One look at the Kansas State student section was all it needed to see how the Wildcats were doing during their 24-14 loss to Arizona State on Saturday at Bill Snyder Family Stadium. Fans began leaving the game in the second quarter, which felt as lopsided as the score suggested. Many in the EMAW nation had had enough. Those who remained expressed their displeasure by booing every time the Wildcats turned the ball over or were stuffed at the line of scrimmage on a bad play. Their frustration was reasonable. Kansas State (7-3, 5-3 Big 12) came into this game with expectations of winning the conference championship. Third place was on the line versus Arizona State (8-2, 6-2 Big 12).
The Wildcats appeared to be in prime position to play some of their finest football of the season after a week off. Instead, they played one of their worst games under the Chris Klieman era, falling behind 24-0 in the third quarter.
The Wildcats made a late comeback, but it was not enough. To have a chance at the Big 12 championship, they must win their final two games and receive a lot of help. Kansas State will next face Cincinnati. Until then, here are some key points from Saturday’s action:
Too little too late from K-State’s offense
The Wildcats played well on offensively against the Sun Devils. They merely waited till they were down 24-0 to do them. DJ Giddens ran for 133 yards. Avery Johnson and Joe Jackson both scored touchdowns. Eight different receivers received passes, with Dante Cephas leading the way with three receptions for 58 yards. It was enough to make Arizona State sweat in the fourth quarter, but not enough to keep the game competitive until it was too late. The Wildcats’ offensive deteriorated rapidly in the first half. K-State struggled in a recent game against Houston, but the Wildcats still gained 327 yards.
Fix a few issues during their off week, and it was obvious to see Conor Riley’s team respond with a stronger effort against Arizona State. This did not happen right away. In fact, it appeared like K-State had gotten worse. The Wildcats concluded the first half with 108 yards of offense, two turnovers, and 0 points. Here’s how horrible it was: K-State’s only explosive play in the first quarter (a long touchdown pass from Johnson to Dante Cephas) was erased from the scoreboard because offensive lineman Andrew Leingang was aggressively blocking downfield, as if his team was running the ball. The main issue is the running game. Kansas State currently lacks a dependable one.
Fans will undoubtedly blame the offensive coordinator. That is fair. Riley’s play calling has become way too predictable of late. However, execution has been inadequate in every area. Johnson threw an interception on his first and last passes of the game. That appeared to be a strange omen for the night. Bottom line: If K-State hopes to end its losing skid, it must improve its offensive performance.
Kenny Dillingham showed more passion than K-State’s entire team
Only one team brought intensity to the contest. Every time the ESPN cameras focused on Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham, he was pumping his fists, bouncing up and down, and bellowing words of encouragement to his players. That contrasted sharply with the lifeless K-State sideline. When Klieman appeared on the program, he was primarily shaking his head after a terrible performance. Johnson spent much of the game staring at the sky, searching for answers. It was unsurprising to see the more active squad run away with a lopsided victory.
K-State needs to fix its kicking problems
Chris Tennant is one of the Big 12’s top kickers, but he can’t assist the Wildcats if they can’t correctly snap or hold the ball on field goals. For the second consecutive game, K-State left Tennant hanging. In the first half, long snapper Mason Olguin and holder Simon McClannan both missed field goals. Instead of placing the ball on the turf and allowing Tennant to kick it between the uprights, McClannan took off running, and K-State turned the ball over on downs. Later, Olguin bounced a snap in the fourth quarter, causing Tennant to hesitate before missing a short kick wide right. Perhaps it’s time to test some new employees?
That type of issue shouldn’t occur so frequently for a squad that proclaims itself “Special Teams U.”
Dylan Edwards suffered an early injury in this game
One of Kansas State’s most valuable offensive weapons was forced to leave the game in the second quarter after only three carries. Dylan Edwards, a sophomore running back, went limp during a running play in the first half and was unable to continue. It appeared that Edwards strained his hamstring after taking a pitch from Johnson. Edwards attempted to limp out of bounds on the play, but an Arizona State defender shoved him off the field. The officials ruled the hit illegal and assessed the Sun Devils a 15-yard penalty. Edwards strolled into the locker room on his own and returned to the sidelines to watch his team play the rest of the game.
However, he did not witness another snap. His absence increases the pressure on Giddens and Johnson in the running game.
K-State isn’t getting stops on third down
The Wildcats were unable to halt the Sun Devils when it counted the most. Arizona State converted nine of fifteen third downs, with Sam Leavitt throwing for 275 yards and three touchdowns. Many of his biggest throws came on third down, and they ended K-State’s chances of winning the game.
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