A Fire Burns Inside as K-State Opens Conference Play
Sep 23, 2022 | Football, Sports Extra
By: D. Scott Fritchen
Kansas State is hungry.
That's been the feeling all week as the Wildcats wiped the board clean of a loss in their non-conference finale and looked ahead to an important game on their schedule: The Big 12 Conference opener.
Just so happens it's against No. 6 Oklahoma. On the road. Although the Sooners have won their last 10 home games and 28 of 29 — K-State was responsible for that lone blemish two years ago in a rivalry reinvigorated by the Wildcats' ability to get the best of the habitual Big 12 Champions.
K-State, 2-1, has won two of the last three against Oklahoma, 3-0, and its consecutive wins in 2019 (48-41) and 2020 (38-35) marked the Wildcats' first back-to-back wins in the series since winning five straight between 1993 and 1997. Two crucial replay reviews in the second half helped Oklahoma to escape Manhattan with a 37-31 victory last season.
"Definitely there's a fire, especially after that loss (to Tulane)," K-State tight end Ben Sinnott said. "I'm really excited and looking forward to it."
K-State kicks off its Big 12 season on the road for the 22nd time in the 27-year history of the league. Although the Wildcats are 3-5 when they open the Big 12 at a nationally ranked opponent, five of the eight contests have been decided by fewer than 7 points.
That makes Saturday's nationally televised 7 p.m. kickoff on FOX all the more intriguing.
"Our backs are against the wall, so to speak," K-State head coach Chris Klieman said. "I want to see us come out fighting and get this thing into the fourth quarter with an opportunity."
One of the top storylines Saturday surrounds first-year Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables, who will face his alma mater in his first Big 12 game. The former K-State player and assistant coach became Oklahoma head coach on December 5 after masterminding Clemson's powerful defenses for 10 years. Venables returned to Norman after serving under Bob Stoops from 1999 to 2011.
"I reflect on my opportunities and relationships all the time," Venables said. "When I think about Kansas State, I go back to — I played there, the mentors that I had…but that's a long time ago."
"(This week is about) putting everything we've got into the most important game of the year," he added, "and this week, that's Kansas State."
One of the top storylines for K-State continues to be the progression of Nebraska transfer quarterback Adrian Martinez, who has been efficient, hasn't committed a turnover, but has yet to unleash the fury that made him one of just two active FBS players to throw for 8,000 yards and rush for 2,000 more in a career.
Martinez has completed 41 of 66 passes for 304 yards and one touchdown. He enters his first road game with the Wildcats after throwing for 289 yards and one touchdown and one interception in the Huskers' 23-16 loss at No. 3 Oklahoma last season.
"Having an aggressive mindset is good and it's something our offense and team has this week," Martinez said. "All our goals and aspirations are still ahead of us and this team is still really confident in what we can do."
The Wildcats will look to increase their ability to stay on the field after going just 2 of 15 on third down and 1 of 5 on fourth down last weekend.
"Shoot, it was a hard day on all of us," K-State offensive coordinator Collin Klein said. "(We have to) stay the course and be patient because when things aren't going right it's easy to get frustrated and out of rhythm and that can make things worse. Just making sure all of us, myself included, stay patient and stay focused on those little things that good teams do and that you have to do in critical situations to be successful."
Fortunately, K-State possesses one of the top running backs in the nation. Consensus All-American Deuce Vaughn saw his streak of eight consecutive 100-yard rushing performances come to an end last weekend — he finished with 81 yards on 20 carries while battling cramps during the second half — but he still ranks sixth nationally and tops in the Big 12 with 117.3 rushing yards per game this season.
But K-State will be tested by Venables and the defense's bevy of looks that have flustered opponents so far this season.
Oklahoma ranks 10th in scoring defense (10.0), 11th in yard per play (4.1), 11th in yards per completion (9.3), fourth in total sacks (13), first in total tackles for loss (32), and 10th in red zone defense (.600).
"We have to stay on blocks and go through good reads and make quick decisions with the football," Klein said. "You can't hesitate or they're going to get you up front or something is going to come out of the corner in the back end. I have confidence in our guys, and we have a lot of good players as well, and we're excited for the challenge."
Oklahoma is averaging 42.3 points and 500.7 yard per game behind the arm and legs of transfer quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who is 52 of 78 passing for 759 yards and seven touchdowns and no interceptions to go along with 65 net rushing yards and two scores on the ground. He ripped off a 61-yard touchdown run in a 49-14 win at Nebraska last weekend. The Sooners outgained the Huskers 580 to 327.
