Chris Klieman knew instantly the place the blame could be directed after his Kansas State soccer group’s first loss.
Identical because it often does, with the coach and the quarterback.
“We are able to throw every little thing at myself and Avery (Johnson), which is ok,” Klieman mentioned after an epic meltdown on the finish of the primary half and begin of the second led to a 38-9 blowout loss to Brigham Younger late Saturday night time at LaVell Edwards Stadium in Provo, Utah. “We’ll take that warmth, however we did not play nicely anyplace.”
Positive sufficient, Johnson had a tough night time in his first profession loss because the beginning quarterback. He accomplished 15 of 28 passes for simply 130 yards, however worse was the truth that his two interceptions led on to BYU touchdowns throughout a pivotal stretch by which the Cougars ran off 31 straight factors in lower than 6½ minutes.
However Johnson’s woes had been simply a part of the issue for the Wildcats, who fell to 3-1 total and 0-1 within the Large 12. A BYU fumble return for a landing and a 90-yard punt return additionally contributed to the carnage because the Cougars remained unbeaten at 4-0 and 1-0 within the league.
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“It was type of beautiful to see that, and that is what we talked about in there,” Klieman mentioned. “We will discover out what these guys are manufactured from, as a result of we obtained embarrassed.
“And that has not occurred right here, excluding the COVID 12 months (in 2020).”
As soon as issues began to go fallacious for the Wildcats, it snowballed in a rush. With 2:10 left, they nonetheless led 6-3 after the protection held BYU to a brief area purpose.
However on the Wildcats’ subsequent possession, DJ Giddens fumbled, and BYU security Tommy Prassas scooped it up for a 30-yard landing. Then Johnson threw his first decide, and two performs later the Cougars had been ultimately zone once more to make it 17-6 with 29 seconds left within the half.
Quick ahead to the third quarter, and one other Johnson interception arrange a two-play, 27-yard drive, and with 10:45 left within the interval, Parker Kingston’s 90-yard punt return pushed it to an insurmountable 31-6 BYU benefit.
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“We did not play nicely on protection within the second half. Clearly, we did not play nicely on particular groups. Did not block very nicely,” Klieman mentioned. “We did not do something nicely in that second half, and credit score BYU. We advised them they weren’t going to beat themselves. We needed to beat them, and as an alternative, we beat ourselves.”
As for Johnson, he owned his miscues, even when they had been solely part of the issue.
“Simply being unfastened with the soccer and making dangerous reads, I assume,” he mentioned of the interceptions. “Simply not being in sync, I assume you could possibly say. Simply me and the receivers not being on the identical web page on a regular basis.
“I’ve simply obtained to be higher and provides them an opportunity for the soccer. Lower down on the overthrows. Doing a greater job of giving these guys an opportunity to make these one-on-one contested catches.”
It was the primary actual profession setback for Johnson, the sophomore who got here in at 4-0 as beginning quarterback, relationship again to a most respected participant efficiency in final 12 months’s Pop-Tarts Bowl. However Klieman made it clear the place he stood.
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“We talked at halftime. I knew he was pissed off,” Klieman mentioned. “I like the child. He is a competitor. He is a fighter. He’ll study from every little thing. The offense goes to.
“Once more, you possibly can’t put this on Avery. I do know it is simple to do, and folks will pile on him, pile on me, and that is effective. We each can deal with it. (However) he is a winner. He is laborious on himself, I do know that. However I am trying ahead to him responding as a result of I do know he’ll. As a result of he is that type of child, and I simply completely love him.”
The Wildcats did put up 363 yards whole offense to 241 for BYU and ran 24 extra performs than the Cougars. However additionally they had expensive pink zone penalties on every of their three scoring drives, forcing them to accept area objectives.
“We simply shot ourselves within the foot too many occasions, and also you’re obtained to attain touchdowns,” Johnson mentioned. “You have to handle the soccer on the highway if you wish to win, and we did not try this tonight.”
Arne Inexperienced relies in Salina and covers Kansas State College sports activities for the Gannett community. He will be reached at agreen@gannett.com or on Twitter at @arnegreen.