From The Couch – Beginning Of An Era
The Avery Johnson era at K-State began with Johnson starting in The Pop-Tarts Bowl and leading K-State to a 28-19 victory over North Carolina State. Johnson completed 14 of 31 passes for 178 yards and two touchdowns and added 71 yards rushing on 10 carries in the victory. Running back DJ Giddens also had a big game, rushing for 151 yards and a touchdown and adding 37 yards receiving and a touchdown through the air. Both players credited the offensive line play for their success. The game served as a great springboard to 2024 for the Wildcats.
Here is what the head coach and players were saying after the game, along with some highlights of the game.
“2024 is going to be a special year.”…K-State head coach Chris Klieman, post-game
JM: How can you argue this after watching Avery Johnson and DJ Giddens perform in the game? I can’t wait for kickoff of the 2024 season.
“Man, that is a play that we been practicing all week. We already knew it was coming, we prepared for it. We got extra – stayed after practice. Got some extra reps of them throws, because we knew it was going to come. They were going to bring everybody and once he made the check, I already knew what it was. I knew it was going to go.”…K-State running back DJ Giddens, post-game
JM: Credit not only the players, but the K-State coaching staff for the Wildcats’ first touchdown. It is not often that you see a play this wide open for a touchdown.
“We have been going for it on fourth down all year, and we were 4-for-4 tonight and that was a huge deal.”…Chris Klieman, post-game
JM: There were a couple of big fourth down conversions in the game. One was on the final drive where the Wildcats scored the game-clinching touchdown. I haven’t seen many fake punts run this successfully…until I saw North Carolina State’s fake punt for touchdown later in the game.
JM: The Philadelphia Eagles have the “tush push,” but K-State’s offensive line has the “pile push.” This isn’t the first time this season they have done something like this to get the running back into the end zone.
“We are excited, because three of those guys are returning, too. It is not like — I know we lose a lot of really good players in the o-line, but we have three studs coming back there and a lot of good youth that has learned from Coach Riley.”…Chris Klieman, post-game
JM: Klieman doesn’t appear very concerned about replacing the players he is losing off of the offensive line. He didn’t mention the names of the three studs coming back, nor did anyone follow up and ask. If he’s not worried, I’m not worried.
“He is a special, special talent. He is a very humble kid that has a ton of confidence, and that is a really hard thing to do.”…Chris Klieman, post-game
JM: I’ve said it before, but the thing that strikes me most about Avery Johnson is how calm, cool, and collected he is running the offense. He has great talent and pocket presence, obviously, as well. Last night he threw the ball away numerous times when there weren’t any receivers open. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen a true freshman college quarterback do that before. For that matter, I haven’t seen many senior college quarterbacks do that.
“We struggled in the third quarter moving the ball offensively.”…Chris Klieman, post-game
JM: This was an understatement. North Carolina State adjusted to K-State’s running game, which was successful early in the game, but that didn’t stop K-State from being stubborn trying to run the ball in the third and fourth quarters. K-State led 21-13 after North Carolina State opened the half by driving and kicking a field goal. When K-State got the ball, the first play was a run to Giddens for negative one yard. The drive ended in a K-State punt. On K-State’s second possession of the half, the first down play was a hand-off to Giddens for minus one yard. The drive resulted in a punt. North Carolina State cut K-State’s lead to two after this fake punt for touchdown…
JM: A great play by VJ Payne on the two-point conversion preserved a two-point lead for K-State…
JM: After the NC State touchdown, the teams traded punts. On K-State’s first possession of the fourth quarter, they handed the ball off to DJ Giddens on first down for a loss of one. Again. The drive resulted in a punt. K-State fans on social media were starting to get all over interim offensive coordinator Conor Riley, and for good reason. North Carolina State was forced to punt. On K-State’s next drive, they once again handed the ball off to DJ Giddens for a gain of two yards. What gives? This was Courtney Messingham level ineptitude. And it was quite comical to watch. But don’t think for a second that the offensive coordinator job is not going to be given to Conor Riley…
“I think he (Riley) did a phenomenal job. To me, it is an entire picture. It is not a three-hour snapshot. It is over the last two weeks of just watching him handle the offense, handling being in the front of the room.”…Chris Klieman, post-game
JM: Those weren’t the only glowing comments made about Riley in the post-game presser.
