A Baylor field goal with 8 seconds remaining in the game helped the Bears to a 37-34 win over Kansas State.

That play came late in a high scoring fourth quarter that began with the Wildcats trailing 20-14 in Waco, Texas. K-State led at one point 27-20 then Baylor scored two touchdowns before the Wildcats tied the game at 34-34. Baylor rolled up 597 yards of total offense in the win.

The loss dropped Kansas State to 2-4 on the season and 0-3 in the Big 12 race. Kansas State will host Oklahoma State at 11 a.m. next Saturday.

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — One messy game didn’t diminish West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen’s confidence in Heisman Trophy hopeful Will Grier.

Grier’s four turnovers overshadowed a four-touchdown performance in No. 9 West Virginia’s 38-22 victory over Kansas on Saturday.

West Virginia (5-0, 3-0 Big 12) has won its first five games for the second time in three seasons.

“We’ll take the sloppy win and go home,” Holgorsen said.

The heavily-favored Mountaineers had no trouble moving the ball, but Grier’s efforts to throw into extra coverage near the goal line cost his team plenty of points.

Grier was intercepted three times in the first half either in the end zone or at the goal line, two of them by cornerback Hasan Defense. All three of Grier’s interceptions occurred when West Virginia had driven inside the Kansas 15-yard line.

“He has the confidence to make any throw and every throw,” Holgorsen said. “That’s why he’s a hell of a quarterback, but those windows become small. I thought their defenders did a better job of attacking the ball than our receivers did.”

Kansas (2-4, 0-3) entered the game leading the Big 12 with eight interceptions, including three returned for touchdowns.

Grier said Kansas did a good job of mixing up its defensive schemes near the goal line. West Virginia saw its streak of 15 straight scores inside the opponents’ 20-yard line snapped.

“We’ve got to be better in the red zone,” Grier said. “I got to be better on not forcing things. It will be fixed going forward.”

Grier also had a third-quarter fumble on a scramble. West Virginia had committed six total turnovers in its previous four games.

Kansas was limited to 286 yards of offense but stayed in the game until late. Peyton Bender hit Jeremiah Booker with a 35-yard pass early in the third quarter and Khalil Herbert, who had a career-high 291 yards rushing against West Virginia last season, followed with a 31-yard TD run to pull the Jayhawks within 21-14.

Grier made good on West Virginia’s only other possession of the quarter, hitting running back Martell Pettaway with a 12-yard scoring toss.

After Kansas turned the ball over on downs in its own territory late in the game, Grier found David Sills with a 17-yard TD strike with 2:20 left for a 38-14 lead. Grier finished 28 of 41 for 332 yards.

Kansas coach David Beaty praised his defense for forcing Grier to attempt mostly short throws.

“I don’t recall them having a big bomb of a catch that they are known for just about every game,” Beaty said.

West Virginia freshman Leddie Brown caught a 15-yard scoring pass from Grier and also had a 1-yard TD run, both in the first quarter. Brown finished with 11 carries for 107 yards.

Kansas freshman Pooka Williams, the Big 12’s leading rusher, was held under 100 yards for the third straight game. He had 12 carries for 65 yards.

