A Mature Team Ready for Its First Road Test

By: D. Scott Fritchen

Kansas State has been downright stingy through two games, giving up just 76 rushing yards and allowing just one touchdown in eight quarters.

Not a bad start as No. 15 K-State, 2-0, has shown its moxie coming off the 2022 Big 12 Championship with routs against Southeast Missouri (45-0) and Troy (42-13), snapping the Trojans' 12-game winning streak.

The Wildcats rank No. 1 in rushing defense (38.0) in the FBS, and they rank fifth in tackles for a loss (10.0 per game), seventh in scoring defense (6.5) and ninth in sacks (4.0).

K-State head coach Chris Klieman isn't satisfied.

"We've done a good job, but Coach Klieman has challenged us to step up even more," said senior linebacker Austin Moore, who ranks fourth in the nation with 5.0 tackles for loss. "We need to continue to be better if we want to continue to elevate and accomplish the goals that we say we want to."

That includes beating Missouri, 2-0, in Saturday's 11 a.m. kickoff (SEC Network) at Memorial Stadium/Faurot Field.

"I don't think there's anything better than college football regional rivalries and fan bases that share a city that have bragging rights," said Eliah Drinkwitz, who is 19-19 in his four years at Missouri. "Obviously, there will be watercooler conversation, and there'll be the people this summer flying their flags at the lakes and talking trash. I think that's what makes college football so fun is the bragging rights."

The Wildcats won the game between the former Big Eight/12 foes last season, 40-12, during a rain-drenched contest in Manhattan — and the Tigers didn't reach the end zone until the very last play.

K-State's capacity to stage another defensive clinic figures to be key in a non-conference finale that is expected to feature ample emotion as the Tigers boast their first sellout crowd (62,611) in a non-conference game since 2012.

"I'm excited to see what a sold-out Faurot Field looks like and 11 a.m. is a little early to get excited but we'll make due," Drinkwitz said.

Missouri has won 15 straight over non-conference foes at home.

"We have to continue to get better as these weeks in September go by leading us to conference play," said Klieman, who is 3-0 against SEC opponents in regular-season games at K-State. "We have a tremendous challenge going on the road to a great environment to play Missouri, and they have a really good football team. It'll be a big challenge for us."

Last Saturday, K-State limited Kimani Vidal to 83 yards on 17 carries after the Troy running back came off a school-record 248-yard performance the previous game.

"That's astounding," Klieman said. "We've been getting off blocks and making plays, and they've taken a lot of pride in saying, 'You're not going to consistently rush the football on us."

Initially curious how the defense would respond after defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah went to the Kansas City Chiefs in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft, the Wildcats' have proven stout up front while the defensive backfield continues to mature in a hurry. They've pressured quarterbacks, shut down the ground game, and senior defensive end Khalid Duke has 3.0 sacks to tie for fifth in the nation and 4.0 tackle for loss, which ranks eighth.

"We've all just been playing fast," Duke said. "Everybody gets to the ball. Everybody understands the scheme and what we're trying to do throughout the game. But I think as we go up against better offensive lines and better offensive schemes, we'll see how we do."

K-State prepares to face junior quarterback Brady Cook, running back Cody Schrader — who has 4,000 career rushing yards — and wide receiver Luther Burden III. The Tigers have a new offensive coordinator in quarterback coach Kirby Moore, who joined the Tigers in the offseason.

Missouri beat South Dakota, 35-10, in its opener before outlasting Middle Tennessee, 23-19, last Saturday in Columbia.

Although Cook has completed 31-of-40 passes for 376 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions in two games, the Tigers have just five plays from scrimmage that have gained 20 or more yards — tied for ninth fewest in the nation.

Cook completed 14-of-19 passes for 204 yards and two touchdowns against Middle Tennessee. That included just two passes that gained at least 20 yards.

"We had a couple shots dialed up where we didn't get the protection that we needed," Drinkwitz said. "It's a combination. Nineteen (passing) opportunities isn't enough to create explosive plays."

K-State rattled Cook last season, as he went 15-for-27 for 128 yards and two interceptions.

"He's a terrific quarterback," Klieman said. "He's a tremendous competitor. He's a tough kid. He throws the ball exceptionally well, and he's a very underrated runner. I take last year's game out of it. A lot of it had to do with the weather."

