You have to respect K-State’s defense after dominant 21-6 victory over Texas Tech
You can count on Kansas State’s defense.
Even in a football season defined by disappointing results and inconsistent play, the Wildcats have regularly found a way to shut down other teams. They were at their best during a 21-6 victory over the Texas Tech Red Raiders on Saturday at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
Texas Tech entered the game averaging 41.8 points and 529.4 yards per game, but managed just six points and 181 yards on Saturday. It was the first time Kilff Kingsbury’s team failed to score a touchdown in more than a year. Researchers had to go back to 2006 to find the last time it failed to score a touchdown on the road.
“Pretty special,” K-State coach Bill Snyder said.
The Wildcats were that good.
Wyatt Hubert (two sacks) and Reggie Walker (three tackles for loss, two forced fumbles) provided a steady pass rush. Justin Hughes (eight tackles, one fumble recovery) was always in the right place at the right time and A.J. Paker (interception) helped create three turnovers.
The Red Raiders are famous for their high-octane offense, but the Wildcats made them look like a Big Ten team.
“They have got it figured out,” K-State running back Alex Barnes said. “We only put up 21 points, and usually against Texas Tech that is not going to be enough to win. Thankfully, our defense played a lights-out, perfect game to put us in position to win.”
The Red Raiders had some success on their first two drives, each ending with a field goal, but it was all down hill from there. Things got so bad for Texas Tech that Kingsbury pulled quarterback Jett Duffey (19 of 27 for 150 yards) in the fourth quarter for his third-string passer. Kingsbury was ready to try anything to create a spark.
Nothing worked.
McLane Carter came on and failed to complete a pass. If not for drops from K-State defenders, he might have thrown a pick-six.
“Tackling was the main thing we have struggled with this year,” Hubert said. “We are just getting better at that every single day and improving on it weekly. It really showed today. Even though we had some missed tackles on those first two drives we got that fixed and were very disciplined out there. Everyone did their job.”
At first glance, this kind of dominant performance from K-State’s defense looks like a surprise. But it shouldn’t be. Though Texas Tech entered this game as a 6-point favorite, no one has moved the ball on K-State at home this season. Blake Seiler’s unit held Kansas, Oklahoma State and Texas to fewer than 20 points in recent games played here.
Add on Texas Tech’s six points and K-State is allowing just 18 points at home. Impressive, considering all of those teams have lit up the scoreboard against other opponents.
“This is one of the best places to play in the country,” Hughes said. “These fans are amazing. Once we get the fans behind us as a defense we are rolling and we have a lot of momentum on our side. I know our guys play with a little more swagger at home. Our defensive line plays with so much swagger at home versus when they play away. That is something we need to correct as a defense and bring it on the road.”
Still, other than a 51-14 loss at Oklahoma last month, the Wildcats have been solid on defense all season.
“The best way I can address it defensively is the progress that we have made incrementally throughout the course of the year,” Snyder said. “It has been week in and week out we’ve gotten a little better, little bit better and a little bit better. We’ve had one hiccup when you look back and look at it.
“It’s learning how to execute the things that they’re asked to do. It’s about having the discipline. Playing defense is far different than the other side of the ball. Everybody has to be execution sound. If you make a mistake defensively, the scoreboard lights up. That might be going over here to make a tackle when you should be over here. Our guys have learned to do that better and better week in and week out.”
That’s particularly impressive given that the Wildcats are currently down usual starters Duke Shelley, Elijah Sullivan and Walter Neil. Defensive backs Kendall Adams and Denzel Goolsby are also playing at less than 100 percent.
Seiler deserves credit for leading the defense to this kind of production in his first season as a coordinator. He dialed up several new looks that confused the Red Raiders, including a dime package that featured six defensive backs and a front of three defensive linemen.
“We did not play very good,” Kingsbury said. “I thought we started well and squandered a couple drives there. Settled for field goals and then got out of rhythm offensively. I did not call a very good game, and we did not execute very well. We turned the ball over in the second half and you just can’t do that.”
With the win, K-State (5-6, 3-5 Big 12) remains in bowl competition. The Wildcats will now head to Iowa State in their regular-season finale with a postseason berth at stake. They envisioned more when the season began, but most wrote off a .500 finish following a 3-6 start.
K-State is in this position for one reason: its defense.
This story was originally published November 17, 2018 at 8:47 PM.