PREP FOOTBALL

Abilene 30, Coffeyville 25

Andale 55, Wichita Collegiate 0

Anderson County 42, Osawatomie 18

Andover 42, Arkansas City 7

Anthony-Harper-Chaparral 30, Garden Plain 21

Attica/Argonia 70, Oxford 20

BV North 48, BV Southwest 6

BV Randolph 48, Onaga 22

BV West 28, BV Northwest 14

Basehor-Linwood 35, DeSoto 27

Bishop Miege 31, Blue Valley 15

Bonner Springs 40, Baldwin 9

Buhler 35, Circle 0

Burden Central 78, Oswego 30

Burlingame 54, Maranatha Academy 34

Caney Valley 21, Frontenac 20

Canton-Galva 56, Goessel 8

Cedar Vale/Dexter 46, West Elk 0

Center, Mo. 61, Independence 8

Central Plains 56, Pratt Skyline 0

Centralia 59, Northern Heights 7

Centre 66, Wakefield 44

Cheney 36, Haven 12

Chetopa 42, Crest 6

Cimarron 18, Lakin 14

Clearwater 35, Wichita Trinity 7

Clifton-Clyde 54, Stockton 0

Colby 44, Russell 0

Concordia 47, Goodland 3

Conway Springs 68, Remington 20

Derby 63, Hutchinson 0

Dighton 48, Wallace County 0

Dodge City 34, Hays 33

Doniphan West 48, Wetmore 32

Douglass 44, Cherryvale 8

Elkhart 40, Syracuse 0

Ell-Saline 55, Republic County 14

Ellis 26, Oakley 13

Emporia 63, Highland Park 0

Eudora 26, Ottawa 7

Eureka 36, Neodesha 22

Fort Scott 22, Chanute 10

Frankfort 60, St. John’s Beloit-Tipton 14

Fredonia 28, Belle Plaine 23

Galena 69, Baxter Springs 0

Gardner-Edgerton 48, SM North 20

Goddard 40, Valley Center 27

Great Bend 30, Andover Central 7

Great Bend 30, Andover Central 7

Halstead 50, Clay Center 22

Hanover 50, Axtell 42

Hesston 54, Rock Creek 30

Hill City 55, Lincoln 6

Hillsboro 18, Marion 14

Hodgeman County 59, Kinsley 14

Holcomb 15, Kingman 13

Hoxie 54, Rawlins County 0

Humboldt 61, Riverton 7

Hutchinson Central Christian 78, Fairfield-Cunningham 16

Hutchinson Trinity 52, Wichita Independent 0

Ingalls 58, Satanta 12

Inman 56, Sublette 6

Iola 28, Burlington 6

Jackson Heights 8, Troy 7

Jayhawk Linn 30, Northeast-Arma 8

Junction City 9, Manhattan 7

KC Schlagle 54, KC Sumner 14

KC Washington 47, KC Wyandotte 0

Lansing 51, KC Harmon 0

Lawrence Free State 54, Olathe South 13

Lebo 46, Chase County 30

Linn 48, Tescott 6

Little River 54, Macksville 6

Louisburg 42, Atchison 7

Lyndon 27, Jefferson North 22

Madison/Hamilton 64, Valley Falls 6

Maize 42, Salina South 7

Maize South 28, Goddard-Eisenhower 7

Marysville 61, Royal Valley 20

Maur Hill – Mount Academy 40, Atchison County 8

McPherson 63, Augusta 6

Medicine Lodge 58, Udall 14

Mill Valley 35, Pittsburg 13

Minneola 48, Chase 0

Moscow 66, Rolla 21

Moundridge 54, St. John 6

Mulvane 48, Rose Hill 18

Natoma 59, Western Plains-Healy 14

Nemaha Central 61, Riverside 6

Nickerson 20, Larned 6

Northern Valley 28, Sylvan-Lucas 20

Norton 24, Hays-TMP-Marian 0

Olathe North 28, SM East 0

Olathe Northwest 29, SM Northwest 21

Olathe West 68, KC Turner 0

Olpe 67, Bluestem 6

Osage City 41, Central Heights 8

Osborne 52, Wilson 0

Oskaloosa 54, McLouth 0

Paola 41, KC Piper 12

Parsons 34, Columbus 6

Perry-Lecompton 24, Jefferson West 13

Phillipsburg 48, Ellsworth 3

Plainville 35, La Crosse 0

Pleasant Ridge 52, Horton 22

Pleasanton 26, Uniontown 20

Prairie View 14, Girard 6

Pratt 42, Hugoton 0

Quinter 54, Wheatland-Grinnell 20

Riley County 62, Council Grove 18

Rock Hills 48, Glasco/Miltonvale-Southern Cloud 0

Rossville 35, St. Mary’s 18

SM South 30, Lawrence 24

Sabetha 31, Holton 0

Salina Central 33, Newton 19

Santa Fe Trail 22, Wellsville 8

Sedgwick 42, Meade 7

Shawnee Heights 35, Leavenworth 20

Silver Lake 55, West Franklin 15

Smith Center 55, Salina Sacred Heart 0

Smoky Valley 30, Chapman 22

Solomon 60, Herington 6

South Barber 36, Otis-Bison 4

South Central 36, Caldwell 14

Southeast 21, Erie 7

Southeast Saline 48, Mission Valley 20

Southwestern Hts. 38, Lyons 3

Spearville 16, Ness City 14

St. Francis 44, Wichita County 6

St. Mary’s Academy 45, St. John’s Military 0

St. Paul 62, Marmaton Valley 14

St. Thomas Aquinas 42, St. James Academy 13

Stafford 54, Bucklin 8

