D
Derek Young
Guest
OPENING DRIVE
The first moments of the game that Kansas State will want back is their first drive. Offensive coordinator Courtney Messingham dialed up two touchdowns that did not come to be. The offense didn’t execute it well enough, as Skylar Thompson underthrew Jordon Brown who was wide open streaking down the sideline and Phillip Brooks dropped a sure-fire touchdown pass from Skylar Thompson just a couple plays later.
Those are some precious points they left on the field. They turned it over on downs during that drive and came away with zero.
THIRD QUARTER REGRETS
I’ll bring it up again in the following point, but this is going to be a game about not doing enough on the offensive end. The third quarter was the epitome of that. The Wildcats had -11 total yards of offense in the third frame. Yes, that is a negative.
They’re probably fortunate that they only lost the quarter by a score of 7-0 and still had a chance to win the game towards the end.
OUT-GAINED BY OVER 200 YARDS FIRST THREE QUARTERS
I couldn’t have been more wrong about this game and what would transpire. My prediction was that the Kansas State offense would have a huge day against Navy in Memphis. They did not. In fact, they only tallied 78 yards through three quarters.
Even if Brooks catches the touchdown on the opening drive or Thompson delivers a clean throw to Brown, the offensive output was non-existent. Their best scoring threat was when Navy kicked or punted.
They were outscored by Navy for the entire game, 421-170. Obviously, that is far from a winning formula.
TRICK PLAYS
I won’t sugarcoat it. I know that it’s a brutal way to lose a contest. Two of Navy’s winning plays came on trick plays that K-State was not prepared to see. That is why they call it a trick play, though, and the Midshipmen had the guts to call them at significant points in the game.
The first one was the wide receiver reverse out of their traditional scheme. I’ll say what I told some other folks. That if you are going to stay disciplined and guard the quarterback keep, the fullback dive and the pitch to the back, you’re not going to stop that play. You’re only going to stop that play if you’re totally expecting it or out of position and not doing your job. I realize that doesn’t make it sting any less, but it was a tough play that was executed perfectly by Ken Niumatololo’s bunch.
The halfback option pass was the nail in the coffin. That was the dagger that gave Navy the victory. It was pretty gutsy to call that on fourth down in that situation and with 20 seconds still left on the play clock. If I was the coach, I would have likely called timeout, which I’m sure is what everyone else is screaming about, too. It would give your defense time to reset or give your team an opportunity to get the ball back and score as well.
However, the thought against not calling a timeout is understandable, too. For one, I thought Navy would at least run the play clock down. They didn’t do that. That was another surprise to the trick play. I didn’t anticipate them snapping when they did.
Secondly, if you call timeout, you’re giving them plenty of time to operate if they do decide to budge and try to convert on fourth down instead of punt.
My sense is that they probably punt if Kansas State were to call timeout. We’ll never know.
I know I’m not going to take the sting out of that loss. I’m not really trying to do. I’m just breaking the game down and all the thoughts that were being poured into those moments. That was a painful way to lose a game and I’m sure everyone will be hurting from it.
The first moments of the game that Kansas State will want back is their first drive. Offensive coordinator Courtney Messingham dialed up two touchdowns that did not come to be. The offense didn’t execute it well enough, as Skylar Thompson underthrew Jordon Brown who was wide open streaking down the sideline and Phillip Brooks dropped a sure-fire touchdown pass from Skylar Thompson just a couple plays later.
Those are some precious points they left on the field. They turned it over on downs during that drive and came away with zero.
THIRD QUARTER REGRETS
I’ll bring it up again in the following point, but this is going to be a game about not doing enough on the offensive end. The third quarter was the epitome of that. The Wildcats had -11 total yards of offense in the third frame. Yes, that is a negative.
They’re probably fortunate that they only lost the quarter by a score of 7-0 and still had a chance to win the game towards the end.
OUT-GAINED BY OVER 200 YARDS FIRST THREE QUARTERS
I couldn’t have been more wrong about this game and what would transpire. My prediction was that the Kansas State offense would have a huge day against Navy in Memphis. They did not. In fact, they only tallied 78 yards through three quarters.
Even if Brooks catches the touchdown on the opening drive or Thompson delivers a clean throw to Brown, the offensive output was non-existent. Their best scoring threat was when Navy kicked or punted.
They were outscored by Navy for the entire game, 421-170. Obviously, that is far from a winning formula.
TRICK PLAYS
I won’t sugarcoat it. I know that it’s a brutal way to lose a contest. Two of Navy’s winning plays came on trick plays that K-State was not prepared to see. That is why they call it a trick play, though, and the Midshipmen had the guts to call them at significant points in the game.
The first one was the wide receiver reverse out of their traditional scheme. I’ll say what I told some other folks. That if you are going to stay disciplined and guard the quarterback keep, the fullback dive and the pitch to the back, you’re not going to stop that play. You’re only going to stop that play if you’re totally expecting it or out of position and not doing your job. I realize that doesn’t make it sting any less, but it was a tough play that was executed perfectly by Ken Niumatololo’s bunch.
The halfback option pass was the nail in the coffin. That was the dagger that gave Navy the victory. It was pretty gutsy to call that on fourth down in that situation and with 20 seconds still left on the play clock. If I was the coach, I would have likely called timeout, which I’m sure is what everyone else is screaming about, too. It would give your defense time to reset or give your team an opportunity to get the ball back and score as well.
However, the thought against not calling a timeout is understandable, too. For one, I thought Navy would at least run the play clock down. They didn’t do that. That was another surprise to the trick play. I didn’t anticipate them snapping when they did.
Secondly, if you call timeout, you’re giving them plenty of time to operate if they do decide to budge and try to convert on fourth down instead of punt.
My sense is that they probably punt if Kansas State were to call timeout. We’ll never know.
I know I’m not going to take the sting out of that loss. I’m not really trying to do. I’m just breaking the game down and all the thoughts that were being poured into those moments. That was a painful way to lose a game and I’m sure everyone will be hurting from it.