"There's a lot of good things we did do, and as we focus on the next step, only good things will come from that," Gabriel said.
K-State ranks 12th in scoring defense (9.7), 20th in total defense (276.0), third in passing efficiency defense (79.68), second in interceptions (seven), and 14th in third-down conversion defense (.250).
The Wildcats have allowed just eight plays of 20-plus yards, which is tied for 17th nationally, and their seven interceptions are their most through three games are tied for the most by a K-State defense since 1993.
"(The Sooners) play with incredible tempo but the key is to get our cleats on the ground and get ready to play," K-State defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman said. "The second part of that is their across-the-board talent at the skill positions and up front. They have big kids up front that can move people and guys that can do things after the catch. It's a scary group."
K-State captains and team leaders took it upon themselves to iron out any potential wrinkles in the locker room this week.
"I've asked guys, 'I know what I'm doing going forward and getting ready for OU. What are you doing?'" Vaughn said. "I just ask everybody that. I'm getting the same feedback to make sure we're pushing everybody to be the best they can be going into this game."
Added Martinez, "Every week this team has juice. It's the start of our Big 12 schedule and it's Oklahoma this week. Naturally there might be a little bit more."
Klieman has been pleased with the mentality of his squad.
"I'm excited to see how we respond," he said. "We all know we're going into a really tough environment against a dynamite football team, but I'm excited to see how the guys respond because we've had a good week of practice and the leaders have really stepped up."
They've wiped the slate clean.
"Everything we want is still in front of us going into conference play," Vaughn said. "You're 0-0 going into conference play. This is the first game on that schedule and it's one we're looking forward to."
Since 1999, Oklahoma has won three more Big 12 Championships (14) than it has lost overall home games (11). But three of those losses were to K-State.
This will mark the 103rd meeting between the two schools in a series that Oklahoma has historically dominated. However, recent history suggests that the mystique of the OU helmet has somewhat faded in the minds of current K-State players, who are anxious for the opportunity to defeat the top-10 Sooners again on their home turf.
"I know OU is a great team and they've been a great team since I've been in college," wide receiver Kade Warner said, "but you can't play the logo — you've got to play the players."
Kansas State is hungry.
That's been the feeling all week as the Wildcats wiped the board clean of a loss in their non-conference finale and looked ahead to an important game on their schedule: The Big 12 Conference opener.
Just so happens it's against No. 6 Oklahoma. On the road. Although the Sooners have won their last 10 home games and 28 of 29 — K-State was responsible for that lone blemish two years ago in a rivalry reinvigorated by the Wildcats' ability to get the best of the habitual Big 12 Champions.
K-State, 2-1, has won two of the last three against Oklahoma, 3-0, and its consecutive wins in 2019 (48-41) and 2020 (38-35) marked the Wildcats' first back-to-back wins in the series since winning five straight between 1993 and 1997. Two crucial replay reviews in the second half helped Oklahoma to escape Manhattan with a 37-31 victory last season.
"Definitely there's a fire, especially after that loss (to Tulane)," K-State tight end Ben Sinnott said. "I'm really excited and looking forward to it."
K-State kicks off its Big 12 season on the road for the 22nd time in the 27-year history of the league. Although the Wildcats are 3-5 when they open the Big 12 at a nationally ranked opponent, five of the eight contests have been decided by fewer than 7 points.
That makes Saturday's nationally televised 7 p.m. kickoff on FOX all the more intriguing.
"Our backs are against the wall, so to speak," K-State head coach Chris Klieman said. "I want to see us come out fighting and get this thing into the fourth quarter with an opportunity."
One of the top storylines Saturday surrounds first-year Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables, who will face his alma mater in his first Big 12 game. The former K-State player and assistant coach became Oklahoma head coach on December 5 after masterminding Clemson's powerful defenses for 10 years. Venables returned to Norman after serving under Bob Stoops from 1999 to 2011.
"I reflect on my opportunities and relationships all the time," Venables said. "When I think about Kansas State, I go back to — I played there, the mentors that I had…but that's a long time ago."
"(This week is about) putting everything we've got into the most important game of the year," he added, "and this week, that's Kansas State."
One of the top storylines for K-State continues to be the progression of Nebraska transfer quarterback Adrian Martinez, who has been efficient, hasn't committed a turnover, but has yet to unleash the fury that made him one of just two active FBS players to throw for 8,000 yards and rush for 2,000 more in a career.
