Performance in Morgantown Special for Howard
Nov 21, 2022 | Football, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
Standing inside the Vanier Family Football Complex early last week, Kansas State running back Deuce Vaughn listened intently to one mind-blowing statistic that perhaps best epitomizes what we've seen from junior quarterback Will Howard in this 2022 season.
Howard's nine touchdown passes at No. 4 TCU (two), against No. 24 Oklahoma State (four) and at Baylor (three) marked the most in three-consecutive games by a Wildcat in school history.
"Let's go and add to that," Vaughn said, his eyes lighting up. "Should we? I think we should, no doubt. I'm super excited for him."
Revisiting West Virginia and Milan Puskar Stadium, which carried the stench of a sour freshman performance that Howard yearned to put behind him, the seasoned signal-caller, in front of family and friends, made his latest statement in throwing for 294 yards and two touchdowns and one interception in a 48-31 victory over the Mountaineers in M0rgantown.
The 6-foot-5, 235-pound Howard has now thrown 11 touchdowns and two interceptions in four contests, guiding K-State, 8-3 overall and 6-2 in the Big 12 Conference, to the doorstep of an appearance in the Big 12 Championship Game against TCU on December 3 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
"Will is playing at a really high level and is one of the most improved players probably in college football," K-State head coach Chris Klieman said. "I couldn't be more happy for the guy because he's worked his tail off."
K-State must beat Kansas, 6-5 and 3-5, in Saturday's 7 p.m. kickoff (FOX) at sold-out Bill Snyder Family Stadium for its chance to capture its first Big 12 title since 2012. The Wildcats will face the Jayhawks on Senior Night carrying a record 13-game winning streak in a Sunflower Showdown rivalry game that dates to 1902.
The in-state rivalry will mean much to the 55 Kansas natives on the K-State roster who will play in front of their families and neighbors.
Howard, a native of Downingtown, Pennsylvania, knows something about playing in front of family and friends.
He was able to shine in front of his parents, Bob and Maureen, along with several other family members and friends, who made the four-hour drive to Morgantown to witness his latest chapter to an improbable story that is one of the best stories in the Big 12 this season.
"I definitely had this one circled," Howard said. "I didn't have a good memory of being here. I wanted to change that."
Flung into action and learning on the go as a freshman in place of injured starter Skylar Thompson, Howard threw one touchdown and suffered a season-high three interceptions in a 37-10 loss in Morgantown in 2020.
This season, he has thrown two interceptions in 111 passing attempts — one of which was a pick-six against the Mountaineers.
What did Howard do? He brushed it off.
"The young Will Howard two years ago," Howard said, "it may have affected me a little bit differently."
Want to know what Klieman told Howard as he came to the sideline after his costly interception?
"I said nothing," Klieman said. "Didn't need to. You don't say anything to Will Howard. This was a big statement game for Will after coming in here in 2020 and struggling. I'm just so proud of that kid."
Howard exudes confidence. That is apparent. And it impacts the offense and touches the defense and special teams. K-State has had many fine quarterbacks over the years who have carried a similar aura. That includes injured Adrian Martinez, the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week earlier this year who has missed action after injuring his right leg.
Howard came off the sideline, threw a school record-tying four touchdowns against the Cowboys, was carried off the field, and named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week. We thought we had seen it all.
Howard was just getting started.
And for the first time this season, Howard had an entire week to prepare as the bonafide starter heading toward West Virginia.
"You want to prepare like a starter no matter what, but it's a little different when you actually know," he said. "It's a little more calming in a way."
Howard has completed 72-of-111 passes (64.9%) for 1,011 yards and 11 touchdowns and two interceptions, throwing for more than 225 yards in three of his four games.
He'll always remember his latest performance at Milan Puskar Stadium.
"I was just excited to play in front of my family because I normally don't have much family at games," Howard said. "Usually one of my parents is at every game but this one was only a four-hour drive, so I was fired up to play for them.
"Just to be able to look up and see all of them, it felt good."
