UT Martin Recap
It’s hard to take away a ton from a week-one game against an FCS opponent. K-State took care of business and won by 35, not a ton that can be deeply assessed at this point.
It was a bit uneven on offense, but scoring 34 points while rushing for 283 yards is certainly positive.
The defense put on an absolute masterpiece of a performance, limiting UT Martin to 36 rushing yards and 98 passing yards. I certainly hope we see more of that the rest of this season.
The Middle Eight
The middle eight minutes between K-State and UT Martin ended in a 3-3 draw. Knowing they would receive the ball to start the 2nd half, K-State put themselves in position for a two-for-one opportunity by hitting a field goal with 25 seconds left in the half. Unfortunately, the KOR fumble and recovery by UT Martin on the K-State 29 effectively ended the two-for-one chance. The defense responded well to the sudden change by holding UT Martin to a field goal.
By the Numbers
Rushing Yards: UT Martin: 36; K-State: 283
3rd Down Conversions-UT Martin: 35% (6/17) K-State: 40% (4/10)
Turnovers: UT Martin: 0; K-State: 2
Penalties: UT Martin: 4-25; K-State: 0-0
Final Thoughts
The outlook for the rest of the season remains bright. Coach Klieman has displayed a pattern of behavior that suggests his teams improve as the year goes on. I look forward to seeing the week-over-week improvement, especially as K-State travels to New Orleans to face a tough Tulane team. We will uncover all of that and much more right here at 2201 Kimball Ave. Have a happy and safe Labor Day weekend.