K-State QB Johnson places on program, runs over UA

• Max Olson, ESPN Staff WriterSep 14, 2024, 02:54 AM ET

  Close

  • Covers the Big 12
  • Joined ESPN in 2012
  • Graduate of the University of Nebraska

MANHATTAN, Kan.– Avery Johnson has couple of peers among college football quarterbacks when it comes to explosive hurrying capability. Two games in, Kansas State’s sophomore starter had not had many possibilities to reveal it.On Friday night, Arizona provided him no choice.Johnson delivered his very first profession 100-yard hurrying performance in his 4th start and threw for 156 lawns with two goals and no turnovers, leading No. 14 Kansas State to a 31-7 win over No. 20 Arizona. “It felt actually good just being able to match up with another top-20 team in the country and being able to go out and have a dominant win like that,” Johnson stated.”Credit to the defense and the guys around me. It was a really fun win tonight. “Editor’s Picks 2 Associated After making it through an upset bid on the

road recently in a 34-27 victory at Tulane, Kansas State recovered on a brief week and played up to Big 12 title competitor expectations by subduing an Arizona squad that had won 9 consecutive games dating back to last season’s 10-3 finish.K-State called only 5 created runs for its young QB through its very first two games, however Johnson understood more were in

the plan for Arizona. When he saw protectors focus on his running backs, he stated he needed to make them pay. Johnson picked up 126 rushing lawns on his 14 rushing attempts(leaving out sacks), and the trio of Johnson and running backs DJ Giddens and Dylan Edwards combined for 237 rushing lawns with 9 rushes of 10 or more lawns.”I never truly know how groups are gon na play us,”Johnson stated. “It’s type of like pick your toxin.”Edwards, a touted Colorado transfer, put Kansas

State ahead with a 71-yard punt return touchdown to start the 2nd quarter. Arizona quarterback Noah

Fifita answered by leading a drive down to K-State’s 30-yard line and after that took a shot at the end zone, however cornerback Keenan Garber cut off his receiver to snag an interception.Arizona’s preseason All-America wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan tied a career high with 11 catches and install 138 getting backyards, however Kansas State’s defense managed to pitch a nothing the rest of the way and got three fourth-down drop in the 2nd half.Johnson assisted his team retreat in the 2nd half with 3 consecutive scoring drives, effectively controlling the clock and ending up with a career-high 266 yards of total offense. “Our quarterback is a pretty good player,”Kansas State coach Chris Klieman stated.

“He rose tonight when we required him to and played actually great football and was truly calm. He made some plays with his feet, made some have fun with his legs and that was an enjoyable performance to view him.

“”This guy is something different,” Arizona coach Brent Brennan said. “He’s a 10.4 100-meter guy. He’s unique.” The sophomore’s inexperience as a starter displayed in the final moments of the very first half, when a long scramble burned the final 10 seconds of the second quarter and ended with Johnson lacking bounds after time expired, taking away a basket attempt that might’ve put the Wildcats up by 10. Afterward, his head coach answered for what he called a” horrible gaffe. “”It is all on me,”Klieman said.” I’ve got to be much better because circumstance, and I ought to’ve simply taken a timeout. That’s not on the kid. That is 100 percent on me, and I told him that.”Johnson valued Klieman’s support but still was sorry for the missed out on chance. As he strolled off the field at Bill Snyder Household Football Stadium to the locker room, strength coach Trumain Carroll reminded him that this group feeds off his energy. Johnson responded with a strong second half. He said he believes he’s beginning to

settle in to conveniently running the offense.”I really wish I might be playing my top, finest football right now, “Johnson said, “however it’s just gon na spend some time. All Coach asks me to do is get 1 percent much better each week.”Klieman thinks his 3-0 Wildcats showed they’re capable of being a complete team and are heading in the best instructions with their week-to-week enhancement as the program goes after a second Big 12 title in three years.”I don’t know what we’re attempting to prove to everyone else,”Klieman stated. “We need to show to ourselves that we can sustain this and keep playing at a high level.”For Kansas State, the win will not count in the Big 12 standings given that this showdown was technically a nonconference game. The 2 programs consented to this home-and-home series back in 2016 and accepted keep it on the schedule rather than cancel after Arizona accepted sign up with the Big 12 beginning in 2024.K-State’s conference opener comes next week in a late-night road test against BYU (10:30 ET, ESPN ). Arizona is idle before taking a trip to deal with Utah on Sept. 28.