Both Cook and Adrian Martinez had trouble gripping the football in the heavy rain that prompted a 57-minute delay.

Saturday's weather appears ideal for Cook to test the Wildcats.

Wide receiver Theo Wease Jr. scored his first Missouri touchdown in the third quarter against Middle Tennessee when he high pointed a five-yard touchdown pass from Cook, capping an 80-yard drive that featured a 44-yard completion down the middle to Burden. Burden had his first 100-yard game as a Tiger with eight receptions for 117 yards.

"Burden is a huge focus," Klieman said. "He's a tremendously talented player and can beat you in a lot of ways. Whether it's just stretching the field vertically because he has such great speed and ball skills on vertical balls as well as quick screens and jet sweeps — everything. He's a really, really good player."

K-State has been good at limiting the big play — it's allowed just six plays to travel more than 20 yards in two games — and the Wildcats will look for that stinginess to continue in Columbia.

"With only two games this year, we're looking at some things from the past," defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman said. "They might not have 50-point games, but they're explosive. They have some good athletes. They have a quarterback that can run and talent over there. It's a scary group."

K-State has a few standout players of its own starting with senior quarterback Will Howard, who is tied for first in the nation with 27.0 points responsible for and has scored nine touchdowns, including five through the air.

Howard guides an offense that averages 43.5 points. He is eager to see how the Wildcats fare under hostile conditions early in this season.

"We preach it all the time, that it's going to be hostile and you have to block out the noise and it is what it is," Howard said. "It's a game and that's the thing, especially on the offensive side of the ball, it's going to be loud. We have to deal with that a little bit. There's going to be maybe a little different cadences if it starts getting too loud, but really nothing changes.

"You know, it's football at the end of the day, and we just have to block out everything that's going on around us and create our own juice."

And also put up points on the scoreboard.

That hasn't been an issue for K-State. Since Collin Klein took over as offensive coordinator, K-State is averaging 34.2 points per game. The Wildcats have scored at least 40 points in each of their last four regular-season games dating to last season, which is the longest streak they've had since the 2002 campaign.

K-State ranks 19^th nationally in averaging 43.5 points and 17^th in averaging 492.5 yards per game this season.

"Right now, it's about pushing ourselves forward, and while we've been able to do some good things and have good production, there's been things we've left out there," Klein said. "This group is still coming together. That's the exciting part. This game is about constantly getting better and continued good continuity with our receivers and quarterback across the board, and even though we have a lot of experience, there are some new pieces, too.

"I'm proud of them. We've made some good steps to be able to have that production and still have things to work on is a good thing."

Sixth-year senior wide receiver Phillip Brooks, a native of Lee's Summit, Missouri, comes off one of the best games of his career with seven catches for 94 yards and one touchdown while also scoring off a two-yard jet sweep. Jadon Jackson in his first year of action has been a threat across the field. RJ Garcia II has been a playmaker as well.

Troy made a concerted effort to take away All-Big 12 tight end Ben Sinnott after the always-dangerous pass catcher had five catches for 100 yards in the opener, and the Trojans' focus on Sinnott opened up the middle of the field for the Wildcats.

Senior Florida State transfer running back Treshaun Ward appears as good as advertised and forms a potent one-two punch with sophomore DJ Giddens for an offense that averages nearly 200 rushing yards per game and six rushing touchdowns.

Missouri hasn't allowed a rushing touchdown yet this season.

"To me, the game is always going to start with defending the run," Drinkwitz said. "We're going to have to do a better job than we did last year defending the run. (Howard) is really good and has a natural feel for where to place the ball, and he's incredibly accurate. We're going to have to defend him in the pass game. (Brooks) is a special player."

A total of 245 miles separates Manhattan from Columbia, Missouri. But on Saturday, K-State hopes to show a lot more distance separates the Wildcats from the Tigers — again.

"The maturity of our football team is one thing that'll help a lot because our guys really see this as a business trip," Klanderman said. "They're not going there to eat Skittles and have a steak. They're going there to play a football game and get themselves ready for 11 o'clock on Saturday."

Kansas State University Athletics

Players Mentioned

Felix Anudike-Uzomah

Phillip Brooks

Khalid Duke

RJ Garcia II

DJ Giddens

Will Howard

Jadon Jackson

Adrian Martinez

Austin Moore

Ben Sinnott

Treshaun Ward

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