“I was proud of Riles. I love Conor Riley. Conor Riley and I have been battling together as assistants. When I got hired at NDSU, he was the first guy that I asked to stay with me. When I got hired at K-State, he was the first guy I asked to come with me.”…Chris Klieman, post-game
JM: Wow. Klieman wasn’t the only one with praise for Riley.
“It was a lot of fun. For it to be my first start and his first game as an OC [offensive coordinator], we both had ups and downs. I am looking forward to growing with him and building with him and just you see he really cares about this team. He had fire to himself throughout practice, throughout this whole Bowl week, throughout the whole time we were down in Orlando.”…Avery Johnson, post-game
JM: Does this sound like a quarterback who thinks anybody but Conor Riley is going to be his offensive coordinator? Nope. Riley is going to be named as the permanent offensive coordinator whether we like it or not. He will likely look like a genius as long as Johnson is under center. After Johnson goes to the NFL or graduates, it’s anybody’s guess how successful he may be. Let’s just say I was less than impressed overall with the play-calling last night.
“Yeah, we knew we needed to finish the drive strong and put the game away, and just credit to those guys up front. Fifteen plays is not easy, and they dominated. We pushed the ball down the field and ultimately got in the end zone, so credit to my teammates.”…K-State quarterback Avery Johnson, post-game
JM: The touchdown pass to Jayce Brown to seal the game was a big one.
“Yeah, we are roommates back home, came in together. Roommates down here in Orlando. Shows the chemistry and the connection that we have, so just being able to trust him. Putting the ball in a place for him to go up and make a play. Just being able to trust that he is going to come down with it and make a play. That is just him coming to grab me after practice, me grabbing him after practice and getting in a few extra throws. He is a big-time play maker and he is going to be somebody to watch in the near future. Shout-out, Jayce.”…Avery Johnson, post-game
JM: Watching these two play pitch and catch the next few years is going to be a lot of fun.
“Yeah, they have a lot of guys returning, and I know they were without their really good linebacker. To go against a defense like that, I have so much respect for their defensive coordinator and their defensive staff. We didn’t turn the football over, that was a huge thing.”…Chris Klieman, post-game
JM: North Carolina State’s best player, and the best defensive player in college football, linebacker Payton Wilson, did not play in the game. Would the game have gone any differently had he played? We’ll never know. I just thought it was important to point that out.
“We were not just going to just run the guy (Avery Johnson) 20 times. We wanted to showcase his arm, showcase his ability. The play he made making the check on the first drive, throwing that touchdown pass to DJ, we had worked that, and we had not done that all year.”…Chris Klieman, post-game
JM: I found it interesting that there were no designed quarterback run plays called. I guarantee there will be going forward.
“They love K-State. They love the culture they have built. They love the fact that they have one more stage to play with their brothers. That is a party going on in there with those six-year guys. I think it says more that they came back to play for K-State this year, and so many of those guys are O-linemen, and they came back to play for Conor Riley.”…Chris Klieman, post-game
JM: More praise for the offensive line…and their coach Conor Riley, who I’m confident will soon be named K-State’s offensive coordinator.
“It was great. The O-Line, they were blocking, they were blocking real good. They were creating open holes. All I had to do was just run for real. That was all there was really to it.”It was great. The O-Line, they were blocking, they were blocking real good. They were creating open holes. All I had to do was just run for real. That was all there was really to it.”…DJ Giddens, post-game
JM: Sometimes the game really is that simple.
“I love you coach.”…K-State offensive lineman Cooper Beebe, ESPN post-game interview on the field
“I love you so much, Coop. Appreciate you coming and playing. You played your ass off.”…Chris Klieman, post-game
JM: I am glad Chris Klieman is K-State’s football coach. And so are his players. And so are the parents of the players….
JM: Kickoff for the 2024 season can’t get here fast enough.
