Kansas State had a chance to keep things together in Avery Johnson’s absence, but one call in the third quarter helped swing the game away from the Wildcats in a 28-17 loss to Arizona State on Saturday, Oct. 24, at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe, Arizona.
The Wildcats were in position to make a game of it late in the third quarter, but Collin Klein chose to leave the offense on the field on fourth-and-12 from the Sun Devils’ 37. Jacob Knuth couldn’t find an open target, tucked it and picked up only eight yards. Arizona State quickly turned that stop into points, marching 71 yards in seven plays and taking a 21-17 lead on the first snap of the fourth quarter.
Kansas State (4-3, 1-3 Big 12) never got the momentum back.
Knuth, making his first career start, gave Kansas State enough to compete. He looked steady in the pocket, threw accurately and handled the role well with Johnson out.
He finished 26 of 41 for 194 yards and a touchdown, and he added 19 rushing yards and a score of his own. The Wildcats didn’t ask him to win the game on his own, but with the ground attack failing to get going, they had little choice.
That running game never arrived. Against a Kansas State team facing one of the Big 12’s weakest run defenses, the Wildcats managed just 84 rushing yards after piling up 359 the week before against Kansas.
Arizona State’s ability to crowd the box against a backup quarterback made life harder, but the drop-off was stark. There was simply nothing there for Kansas State all afternoon.
Arizona State’s quarterback situation kept changing, too. Sun Devil fans booed Cutter Boley when he returned after starter Mikey Keene left late in the first half with an injury.
Boley had started the first six games for ASU before being benched heading into the week. His first three drives produced no more than seven yards, which led Arizona State to turn to its third quarterback, Jake Fette.
Fette then guided the Sun Devils to the go-ahead touchdown on his first drive.
Kansas State also had trouble slowing down Cardae Mack, who finished with 159 yards and four rushing touchdowns.
In Other News...
Kansas State Suddenly Has A Serious Avery Johnson Problem
Avery Johnsons absence against Arizona State changed the look of Kansas States offense in a hurry, and it came after the quarterback was hurt in the previous game against Kansas. With Johnson unavailable, fifth-year senior Jacob Knuth got the start, giving the Wildcats a very different answer at the most important position on the field.
The bigger concern for Kansas State is that there is still no clear timeline for Johnsons return. Collin Klein said the medical staff is continuing to evaluate the injury, leaving the Wildcats to wait and see how long they might have to manage without the quarterback who has been central to their plans. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas States Frustrating Loss Came Down To One Coaching Decision
Playing without starting quarterback, Kansas State still had enough to keep things within reach for a stretch at Mountain America Stadium, where Jacob Knuth filled in and handled the spot well enough to give the Wildcats a chance. Arizona State pulled away for a 28-17 win on Oct. 24, but the loss did not feel like one that was simply decided by injuries or a mismatch on paper.
Collin Kleins offense had its moments, yet one third-quarter coaching decision swung the tone of the game and blunted the momentum Kansas State had built. The result left the Wildcats with a frustrating finish and a film room full of grades to sort through, with offense, defense, special teams and coaching all coming under the microscope. [Read more 🡒]
Collin Klein Sounds Fed Up With What Kansas State Must Fix
After Kansas States 28-17 loss to Arizona State, Collin Klein didnt sound interested in dressing up what went wrong. He pointed to the offensive line and the lack of success on third down as major issues, and his postgame tone made it clear the Wildcats know there is plenty to clean up if they want the offense to function more consistently.
Jacob Knuth drew praise for the way he fought through the game, with Klein commending his toughness and competitiveness in a difficult setting. Beyond that, the message was bigger than one player or one play - Klein said the entire operation, from the roster to the coaching staff, has room to improve as Kansas State looks to regroup and reset. [Read more 🡒]