PROVO, Utah (AP) — Playing stingy defense isn’t the only way Kansas State is causing headaches for opponents.
Avery Johnson is making the No. 13 Wildcats’ offense equally tough to deal with heading into Kansas State’s Big 12 opener against BYU on Saturday. The sophomore has blossomed into a true dual playmaking threat.
Johnson ran for a career-high 110 yards while leading Kansas State (1-0) to a 31-7 victory over then-No. 20 Arizona in a designated non-conference game between the two Big 12 foes. It marked the highest amount of total rushing yards for a Wildcats quarterback in a single game since 2020.
In each of his last four games, beginning with the 2023 Pop Tarts Bowl, Johnson has thrown two touchdown passes. He’s completed 64% of his passes this season and has thrown only one interception.
“I definitely feel like from Week 1 to Week 2 and Week 2 to Week 3, I’m starting to see a lot of things out there and know where to go with the ball,” Johnson said. “Now, it’s just cleaning up my feet and stuff like that and just being able to make the right decision every time. But I definitely would say things are slowing down for me.”
Being supported by a stingy defense has helped mask growing pains Johnson might be experiencing while assuming a larger role as Will Howard’s successor. The Wildcats are allowing just 13.3 points per game and giving up only 80.3 rushing yards per game. They also lead the Big 12 in fumbles forced (4).
Kansas State did not allow Arizona to score or even reach the red zone on its final eight drives.
“I don’t think we had a position group that didn’t play well,” Kansas State coach Chris Klieman said. “Across the board, at all three levels, I thought we played really well on defense.”
Johnson and the Wildcats will get a tough test from BYU’s improved defense. The Cougars (3-0) have given up only four touchdowns in three games. They rank second among Big 12 teams in total defense (236.3 ypg).
BYU has opened a season with three straight wins for a second consecutive year. Unlike a year ago when the wheels fell off in Big 12 play, the Cougars feel better prepared for the rigors of playing in a power conference and snap a five-game skid against league opponents.
“We learned a lot from last season,” defensive end Tyler Batty said. “We’ve put a lot of that into our preparation in the offseason and getting ready for this fall. So I think we’re ready for it.”
Third down breakdown
Moving the chains on third downs has turned into a chore for BYU.
The Cougars have converted only 4-of-24 third downs over their last two games, going 2-of-13 against SMU and 2-of-11 against Wyoming. For the season, they are converting 28.2% of their third downs — ranking 14th among Big 12 teams.
It’s a concerning trend for an offense that consistently misfired against Big 12 foes last season.
“I feel like we’ve had plays out there that we can make, and we just didn’t make,” sophomore receiver Parker Kingston said.
Ironically, BYU is excelling on fourth down. The Cougars have converted 8-of-10 fourth downs in three games.
“Look at our fourth down conversions. Let’s just treat third downs like fourth down and I think we’ll be fine,” BYU coach Kalani Sitake said.
Running strong
DJ Giddens is carving out a spot among the top all-time running backs at Kansas State. Giddens became the third fastest player to surpass 2,000 career rushing yards after tallying 86 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries against Arizona. He’s at 2,068 career yards and only needs 142 more to move into the school’s Top 10 list for career rushing yards.
Giddens averaged 5.5 yards per carry while racking up 1,226 yards on the ground a year ago. He ranks fifth in the Big 12 with 108 rushing yards per game this season. His career average of 5.73 yards per carry ranks second only to Darren Sproles (6.11) in Kansas State history.
Home cooking
Home field advantage has played a pivotal role in previous games between BYU and Kansas State. Neither team has won a true road game in their series dating back to 1957. The Cougars are 3-0 against the Wildcats in Provo, allowing a total of 12 points over those three contests. Kansas State is 4-0 all-time against BYU in Manhattan.
BYU won the only neutral site game in the series after edging Kansas State 19-15 in the 1997 Cotton Bowl.
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