Rapid Recap: Kansas State keeps another Big 12 team out of the end zone

KANSAS STATE INJURY UPDATES

Kansas State lost four players for stretches during the victory over Baylor. Quarterback Adrian Martinez was knocked out on the second series of the game and did not return. Kobe Savage was injured in the first half and did not return.

K-State defensive backs Josh Hayes and Ekow Boye-Doe were both injured late in the game.

Martinez’s injury isn’t very severe. In fact, Kansas State head coach Chris Klieman even shared that he could have re-entered the ball game, but they were humming on offense and he wouldn’t have been 100 percent so there was no reason to risk it.

Savage’s injury is more severe. It does not look good, according to Klieman.

There were no updates on Hayes or Boye-Doe, though neither injury is believed to be long-term.

WILL HOWARD SHINES IN RELIEF AGAIN

K-State quarterback Will Howard continues to answer the bell when the Wildcats need him the most. He threw for 196 yards and three touchdowns and looked to be in total control of the Kansas State offense. They seem to function as an offense and carry out the vision of offensive coordinator Collin Klein much more efficiently with him under cent.

Although it has seemed that the pace and rhythm of the K-State offense has been quicker with Howard in comparison to Adrian Martinez, the Kansas State head coach was quick to point out that it hasn’t been based on the quarterback. They wanted to move quicker and catch Baylor off guard in that way.

Howard has been preparing the last few weeks for the opportunity and seized it. He remembered playing as a true freshman in Waco and the bad memories that were associated with that experience, and he and Klieman both admitted that they had this one circled on the calendar because of it.

CAREER NIGHT FOR K-STATE TIGHT END

Have a night, Ben Sinnott. The K-State sophomore tight end had seven catches for 89 yards and his first two receiving touchdowns of his career. His first grab was a brilliant throw from Howard in a tight window and the second a back-shoulder throw where he made a play in a one-on-one matchup.

It was fun for Chris Klieman to see Sinnott have a great night since he is from Klieman’s hometown of Waterloo, Iowa. Sinnott continues to gain confidence as the season goes on and his head coach has seen it grow since the Oklahoma game.

He is a really good athlete and attacks the ball, like he did on his second touchdown of the night. Remember, and it was brought up by Howard as well, he also hurdled a guy last week against Texas in Manhattan.

Klieman knew Sinnott had this kind of night in him as early as fall camp of last year. He was tough to guard at that point and it didn’t matter who was defending him, whether it was Reggie Stubblefield or Russ Yeast.

Sinnott also suffered an injury last year that stunted his playing time a bit, but he has been relatively healthy this season.

PROPS TO THE DEFENSE

Kansas State kept another team out of the end zone in the 31-3 victory. It was the fourth time this season that a team has not scored a touchdown on K-State. Before Baylor, it was South Dakota, Iowa State and Oklahoma State that didn’t reach the end zone.

Yes, that is three Big 12 teams.

Klieman gives a lot of credit to his defensive coordinator Joe Klanderman. The players do as well. The Kansas State assistant had a great game plan that included having Khalid Duke playing with his hand in the dirt a bit more and rushing the passer.

It also helped that Daniel Green was a lot healthier.

Third and fourth down was the key and the Wildcats were able to get off the field at a regular clip. Baylor was just 4 of 15 on third and fourth down.