're focused solely on what they can control — and that's beating West Virginia, 4-6 and 2-5, which could punch its ticket to bowl eligibility with wins over its final two regular season games.
"They're still chasing bowl eligibility and they'll be ready to play," K-State head coach Chris Klieman said. "It's Senior Day and they have a lot of great seniors. They'll be ready to play. It's going to be a four-quarter great Big 12 game."
In one of the most parity-filled Big 12 seasons in years, a total of 21 interconference games have been decided by 10 points or less. K-State and West Virginia have each been involved in five such contests. The Mountaineers outlasted Oklahoma, 23-20, last Saturday for their first-ever win over the Sooners since joining the Big 12.
If Oklahoma and Texas Tech each win one more game, and if West Virginia and Iowa State each win their final two regular-season games, the Big 12 would boast 10 bowl-eligible teams for the first time in history.
"We're just trying to win," West Virginia head coach Neal Brown said. "If we get to that number, we get to that number. I'm just trying to give our team the best opportunity to win.
"A friend of mine said this, 'You're in a tough neighborhood.' This league is really good and it's extremely well coached and I've sat in this same chair and have said the same thing a lot of different times — everybody can win on every Saturday. Regardless who you play, you can win. The flipside is you can also lose."
K-State's victory at Baylor marked its first in Waco, Texas, since 2016. The Wildcats, who beat the Mountaineers, 34-17, last season in Manhattan, seek their first win in Morgantown since a 26-20 victory on November 20, 2014.
K-State is 3-1 in Big 12 road games, demonstrating a veteran, chip-on-the-shoulder road mentality that has paid dividends. The Wildcats earned wins at then-No. 6 Oklahoma (41-34), at Iowa State (10-9) and at Baylor (31-3) while their only loss came at then-No. 8 TCU (38-28).
"The road mentality is a mentality that it's us against 50,000 or 60,000 or whatever, and that includes everyone who's against us," linebacker Deuce Vaughn said. "We always have the underdog label and we love that. We always have a chip on our shoulder to prove everybody wrong."
Junior quarterback Will Howard, who has been thrust into action all three years during his time at K-State, has been impressive this season behind his vast knowledge of the Wildcats' offense and confidence in the huddle. The 6-foot-5, 235-pound Howard will earn his second start of the season in place of injured Adrian Martinez. Howard has thrown for 707 yards and nine touchdowns in his last three games, the most touchdown passes ever by a Wildcat over a three-game stretch in which they played.
"What an experience being a young kid in there two years ago and still working through the offensive scheme, and now I'm able to just sit back there and dissect the defense," said Howard, who came off the sideline to throw for 196 yards and three touchdowns against the Bears. "I know the offense like the back of my hand now just because I've been in the system so long."
Howard's prowess this season has captured the attention of West Virginia, which has allowed 20 passing touchdowns to just three interceptions.
"Howard looks to be one of the more improved players this year in our league," Brown said. "He's extremely efficient and he's played in two road environments and has really played well and beat Oklahoma State when they were top 10 in the country. He's playing very effective.
"Their team really believes in him, you can tell that."
West Virginia, which ranks eighth in the Big 12 in averaging 31.2 points per game, will have to contend with a K-State defense that allows just 17.5 points per contest — 12th in the FBS — and comes off a performance in which the Wildcats held Baylor to a single field goal. It marked the fewest points K-State has allowed a Big 12 opponent on the road since a 45-0 win at Iowa State on November 8, 2003.
K-State has held four opponents without a touchdown for the first time since 2002.
"We're playing really, really well," Green said. "It just shows the preparation every week. It's a total unit effort. As a defense, our mentality is to not let them score. Allowing just a field goal is a big-time statement for our defense. We think about 'what have you done for us lately.'"
The Mountaineers' win over the Sooners was sparked by backup quarterback Garrett Greene, who relieved starter JT Daniels and amassed 119 rushing yards and two touchdowns to go along with 138 passing yards and one touchdown.
With Greene at quarterback, the Mountaineers took their first lead of the game with 3 minutes, 29 seconds left in the third quarter when he connected with wide receiver Bryce Ford-Wheaton on an 8-yard reception for a 13-12 advantage.
"You take a different approach depending upon who's playing quarterback," defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman said. "I'd anticipate seeing both. Greene has done a really good job of throwing some life into that offense, but JT Daniels was the guy, so I'd be surprised if they make a wholesale change, but definitely two different styles of attack with them."
