MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — Being a backup quarterback could be a lonely job, apart from this season within the Big 12. The QB turnstiles have been lively, and Kansas State’s Will Howard and West Virginia’s Garrett Greene are amongst those that have thrived.
It’s solely going to get busier for Howard, who will start rather than the injured Adrian Martinez when Kansas State performs at West Virginia on Saturday as the Nineteenth-ranked Wildcats attempt to shut in on a potential berth within the Big 12 championship game.
“Will’s going to be the guy. It’s his football team,” Kansas State coach Chris Klieman mentioned.
Howard, a junior, will make his twelfth profession start and second of the season. Knowing early within the week that he would get the first-team reps in apply has been “a little more calming in a way,” Howard mentioned.
This is the closest that he’ll play to his hometown of Downingtown, about 280 miles (451 kilometers) from Morgantown in jap Pennsylvia.
“I’ll have a lot of people there,” Howard mentioned. “As far as the Big 12 goes, there’s not a lot of games we get to play out east. So I’m excited for it and definitely have been thinking about this one.”
Howard has thrown 9 landing passes with one interception in three video games. On Saturday, he threw for 196 yards and three scores in a surprisingly straightforward 31-3 win at Baylor.
“He looks to be one of the more improved players this year in our league. He’s extremely efficient,” West Virginia coach Neal Brown mentioned.
Greene acquired his most intensive work of the season after changing starter JT Daniels for the second half of West Virginia’s 23-20 win over Oklahoma final week. The sophomore ran for 2 scores and threw for a 3rd.
“I thought he energized the stadium. I thought he energized our sideline,“ Brown said.
Brown said he won’t announce his starter this week, but “Garrett earned the opportunity to play more.”
BIG 12 SCENARIO
The Wildcats (7-3, 5-2 Big 12, No. 15 CFP) can clinch a berth within the Big 12 title game Saturday with a win and a Texas loss at Kansas. Or the Wildcats can get it carried out themselves with two wins to finish the common season.
DEUCE ON THE MOVE
Kansas State’s Deuce Vaughn has 1,081 dashing yards and can go up in opposition to a protection that allowed 211 to Oklahoma’s Eric Gray final week. Vaughn has 5 dashing TDs and is tied for the crew excessive in receptions with 38.
DEFENSE DOES IT
Kansas State has allowed 19 touchdowns all season. Only six Bowl Subdivision groups have allowed fewer. The Wildcats have 13 interceptions, in comparison with three for the Mountaineers.
Brown mentioned the Kansas State protection goes by way of defensive finish Felix Anudike-Uzomah, who has two compelled fumbles and a league-best 7.5 sacks.
“Number 91, he’s a man,” Brown mentioned. “He’s an issue. We’re going to have to account for him. He’s elite.”
SEEKING A BOWL
West Virginia (4-6, 2-5) must win each of its remaining video games to develop into bowl eligible. There’s additionally the job safety of Brown, who’s 21-24 in his fourth 12 months. Fans have been howling all season for adjustments. One of them occurred Monday when West Virginia introduced that athletic director Shane Lyons was let go.
SOCCER TO FOOTBALL
West Virginia kicker Casey Legg is 13 of 13 on field-goal makes an attempt this season, together with two to win video games. He made a 25-yarder as time ran out final week.
“I hit it, and then blacked out for a second or two and then a bunch of teammates were surrounding me,” mentioned Legg, a junior who performed soccer at a highschool that didn’t supply soccer. “So that was the cool part. I think the part that’s different about hitting a walk-off is as soon as you hit it, you’re getting swamped by people. So that was really fun.”
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