Martinez has completed 41 of 66 passes for 304 yards and one touchdown. He enters his first road game with the Wildcats after throwing for 289 yards and one touchdown and one interception in the Huskers' 23-16 loss at No. 3 Oklahoma last season.
"Having an aggressive mindset is good and it's something our offense and team has this week," Martinez said. "All our goals and aspirations are still ahead of us and this team is still really confident in what we can do."
The Wildcats will look to increase their ability to stay on the field after going just 2 of 15 on third down and 1 of 5 on fourth down last weekend.
"Shoot, it was a hard day on all of us," K-State offensive coordinator Collin Klein said. "(We have to) stay the course and be patient because when things aren't going right it's easy to get frustrated and out of rhythm and that can make things worse. Just making sure all of us, myself included, stay patient and stay focused on those little things that good teams do and that you have to do in critical situations to be successful."
Fortunately, K-State possesses one of the top running backs in the nation. Consensus All-American Deuce Vaughn saw his streak of eight consecutive 100-yard rushing performances come to an end last weekend — he finished with 81 yards on 20 carries while battling cramps during the second half — but he still ranks sixth nationally and tops in the Big 12 with 117.3 rushing yards per game this season.
But K-State will be tested by Venables and the defense's bevy of looks that have flustered opponents so far this season.
Oklahoma ranks 10th in scoring defense (10.0), 11th in yard per play (4.1), 11th in yards per completion (9.3), fourth in total sacks (13), first in total tackles for loss (32), and 10th in red zone defense (.600).
"We have to stay on blocks and go through good reads and make quick decisions with the football," Klein said. "You can't hesitate or they're going to get you up front or something is going to come out of the corner in the back end. I have confidence in our guys, and we have a lot of good players as well, and we're excited for the challenge."
Oklahoma is averaging 42.3 points and 500.7 yard per game behind the arm and legs of transfer quarterback Dillon Gabriel, who is 52 of 78 passing for 759 yards and seven touchdowns and no interceptions to go along with 65 net rushing yards and two scores on the ground. He ripped off a 61-yard touchdown run in a 49-14 win at Nebraska last weekend. The Sooners outgained the Huskers 580 to 327.
"There's a lot of good things we did do, and as we focus on the next step, only good things will come from that," Gabriel said.
K-State ranks 12th in scoring defense (9.7), 20th in total defense (276.0), third in passing efficiency defense (79.68), second in interceptions (seven), and 14th in third-down conversion defense (.250).
The Wildcats have allowed just eight plays of 20-plus yards, which is tied for 17th nationally, and their seven interceptions are their most through three games are tied for the most by a K-State defense since 1993.
"(The Sooners) play with incredible tempo but the key is to get our cleats on the ground and get ready to play," K-State defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman said. "The second part of that is their across-the-board talent at the skill positions and up front. They have big kids up front that can move people and guys that can do things after the catch. It's a scary group."
K-State captains and team leaders took it upon themselves to iron out any potential wrinkles in the locker room this week.
"I've asked guys, 'I know what I'm doing going forward and getting ready for OU. What are you doing?'" Vaughn said. "I just ask everybody that. I'm getting the same feedback to make sure we're pushing everybody to be the best they can be going into this game."
Added Martinez, "Every week this team has juice. It's the start of our Big 12 schedule and it's Oklahoma this week. Naturally there might be a little bit more."
Klieman has been pleased with the mentality of his squad.
"I'm excited to see how we respond," he said. "We all know we're going into a really tough environment against a dynamite football team, but I'm excited to see how the guys respond because we've had a good week of practice and the leaders have really stepped up."
They've wiped the slate clean.
"Everything we want is still in front of us going into conference play," Vaughn said. "You're 0-0 going into conference play. This is the first game on that schedule and it's one we're looking forward to."
Since 1999, Oklahoma has won three more Big 12 Championships (14) than it has lost overall home games (11). But three of those losses were to K-State.
This will mark the 103rd meeting between the two schools in a series that Oklahoma has historically dominated. However, recent history suggests that the mystique of the OU helmet has somewhat faded in the minds of current K-State players, who are anxious for the opportunity to defeat the top-10 Sooners again on their home turf.
"I know OU is a great team and they've been a great team since I've been in college," wide receiver Kade Warner said, "but you can't play the logo — you've got to play the players."
Players Mentioned
Wednesday, June 03
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