K-State's offense continues to climb under first-year offensive coordinator Collin Klein. The Wildcats have totaled at least 375 yards in all seven Big 12 games, their first time to do so over the first seven games of a Big 12 season in history. K-State ranks 15th in the FBS in averaging 214.7 rushing yards per game behind running back Deuce Vaughn, who ranks 16th nationally with 1,081 rushing yards. The 5-foot-6, 176-pound Vaughn has a four career games in which he's totaled at least 70 rushing yards and 70 receiving yards in the same contest, the most by a Wildcat in the Big 12 era.
Vaughn had a season high-tying eight catches for 50 yards and one touchdown at Baylor and has caught a touchdown pass in each of the past three contests.
"Everything they do offensively is centered around Deuce Vaughn," Brown said. "I could talk a long time about him."
West Virginia will need to account for all of the Wildcats' pass catchers. That includes sophomore tight end Ben Sinnott, who comes off a career day with seven catches and two touchdowns against the Bears.
"(Sinnott) has natural ball skills, he really does, and it's something we've known for a while," Klein said. "Him making those plays has been a lot of fun to watch. It has been and will continue to be a great weapon for us as you start looking from a defensive perspective of how they see us and taking care of Deuce, some edge players, and some quarterback run-game stuff. You can create some one-on-ones there. He's done a good job when plays come his way of getting it done."
K-State focuses on getting it done Saturday.
"We understand the way we've gotten here is by taking it day by day and understanding that it's a process," Vaughn said. "We're process driven, not results driven. We're going to go 1-0 each day and it'll give us a chance to be the team that we know we are on Saturday."
The Wildcats wrap up their regular season against the Jayhawks — a matchup that could carry major implications for a spot in the Big 12 title game, and beyond.
The Wildcats are focused on the Mountaineers.
"We can't get ahead of ourselves," Klieman said. "Trust me, the kids know what's at stake. You don't need to talk about it. They know. We have a seasoned group of guys that know when we focus on ourselves we're much better off. This group has really done that."
The magic number is two. But No. 15 Kansas State is only thinking about one — as in one game, the next game, which could lead to great heights.
Awash in talk of a potential spot in the Big 12 Conference Championship Game, and coming off a dominant 31-3 win at Baylor, the Wildcats remain focused on one thing — capturing a win at West Virginia in Saturday's 1 p.m. kickoff (Big 12 Now on ESPN+) at Milan Puskar Stadium in Morgantown, West Virginia.
"Nobody believed in us to get to this point and nobody thought we'd be in the place we are now," center Hayden Gillum said. "We keep the same mindset. We're going to go each week and attack."
A victory over the Mountaineers coupled with a loss by Texas at Kansas would clinch a spot in the league title game for K-State.
The Wildcats, 7-3 overall and 5-2 in the Big 12, are adamant that they're focused solely on what they can control — and that's beating West Virginia, 4-6 and 2-5, which could punch its ticket to bowl eligibility with wins over its final two regular season games.
"They're still chasing bowl eligibility and they'll be ready to play," K-State head coach Chris Klieman said. "It's Senior Day and they have a lot of great seniors. They'll be ready to play. It's going to be a four-quarter great Big 12 game."
In one of the most parity-filled Big 12 seasons in years, a total of 21 interconference games have been decided by 10 points or less. K-State and West Virginia have each been involved in five such contests. The Mountaineers outlasted Oklahoma, 23-20, last Saturday for their first-ever win over the Sooners since joining the Big 12.
If Oklahoma and Texas Tech each win one more game, and if West Virginia and Iowa State each win their final two regular-season games, the Big 12 would boast 10 bowl-eligible teams for the first time in history.
"We're just trying to win," West Virginia head coach Neal Brown said. "If we get to that number, we get to that number. I'm just trying to give our team the best opportunity to win.
"A friend of mine said this, 'You're in a tough neighborhood.' This league is really good and it's extremely well coached and I've sat in this same chair and have said the same thing a lot of different times — everybody can win on every Saturday. Regardless who you play, you can win. The flipside is you can also lose."
K-State's victory at Baylor marked its first in Waco, Texas, since 2016. The Wildcats, who beat the Mountaineers, 34-17, last season in Manhattan, seek their first win in Morgantown since a 26-20 victory on November 20, 2014.
K-State is 3-1 in Big 12 road games, demonstrating a veteran, chip-on-the-shoulder road mentality that has paid dividends. The Wildcats earned wins at then-No. 6 Oklahoma (41-34), at Iowa State (10-9) and at Baylor (31-3) while their only loss came at then-No. 8 TCU (38-28).