Sterling 33, Ellinwood 6

Thunder Ridge 40, Logan/Palco 38

Tonganoxie 21, Spring Hill 15

Topeka 63, Washburn Rural 38

Topeka Hayden 64, KC Bishop Ward 0

Topeka Seaman 51, Topeka West 10

Trego 38, Oberlin-Decatur 22

Valley Heights 52, Wabaunsee 8

Victoria 52, Washington County 6

Wamego 59, Hiawatha 6

Wellington 33, Labette County 26

Weskan 52, Golden Plains 46

Wichita Bishop Carroll 28, Kapaun Mount Carmel 14

Wichita Campus 34, Wichita Southeast 6

Wichita East 20, Liberal 7

Wichita Heights 32, Wichita South 25

Wichita Life Prep 48, Union Christian, Ark. 0

Wichita Northwest 61, Garden City 15

Wichita Sunrise 54, Veritas Christian 22

Wichita West 51, Wichita North 0

Winfield 28, El Dorado 12

MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State head coach Bill Snyder and select players met with members of the media Tuesday at the Vanier Family Football Complex to preview the contest against Baylor this Saturday inside McLane Stadium in Waco, Texas. Selected comments from Snyder’s press conference (also streamed live andarchived here) are posted below, along with a collection of comments from players.

 

The Wildcats and Bears kick off at 2:30 p.m., in a game televised by FS1. K-State returns home October 13, for the Homecoming game against Oklahoma State, which is slated for an 11 a.m., kickoff and will be televised by ESPNU. A Wildcat 4-Pack of tickets for the game against the Cowboys start at less than $50 per ticket in the lower bowl and approximately $37 per ticket in the view level. Fans can order tickets online at www.k-statesports.com/tickets, by phone at 1-800-221-CATS or at the main ticket office inside Bramlage Coliseum.

K-STATE FOOTBALL WEEKLY PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES
BILL SNYDER, K-STATE HEAD COACH

On success rushing against Baylor in previous games…

“We were probably just a better team at those particular points in time than we are right now. I don’t see a major difference in what we’re doing; by and large, it’s mostly the same. As it relates to last year, pretty much the same team, same players on the field. We just haven’t been as consistent. I don’t think we have executed as well as we have, and I just don’t think we’re playing as well as we have in the past to put it simply.”

 

On ranking low on the passing charts among Big 12 peers…

“Well I think, kind of like anything else in life, you just keep rowing the boat or sawing the wood or just keep on keeping on. You keep trying to get better and work diligently, and hopefully, indeed, that you improve. I know you hear me say it all of the time, you’ve got 11 guys on the field, if each guy gets a little bit better on the field every day, collectively that’s a substantial amount. If we can do that and can do it collectively throughout the course of the season, then you are going to be better, and that’s what we strive to be, better. I think we got a little bit better in the second half, but one half doesn’t make a ballgame by any stretch of the imagination, so still a ways to go. There’s no magic to it, at least in my eyes. It’s roll up your sleeves, it’s hard work, it’s correct the mistakes that you’re making and make sure that you’re doing the right things and execute what your assigned to do.”

 

On Baylor’s passing attack…

“Everybody has basically the same types of things, when they use it and how they use it probably varies from team to team. Baylor, it depends a great deal on personnel, they have two very gifted quarterbacks. One gets a little more notoriety than the other, but both of them have talent and the ability to run. They make you defend the quarterback in terms of both the run and the pass, then they have a plethora of running backs that are all very fine players, good quickness, etc. They add to the balance that they have in their offense. They have a lot of big numbers in the passing game, but it’s the balance in their offense that makes them most effective in their passing game.”