And one of the best feel-good stories in the Big 12 this season rolls along.
Standing inside the Vanier Family Football Complex early last week, Kansas State running back Deuce Vaughn listened intently to one mind-blowing statistic that perhaps best epitomizes what we've seen from junior quarterback Will Howard in this 2022 season.
Howard's nine touchdown passes at No. 4 TCU (two), against No. 24 Oklahoma State (four) and at Baylor (three) marked the most in three-consecutive games by a Wildcat in school history.
"Let's go and add to that," Vaughn said, his eyes lighting up. "Should we? I think we should, no doubt. I'm super excited for him."
Revisiting West Virginia and Milan Puskar Stadium, which carried the stench of a sour freshman performance that Howard yearned to put behind him, the seasoned signal-caller, in front of family and friends, made his latest statement in throwing for 294 yards and two touchdowns and one interception in a 48-31 victory over the Mountaineers in M0rgantown.
The 6-foot-5, 235-pound Howard has now thrown 11 touchdowns and two interceptions in four contests, guiding K-State, 8-3 overall and 6-2 in the Big 12 Conference, to the doorstep of an appearance in the Big 12 Championship Game against TCU on December 3 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
"Will is playing at a really high level and is one of the most improved players probably in college football," K-State head coach Chris Klieman said. "I couldn't be more happy for the guy because he's worked his tail off."
K-State must beat Kansas, 6-5 and 3-5, in Saturday's 7 p.m. kickoff (FOX) at sold-out Bill Snyder Family Stadium for its chance to capture its first Big 12 title since 2012. The Wildcats will face the Jayhawks on Senior Night carrying a record 13-game winning streak in a Sunflower Showdown rivalry game that dates to 1902.
The in-state rivalry will mean much to the 55 Kansas natives on the K-State roster who will play in front of their families and neighbors.
Howard, a native of Downingtown, Pennsylvania, knows something about playing in front of family and friends.
He was able to shine in front of his parents, Bob and Maureen, along with several other family members and friends, who made the four-hour drive to Morgantown to witness his latest chapter to an improbable story that is one of the best stories in the Big 12 this season.
"I definitely had this one circled," Howard said. "I didn't have a good memory of being here. I wanted to change that."
Flung into action and learning on the go as a freshman in place of injured starter Skylar Thompson, Howard threw one touchdown and suffered a season-high three interceptions in a 37-10 loss in Morgantown in 2020.
This season, he has thrown two interceptions in 111 passing attempts — one of which was a pick-six against the Mountaineers.
What did Howard do? He brushed it off.
"The young Will Howard two years ago," Howard said, "it may have affected me a little bit differently."
Want to know what Klieman told Howard as he came to the sideline after his costly interception?
"I said nothing," Klieman said. "Didn't need to. You don't say anything to Will Howard. This was a big statement game for Will after coming in here in 2020 and struggling. I'm just so proud of that kid."
Howard exudes confidence. That is apparent. And it impacts the offense and touches the defense and special teams. K-State has had many fine quarterbacks over the years who have carried a similar aura. That includes injured Adrian Martinez, the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week earlier this year who has missed action after injuring his right leg.
Howard came off the sideline, threw a school record-tying four touchdowns against the Cowboys, was carried off the field, and named Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week. We thought we had seen it all.
Howard was just getting started.
And for the first time this season, Howard had an entire week to prepare as the bonafide starter heading toward West Virginia.
"You want to prepare like a starter no matter what, but it's a little different when you actually know," he said. "It's a little more calming in a way."
Howard has completed 72-of-111 passes (64.9%) for 1,011 yards and 11 touchdowns and two interceptions, throwing for more than 225 yards in three of his four games.
He'll always remember his latest performance at Milan Puskar Stadium.
"I was just excited to play in front of my family because I normally don't have much family at games," Howard said. "Usually one of my parents is at every game but this one was only a four-hour drive, so I was fired up to play for them.
"Just to be able to look up and see all of them, it felt good."
And one of the best feel-good stories in the Big 12 this season rolls along.
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