"The road mentality is a mentality that it's us against 50,000 or 60,000 or whatever, and that includes everyone who's against us," linebacker Deuce Vaughn said. "We always have the underdog label and we love that. We always have a chip on our shoulder to prove everybody wrong."
Junior quarterback Will Howard, who has been thrust into action all three years during his time at K-State, has been impressive this season behind his vast knowledge of the Wildcats' offense and confidence in the huddle. The 6-foot-5, 235-pound Howard will earn his second start of the season in place of injured Adrian Martinez. Howard has thrown for 707 yards and nine touchdowns in his last three games, the most touchdown passes ever by a Wildcat over a three-game stretch in which they played.
"What an experience being a young kid in there two years ago and still working through the offensive scheme, and now I'm able to just sit back there and dissect the defense," said Howard, who came off the sideline to throw for 196 yards and three touchdowns against the Bears. "I know the offense like the back of my hand now just because I've been in the system so long."
Howard's prowess this season has captured the attention of West Virginia, which has allowed 20 passing touchdowns to just three interceptions.
"Howard looks to be one of the more improved players this year in our league," Brown said. "He's extremely efficient and he's played in two road environments and has really played well and beat Oklahoma State when they were top 10 in the country. He's playing very effective.
"Their team really believes in him, you can tell that."
West Virginia, which ranks eighth in the Big 12 in averaging 31.2 points per game, will have to contend with a K-State defense that allows just 17.5 points per contest — 12th in the FBS — and comes off a performance in which the Wildcats held Baylor to a single field goal. It marked the fewest points K-State has allowed a Big 12 opponent on the road since a 45-0 win at Iowa State on November 8, 2003.
K-State has held four opponents without a touchdown for the first time since 2002.
"We're playing really, really well," Green said. "It just shows the preparation every week. It's a total unit effort. As a defense, our mentality is to not let them score. Allowing just a field goal is a big-time statement for our defense. We think about 'what have you done for us lately.'"
The Mountaineers' win over the Sooners was sparked by backup quarterback Garrett Greene, who relieved starter JT Daniels and amassed 119 rushing yards and two touchdowns to go along with 138 passing yards and one touchdown.
With Greene at quarterback, the Mountaineers took their first lead of the game with 3 minutes, 29 seconds left in the third quarter when he connected with wide receiver Bryce Ford-Wheaton on an 8-yard reception for a 13-12 advantage.
"You take a different approach depending upon who's playing quarterback," defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman said. "I'd anticipate seeing both. Greene has done a really good job of throwing some life into that offense, but JT Daniels was the guy, so I'd be surprised if they make a wholesale change, but definitely two different styles of attack with them."
K-State's offense continues to climb under first-year offensive coordinator Collin Klein. The Wildcats have totaled at least 375 yards in all seven Big 12 games, their first time to do so over the first seven games of a Big 12 season in history. K-State ranks 15th in the FBS in averaging 214.7 rushing yards per game behind running back Deuce Vaughn, who ranks 16th nationally with 1,081 rushing yards. The 5-foot-6, 176-pound Vaughn has a four career games in which he's totaled at least 70 rushing yards and 70 receiving yards in the same contest, the most by a Wildcat in the Big 12 era.
Vaughn had a season high-tying eight catches for 50 yards and one touchdown at Baylor and has caught a touchdown pass in each of the past three contests.
"Everything they do offensively is centered around Deuce Vaughn," Brown said. "I could talk a long time about him."
West Virginia will need to account for all of the Wildcats' pass catchers. That includes sophomore tight end Ben Sinnott, who comes off a career day with seven catches and two touchdowns against the Bears.
"(Sinnott) has natural ball skills, he really does, and it's something we've known for a while," Klein said. "Him making those plays has been a lot of fun to watch. It has been and will continue to be a great weapon for us as you start looking from a defensive perspective of how they see us and taking care of Deuce, some edge players, and some quarterback run-game stuff. You can create some one-on-ones there. He's done a good job when plays come his way of getting it done."
K-State focuses on getting it done Saturday.
"We understand the way we've gotten here is by taking it day by day and understanding that it's a process," Vaughn said. "We're process driven, not results driven. We're going to go 1-0 each day and it'll give us a chance to be the team that we know we are on Saturday."
The Wildcats wrap up their regular season against the Jayhawks — a matchup that could carry major implications for a spot in the Big 12 title game, and beyond.
The Wildcats are focused on the Mountaineers.
"We can't get ahead of ourselves," Klieman said. "Trust me, the kids know what's at stake. You don't need to talk about it. They know. We have a seasoned group of guys that know when we focus on ourselves we're much better off. This group has really done that."
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