 

On the defensive effort against Texas…

“We didn’t do anything we haven’t done or don’t do, just how much sometimes it gives an appearance that it might be something a little different. But it’s not schemes that we put on the field or schemes that have been in our program. I think our guys played well, responded well to a variety of situations. We were not as effective in the first half in regards to third-down situations, but it got much better in the second half. We did play well defensively. You can’t take anything away, but the offense gave up the safety and then the kicking game gave up the return, so you’re right, it’s basically 10-0 worst case scenario at halftime, then you come back and score twice and it’s a different ballgame. But you don’t get those back. I think our guys are playing within the confines of the system quite well. Obviously, we don’t want to give up that type of yardage in the passing game but then you go back and you break it down, he (Sam Ehlinger) completed whatever it was, 30 out of 38 or something, very, very high percentage, but then you look at a statistic like yards per catch and it’s somewhat limited. So for the most part, it boiled down to third down situations – we weren’t very good in the first half, we were much better in the second half until the last drive. Their last drive even, their two last drives even were instrumental. The offense had the opportunity with the ball in their hands to win the game and we didn’t do it. Defense had the opportunity to get them stopped to give the offense another chance and gave up two or three third-down conversions, so we didn’t do it there either. We didn’t finish the second half like we started it. Overall, I think playing well, and playing a little short-handed as well.”

 

On what has been key to Baylor’s improvement this season…

“A lot of things. I think a quarterback that has gained more experience and having a very capable backup has been significant, so they have gotten better in that area. I think having those receivers that have good hands and great range. You know, we’re talking 6’5”, 6’4”, 6’6”, so they can make plays on some of those throws that others might not. They brought balance into their offense a great deal with the running game and those running backs. Their starter is not as big as most but is just as quick as anybody. The running backs are very effective in the passing game between the one and the two backs, No. 6 and No. 7, I think they have something like 28 catches between the two of them, so they’re actively involved in the passing game. Again, it just goes back to having balance and not having to rely on just one aspect of their offense. They can do a lot of things with a lot of people. It makes it harder defensively to go up to the line of scrimmage and say they are going to pass it this time, they’re going to run it this time, they’re going to do whatever. They’re unpredictable in that respect.”

 

On Skylar Thompson’s spark in the second half…

“The thing in the second half – and Skylar was part of it – the thing that happened in the second half I saw coming out of the locker room – and I think I mentioned this after the ballgame – there was an immense determination from the players and the program. I thought that there was an anger, just from their own performance and the lack of success that they have been having, that I thought carried over into the second half of the ballgame. I thought that was very instrumental in their approach and how they played in the second half.”

 

On the goal of reaching a bowl game…

“I think it’s a motivational factor for the young people in the program, but it’s not what you’re going to achieve, it’s how you’re going to achieve it. That’s where our focus lies right now. What can we do to become a better football team? What can each of us do to become better at what we do? Players, coaches, etc.”

 

On the team’s mentality heading into the game at Baylor…

“I think there is that, what I’ve been looking for, that anger. That’s not at anybody other than ourselves, in regards to how we are playing. A determination about what we need to do and the determination to do it the very best we can every single day to get ourselves better. But I see the determination, at least I did see the determination pop up on Saturday and during the course of last week, as I said after the ballgame. We practiced better on Tuesday, we practiced better on Wednesday and we practice well on Monday and Thursday. Everything is not going to turn around in a heartbeat, but that was taking a step forward and a step in the right direction. It doesn’t show up in the win/loss column, but there were things that we got better at during the course of the ballgame, and it’s a matter of whether we have the perseverance to stick to those concepts and those values and continue to try to do it.”

 

On the tough stretch of road games upcoming and historically unfavorable schedule…

“You have to play the cards you’re dealt. They do it all on a computer. I’ve never found a computer that will listen to anything that I have to say. Just have to go with it. I have never appreciated the fact that we always open on the road. I think that’s been nine seasons or so. I would like to have a hand in programming the computer, I wouldn’t know how, but nobody’s schedule is perfect. As I said, you just line up and play and learn how – that’s part of the game itself – everyone has to learn how to keep the game between the white lines, and if indeed you do that, every field looks the same when you get inside the white lines. If that’s where your focus is, it shouldn’t be any different than being any place else.”

