 "Photo: Jonathan Knight")
Through the first eight games of the 2009 campaign, K-State’s offense has been tested more than once, but the unit will face arguably its biggest challenge of the season Saturday at No. 22 Oklahoma.
Year in and year out, the Sooners (4-3, 1-2 Big 12 Conference) produce one of the country’s premier defensive units, and this season has been no exception. Through seven games, the unit ranks second nationally in points allowed (10.1), third in rushing yards allowed (70.1) and sixth in total yards allowed (264.9).
“Obviously, the defense is very impressive,” said Wildcat head coach Bill Snyder. “All of the numbers would indicate that. They scheme you very well, as we all know. They’ll play hard every snap.”
Such a stout unit could mean trouble for the North division-leading Wildcats (5-3, 3-1), who rank just 74th in total offense with 356.5 yards per contest. The light appeared to turn on for the K-State offensive unit when it racked up 62 points against Texas A&M on Oct. 17, but the woes returned last weekend when the Wildcats were held scoreless in the second half of their 20-6 win over Colorado.
Senior quarterback Grant Gregory, who has started the team’s last four contests, said K-State can’t afford another poor showing this weekend in Norman, Okla.
“We’re playing a team with a lot of NFL players on their team,” Gregory said. “They’re really good personnel-wise. We’ve all got to play better. This is probably the biggest challenge [of the year].”
Another challenge the Wildcats are faced with is finding out how to score against Oklahoma in the first quarter. The Sooners have yet to allow any points in the opening period and have outscored their 2009 opponents by a combined 58-0.
“We’re appealing the Big 12 Conference right now to see if we can start the game in the second quarter,” Snyder jokingly said. “We’re just going to stand on the sideline until they run the clock.”
Unfortunately for K-State, it is unlikely the conference will approve that request, so the team will have to find another way to get on the scoreboard in the game’s first 15 minutes.
Equally as impressive as Oklahoma’s first quarter dominance is its seemingly untouchable home-field advantage. The Sooners currently own a 27-game winning streak within the confines of Memorial Stadium that dates back to the first game of the 2005 season when they were upset by TCU in a 17-10 loss.
Senior offensive lineman Nick Stringer, who is making his second trip to Norman in a Wildcat uniform, said K-State will have to put together a virtually flawless performance to move to 4-1 in conference play.
“[Oklahoma] has a long winning streak going down there,” Stringer said. “Good tradition. You know their fans, they’re behind them. We’re going to have to go down there and play our game, do what we do and take advantage of the opportunities they give us.”
Fans who are not making the trip can watch the Wildcats try to snap the Sooners’ winning streak and extend their division lead, as the contest will be televised live on Fox Sports Net. Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m.
