Kansas State wins 2022 Huge 12 Championship

For the primary time since 2012, the Kansas State Wildcats are Huge 12 Champions. They gained the Huge 12 Championship Recreation in Arlington, Texas, towards the TCU Horned Frogs 31-28 in time beyond regulation. The sport featured many momentum-swinging moments that went all the way in which into the previous few performs.

The primary half had game-changing play after game-changing play. TCU shortly began their down-field recreation with a 53-yard throw from quarterback Max Duggan to extensive receiver Quentin Johnston. The Horned Frogs took the short 7-0 lead.

TCU had an opportunity to go up by 10, however kicker Griffin Kell missed carefully left on a 55-yard area objective try. Okay-State would reply with a 40-yard cross from quarterback Will Howard to extensive receiver Malik Knowles, establishing a landing to tight finish Ben Sinnott on fourth all the way down to put the rating at 7-7.

“That locker room has a lot confidence in Will Howard,” Klieman stated about Will Howard leaping in to play this season. “Will Howard’s a flat competitor.”

TCU security Millard Bradford can be referred to as for concentrating on on working again Deuce Vaughn, however the name can be overturned. On the subsequent Okay-State drive, Knowles once more was the spark for a landing, taking a jet sweep run for 40 yards. Howard completed the drive with a 1-yard dashing landing to take a 14-7 lead, however the Wildcats would lose Knowles on account of a leg harm for the remainder of the sport.

Different massive performs included missed landing alternatives from each Howard and Duggan as every staff didn’t seize full momentum. Vast receiver Kade Warner had a deep ball completion overturned, trying to flip the tide to TCU. 

The Horned Frogs didn’t make the most of the chance. On a giant play, Johnston fumbled the ball on a punch-out from cornerback Julius Brents that was recovered by linebacker Austin Moore. On the intense aspect for TCU, they’d find yourself kicking a area objective with 29 seconds left. The Wildcats held a 14-10 lead because the Horned Frogs would obtain the ball within the second half.

The second half adopted the momentum-swings stuffed first half. A fast cease for Okay-State led to a 25-yard landing from Howard to extensive receiver RJ Garcia II, the primary of his profession. Okay-State would go up 21-10 after which witness a 3rd down sack from Huge 12 Defensive Participant of the 12 months defensive finish Felix Anudike-Uzomah.

Momentum was all Wildcats, however a muffed punt gave TCU the ball again and led to a Horned Frog landing. TCU would cease the Wildcats and use a 51-yard catch from Johnston to maneuver down the sector. Once more, momentum appeared to be leaning a method after which switched once more. Brents and Johnston battled once more, however Brents caught an interception in the long run zone to offer Okay-State the ball again.

“It was big,” Klieman stated in regards to the interception. “Quentin Johnston is a good soccer participant. He’s a primary spherical draft decide and we gave Julius a troublesome activity…. Julius needs to be on that stage.”

Up by 4 factors, a landing would appear to finish the sport. Being managed all recreation, Vaughn lastly had his run, breaking outdoors, excessive stepping a tackler after which placing a defender within the filth with an open-field juke. Okay-State would go on to take a 28-17 lead with over 11 minutes left.

“I don’t do something with out these guys up entrance and all people on the perimeter.” Vaughn stated.

TCU would go down the sector and reply with a area objective to go down 28-20. Rapidly stopping the Wildcats, TCU obtained the ball with 4:47 remaining to tie. The drive appeared to be misplaced for the Horned Frogs a number of occasions, however Duggan wouldn’t enable it. Play after play, Duggan used his toes, exhausting himself to the very best diploma. Speeding for 95 yards on the drive, Duggan completed it off with a 8-yard landing and a two-point conversion.

After a failed try from Okay-State to attain, TCU would kneel it out. The Huge 12 Championship Recreation was despatched to time beyond regulation.

The injured Adrian Martinez got here out onto the sector for the coin toss, calling tails, and successful tails. Okay-State gave TCU the ball to start out time beyond regulation and would wait to see the outcomes of the drive.

The Horned Frogs shortly attain the 6-yard line for second and objective. Twice, every on second and third down, TCU was referred to as simply in need of the objective line on the 1-yard line, leaving themselves with one yard wanted on one play. Then, the Wildcat protection made the stand. TCU working again Kendre Miller was swallowed on the line of scrimmage. Okay-State would simply want to attain to win.

“That was nice execution total by the protection,” linebacker Daniel Inexperienced stated. “We talked about conditions like that, simply occurred to explode and that’s what championship video games come all the way down to.”

Shifting to the 13-yard line, Okay-State arrange punter/kicker Ty Zentner for the win. Zentner stood tall and nailed the 31-yard try via the uprights. 

“Over the past 5 to 6 weeks, there is probably not a extra invaluable child on the soccer staff than Ty Zentner. Ty was big once more at the moment,” Klieman stated. “What was simply so poetic for me was, the ball was on his foot within the final recreation of Huge 12 play for him. There was little doubt in my thoughts he was making that.”

Zentner gained Okay-State the 2022 Huge 12 Championship 31-28 in an time beyond regulation traditional.

Vaughn was named the sport’s most excellent participant, working for 137 yards and one landing on 26 carries. He additionally caught two receptions for thirty yards.

Howard threw for 199 yards on the day on 18-32 passing. Vast receiver Phillip Brooks led the staff with 48 receiving yards. Inexperienced led the staff defensively with 10 tackles.

“It means all the pieces,” Inexperienced stated about successful the Huge 12 Championship. “Coach got here right here to construct a tradition that wishes to win championships.”

The Wildcats maintain a 10-3 file earlier than going into the bowl recreation. The anticipated matchup by a number of sports activities retailers has the Wildcats touring to New Orleans to face off towards the Alabama Crimson Tide on New 12 months’s Eve.

“Huge 12 Champions bought a pleasant ring to it.” Klieman stated.