ZACH REUTER, SENIOR WIDE RECEIVER

On the team’s mindset heading into the third Big 12 game…

“We’re in a pretty positive place right now. We continue to see a lot of potential on the field, even though we haven’t been coming out with the wins we really want, against some pretty good teams, top-20 teams. We definitely know that the potential is there, and the film continues to show it each week.”

 

On what they took away from film against Texas…

“The fight this team has. We started to have a little attitude in the second half of that game. If we can bottle that up and really start to put that at each opponent each week and be able to do it for the entire game, we can have a lot of success.”

 

On a strong outing by the defense…

“In the position that we were in, that’s exactly what we needed. They gave us everything they had and put us in a position where we had the opportunity to come back. I think with about five minutes left we had the opportunity to drive the field, but we didn’t come through with it. They definitely put us in the position we needed.”

 

On the coaches’ demeanor this week…

“We’ve only had yesterday with them so far. Coach (Andre) Coleman, especially has been positive. Coach Snyder has just continued to preach the same things. It’s the little things, it’s the discipline that matters. We’re looking forward to having a good week at practice and coming out strong against Baylor.”

 

On what it was at halftime against Texas that fired everybody up…

“I think we just kind of made a decision that we didn’t want to be a sluggish offense anymore. We were getting sick of the same old drive, the same old three-and-outs. I think we took it upon ourselves to make a change. A mental mindset change.”

 

On trying to make it to nine-straight bowl games and how that motivates…

“Absolutely. We always keep it 1-0. You want to take each day as it comes. Definitely, a bowl game is motivation and winning each game. We can still have a successful season. We’re in a little bit of a hole, but it’s not anything we can’t climb out of.”

 

DALTON SCHOEN, JUNIOR WIDE RECEIVER

On faster tempo during second half against Texas…

“Yeah, I think it definitely helped with the rhythm standpoint. And it helped the momentum build. Someone makes a big play and they get right back up and get going again. It kind of lifts everyone up even a little bit more.  Everyone’s like, ‘Let’s keep this rolling and just keep going.’”

 

On the defensive effort against Texas…

“I was really proud of the way our defense played. It’s unfortunate from an offensive perspective that we kind of let them down. They played well enough for us to get the win. Offensively and special teams-wise, we did not. It definitely hurts for us to know we didn’t hold up our end of the bargain offensively, but it’s encouraging to see our defense play like that and know that they’re going to keep us in ballgames like that.”

 

On the mood of the team…

“I think where we’re at at this point in the season is kind of like where we felt like we were at halftime against Texas. You know, we were down 19-0 and it was kind of do or die, and we had to go do something. I thought we carried out that energy good in the second half. Now we’re 2-3, 0-2 in the Big 12 and it’s kind of the same situation. It’s do or die. We have to come out of the jump with that energy. I think that’s what we’re doing. I’m excited to see what we can do if we play a whole game like that.”

 

ADAM HOLTORF, JUNIOR OFFENSIVE LINEMAN

On the team’s mindset…

“Taking every opportunity to get better every way we can. I think we made some strides, especially in the second half on Saturday, but just continuing to push forward and get better every day and in everything we do.”

 

On running the ball…

“I think that the diligence and preparation has been something that has led to success within the running game, regardless to the opponent in the past. We’re working hard to try and get the running game going. So far this year, it’s just been a lack in consistency in the run game, in terms of everyone getting their blocks. I think that has been hurting the run game so far. That’s really something we are trying to work on because we want to get that run game going. We want to consistently rush for 200 yards. That’s the part that’s been missing. I think we’re getting that mended. I think we’re improving, but there is still room to improve.”

 

On team concerns…

“I wouldn’t say I’m concerned. I’ve got faith in everybody and what we’re doing as a team. I think we’re working to get better and we are getting better. We are making strides in the right direction. It’s just that, it puts a little more emphasis on needing to get it done now (that we’re half way through the season). It’s a greater sense of urgency in what we are doing.”

