19
9-4, 6-2
28
the winner
9-4, 6-3
19
28
the winner
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
0 | 10 | 9 | 0 | 19 |
|
|
7 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 28 |
Game Recap: Football |
Freshman Avery Johnson was named MVP after totaling 249 yards.
By: D. Scott Frichen
Orlando, Florida – No. 25 Kansas State took nearly eight minutes to complete its final scoring drive in a 28-19 win over No. 18 NC State.
Afterward, the Wildcats enjoyed some Pop-Tarts while looking toward the future.
avery johnsonIn his first collegiate start, threw for 178 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another score, and DJ Giddens There were also 152 rushing yards and a score as the Wildcats, 9-4, finished their 2023 season in style in the Pop-Tarts Bowl at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida.
“2024 is going to be a special year,” K-State head coach Chris Kliman said while standing on the winner’s podium on the football field after the Wildcats won their ninth for the third consecutive season.
“(Johnson) is a special, special talent,” Kleiman said. “The kid is mature beyond his years. I think people saw that.”
Johnson, a 19-year-old phenom from Wichita, Kansas, arrived at K-State as the No. 1-rated dual-threat quarterback in the country before this season. he replaced Will HowardWho threw a school-record 48 career touchdown passes before entering the transfer portal.
“There have been a lot of ups and downs and a lot of learning,” Johnson said. “When you come to college, you don’t know what to expect. I’m so glad I chose Kansas State. I’m so glad I got a chance to be around these players and coaches. They really care about you.” Do it, and it’s really a brotherhood and a family and that’s not the case at other places, and I’m 100% confident about that.”
He showed maturity in throwing the ball throughout the bowl game when he could not find an open receiver and attempted 31 passes without losing a single sack. His maturity perhaps most notably grew from helping writer a campaign that will be talked about in the offseason. With K-State leading only 21–19 after three quarters, the Wildcats needed to increase the margin to put the game away.
Johnson led a 15-play, 72-yard charge that took 7 minutes, 24 seconds, featured a fourth-down conversion to crawl inside the red zone, and ended when Johnson checked in on a play. and threw an 11-yard touchdown pass jayce brown 2:48 left in the fourth quarter.
“I looked at him and saw he gave me the check and I knew I had a slot fade, and I knew he was going to throw it to me and trust me,” Brown said. “I just had to go there and get it.”
On the very next play from scrimmage, NC State quarterback Brennan Armstrong threw an interception to a K-State cornerback. jacob parrishSending the offense back onto the field to wrap up the final minutes.
“Man, I was on offense, and I saw the quarterback throw the ball and I saw Jacob pick the ball up,” the safety said. vj payne, who had a key sack on a two-point conversion attempt. “Big players perform well in big games. I’m proud of them.”
The K-State Marching Band played “Happy Trails” from their stadium section, K-State fans chanted “We Want Pop-Tarts” and the stadium sound system played “Final Countdown”.
In fact, it was a sweet final countdown for the K-State seniors in their final game.
Includes consensus All-American left guard cooper beebeThose who opted to play instead began preparing for the NFL Draft.
“Being the leader of this team, I love K-State so much, K-State is my family and I never want to leave them hanging,” Beebe said. “We’ve been through a lot with these guys, and I had to end it the right way.”
NC State, 9-4, saw its five-game winning streak snapped and fell just short of capturing its second 10-win season in program history.
This game played the longest when NC State needed it. Late in the third quarter, tight end Trent Penix came out of a punt formation and ran 60 yards for a touchdown. The 2-point conversion failed when Payne blew a gap and sacked Armstrong, but NC State still got within 21–19 with 1:50 remaining in the third quarter.
Just when it looked like K-State had regained its lead seth porter Returned a punt 41 yards to the end zone with 10:12 remaining in the game, an illegal block on the Wildcats’ running back wiped out the touchdown. Six plays later, Johnson completed a 52-yard pass. jadon jacksonBut K-State was flagged for holding.
But that won’t stop K-State, hardened by four losses by a total of 21 points this season.
“What a huge win for our program and our seniors to end the 2023 legacy with this group and begin a new journey with our 2024 guys,” Kleiman said. “That’s why bowl games are becoming somewhat popular. We honored the seniors and got a glimpse of the 2024 group.”
“(NC State) has a really good football team. I have a lot of respect for coach (Dave) Doeren. They’re physical and hard-working. They’re two mirror programs. The game was physical on both sides and We just knew it was going to happen.”
K-State gained the first possession of the game as Giddens’ powerful running set up the first score. After rushing for 20 yards on the first play from scrimmage, Giddens continued to make his way down the field. When the Wildcats were punted, Johnson hit wide-open Giddens down the middle of the field for a 37-yard catch-and-run touchdown on fourth down and five yards.
“The play (Johnson) made the check on the first drive and threw that touchdown pass to DJ,” Kleiman said, “We did that thing, and we hadn’t done that (play) all year.”
Giddens said: “This is a game we practiced for all week. We were ready for it.”
NC State threatened and rushed for 64 yards on 13 plays, but K-State came out tight, and jevon banks And Damien Ilalio Armstrong was stuffed on fourth-and-1 at the K-State 10-yard line.
K-State struggled to make the most of its opportunity – that is, until the punter. jack bloomer K-State ran 30 yards down the middle of the field on a fake punt at the K-State 41-yard line. This energized the crowd and gave the Wildcats a much-needed momentum.
From there, Giddens ran for nine yards to catch Johnson’s 28-yard pass to tight end Garrett Oakley, Giddens, who had 12 carries for 90 yards in the first half, drove the ball into the end zone from four yards out for a 14–0 lead with 7:29 left until halftime.
“He passed through people, that’s what he did best,” Beebe said. “That boy is a student. That kid is special.”
Armstrong and NC State responded. The Wolfpack started the game 5-for-8 on third downs, primarily behind Armstrong’s legs and made the Wildcats pay during a 9-play, 76-yard drive. He put his team ahead 14–7 by converting two third downs and then running 31 yards to the end zone with 3:22 remaining in the second quarter.
Johnson, who threw for 106 yards and a touchdown in the first two quarters, stunned the Wildcats in search of a score to end the first half. He completed three passes, Giddens picked up a first down on the ground, and then Johnson weaved in and out of the Wolfpack defense for a 19-yard score and a 21–7 advantage with 55 seconds remaining.
The Wolfpack managed to mount a drive and kick a 26-yard field goal as time expired in the first half to make the score 21–10.
The K-State seniors were halfway away from finishing their careers and Johnson was halfway away from earning bowl MVP honors after his first career start.
“I’m confident in everything I do,” Johnson said. “I always credit my dad for making sure I’m confident in myself. When you have teammates and coaches around you who are confident in your ability, it ultimately makes it easier “Credit goes to him for making my work easier today.”
K-State persevered as it bounced back from a 42–35 home loss to Iowa State, and at the end the team celebrated with Pop-Tarts.
“Especially after that last home game, we wanted to get this thing straightened out,” the senior linebacker said. Austin Moore, which will return for a fifth season. “I think we did that. I’m very happy with that.”
With Johnson’s leadership, it appears the sky is the limit for the Wildcats next fall.
“You know that No. 1 stat you’re looking for? Have you won the game,” Kleiman said. “Did you know? He’s 1-0 as a starting quarterback. He made big-time play after big-time play to help us win.”