 

JUSTIN HUGHES, JUNIOR LINEBACKER

On Saturday’s defensive effort…

“I think the defense played well. I don’t know what happened, but we missed a couple tackles that would’ve had a better impact on the game if we would’ve made them. That was a big emphasis yesterday at practice. I know me and Da’Quan Patton personally took it upon ourselves a challenge to get the defense right. The defense did play well. The offense played well in the second half. I guess they just have to pick it up in the first half, as well as the defense too, we have to pick it up in the first half too because we gave away 10 points. We can go out there and get a shutout, so that’s what our mentality is, to go out there and shut them out completely. We have to do our part and offense has to do theirs.”

 

On stopping drives…

“Our third down is our ‘money down’ as me and (Reggie Walker) say. We always yell at each other and look at each other and just yell ‘money down.’ We just get excited about third down, but we have to be better on first and second down in order to be better on third down. We have to get them stopped on first, second down, where we want them in order to not have and easy third-and-one or third-and-two. We have to be better on those downs to be better on ‘money downs.’”

 

WYATT HUBERT, REDSHIRT FRESHMAN DEFENSIVE LINEMAN

On the team’s feelings about the season thus far…

“We just can’t get too uptight about it right now. We’re 2-3 and have a lot of season ahead of us right now. We all realize that we’re super close, we’re super close right now to snapping and becoming who we want to be. It’s almost there, we just have to be patient and keep working towards our goal every single day.”

 

On defensive fire in the second half…

“Obviously we were playing Texas so we always have a chip on our shoulders because of that. We are almost there. I think we improved on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. It is tough because that fire that sparked inside of us is what got us motivated in the second half and we are tired of losing. Hopefully we can get a win against Baylor this week.”

 

ALEX BARNES, JUNIOR RUNNING BACK

On continuing strong rushing performances against Baylor…

“We always have a pretty good game plan drawn up for Baylor and a good understanding of what they are going to try and do to us. We just need to go out on the field and do what we need to do to put us in a position to succeed.”

 

On the team’s current mindset…

“We know that it is time to bounce back. After that second half last week, we have shown some potential. It is about being able to find the mindset and going through four quarters with that same mindset.”

 

On continuing the bowl streak…

“We are not even worried about a bowl right now; we are just trying to get that next win. It has been awhile since we won a good game where we played well in all four quarters, so that is what we are trying to do.”

 

Ryan Lackey

DENVER (AP) — Patrick Mahomes is athletic, agile — and ambidextrous, apparently.

Thanks in part to a nifty left-handed throw as he was about to get sacked by Von Miller at midfield on the game-winning drive, the right-handed Mahomes rallied the unbeaten Kansas City Chiefs past the Denver Broncos 27-23 on Monday night.

By overcoming a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit, the Chiefs (4-0) took a two-game lead over the Broncos (2-2), their AFC West rivals whom they’ve now beaten six straight times.

The only other remaining unbeaten team is the Los Angeles Rams.

Down 23-13, Mahomes directed a 12-play, 75-yard drive that ate up more than six minutes and culminated with a 2-yard TD toss to tight end Travis Kelce.

After a three-and-out by Denver, Mahomes added a 60-yard touchdown drive, handing off to Kareem Hunt for the 4-yard score with 1:39 remaining.

On that last drive, Mahomes was getting dragged down by Miller on third-and-5 at midfield when he shifted the ball to his left hand and threw it to Tyreek Hill a yard past the first-down marker at the Broncos 49.

“He’s actually more athletic than people” realize, Denver linebacker Brandon Marshall said. “People talk about his arm, but he can move out of the pocket and make the necessary throws.”

Even with his left hand.

“I didn’t know he threw it with his left hand,” marveled Miller. “He’s a great quarterback.”

“Patrick worked real hard on that left-handed throw,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid quipped. “Some amazing plays there. We’ve seen it in practice but not under those conditions.”

Mahomes proved slippery all night.

“We played well and we got to him but he would scramble out to his right as he likes to do,” Marshall said. “It’s almost like we’d have him in our fingertips and he’d scramble away and throw for a first down.

“The kid can play. He’s going to be really good. He’s really good right now, but we should have won the game.”

It was the first time since 2004 that the Broncos blew a 10-point fourth-quarter lead at home.

By Karissa Niehoff, Executive Director of the National Federation of State High School Associations and Bill Faflick, Executive Director of the Kansas State High School Activities Association.

From the Greatest Generation to Baby Boomers, Generation X to Millennials, teenagers in every era have had challenges growing up.

In today’s digital world, high school students are being tested in unique and demanding ways. The Washington Post confirms that 73 percent of all American teenagers own their own smartphone and, on average, spend almost nine hours a day texting, chatting, gaming, blogging, streaming and visiting with friends online.

Although conclusive research showing a direct correlation between the mental health of teenagers and smartphone usage won’t be complete for years, it isn’t a great confidence builder for a student to discover online that everyone else seems to have more friends.

In addition, recent figures indicate that more than 31 percent of America’s 42 million teenagers are overweight or obese, compared to only five percent in 1980. According to the 2016 National Survey of Children’s Health, Kansas is ranked the 25th most obese state in the nation with 30.9 percent of all teenagers considered overweight.

Not surprisingly, many psychologists and researchers agree that today’s teenagers are more lonely, anxious and depressed than ever before.

As the new school year gets underway and social pressures increase, statistics like these verify how important it is for teenagers to participate in high school sports and other activities such as marching band, choir, speech and debate.

The most recent survey by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) indicates there are almost eight million participants in high school sports and more than four million in performing arts activities. Most of these students would agree the primary advantage of playing a sport or participating in an after-school activity is the opportunity to meet new people and develop meaningful friendships. An online chat is no substitute for working toward a common goal face-to-face, side-by-side for weeks on end with teammates.

And positive social relationships are only the beginning. Among other benefits, high school sports are instrumental in helping teenagers establish nutritional and exercise habits that will carry them for a lifetime. Participating in a sport in high school is a great way to maintain a healthy weight, establish good eating and sleeping habits, discourage the use of alcohol and drugs and develop a greater sense of self-esteem.

Additional benefits of participating in a high school sport or activity are shared by the NFHS on a new website at MyReasonWhy.com, where dozens of high school students address this topic in their own words through videos.

A new school year brings with it an opportunity for teenagers to make new friends and establish new lifestyle habits. Encouraging them to make friends on the field of play as well as online is great way to start.

Game 6
Kansas State at Baylor

Date: Saturday, October 6, 2018

Kickoff: 2:30 p.m.

Location: Waco, Texas

Stadium: McLane Stadium (45,140)

Series: K-State leads, 9-6

TV: FS1

Radio: K-State Sports Network; k-statesports.com

Wyatt Thompson (Play-by-Play)

Stan Weber (Analyst)

Matt Walters (Sidelines)

Sirius Satellite Radio Ch. 119, XM Channel 200

Twitter Updates: @kstatesports, @kstate_gameday, @KStateFB

 

K-STATE TRAVELS TO WACO TO TAKE ON BAYLOR
Following a hard-fought 19-14 loss to No. 18 Texas, Kansas State heads back on the road on Saturday looking to snap a two-game losing skid as the Wildcats face Baylor. The game will kick at 2:30 p.m., at McLane Stadium and will be shown nationally on FS1 with Eric Collins (play-by-play) and Evan Moore (analyst) on the call. The game can be heard across the 39-station K-State Sports Network with Wyatt Thompson (play-by-play), former K-State quarterback Stan Weber (analyst) and Matt Walters (sidelines) calling the action. The game will also be on Sirius channel 119, XM Channel 200 in addition to the TuneIn app. Live stats are available at k-statesports.com, and Twitter updates (@KStateFB) will also be a part of the coverage.

A LOOK AT K-STATE

• K-State fell to 2-3 on the year following a 19-14 setback to No. 18 Texas in a game that saw the Wildcat defense surrender just 10 total points and shut out the Longhorns in the second half.
• K-State has played both Skylar Thompson and Alex Delton in the first five games, with Thompson earning starts in four. Thompson came off the bench against the Longhorns to engineer a pair of touchdown drives.
• Wide receiver Isaiah Zuber has tallied his first two career 100-yard receiving games this year, going for 144 yards against UTSA and 133 at West Virginia. He also caught the game-winning touchdown pass late in the game against South Dakota and returned a punt 85 yards for a score against the Coyotes.
• The running game is solidified by the Wildcats’ leading rusher a year ago, Alex Barnes, who is fourth in the Big 12 at 71.4 yards per game. He recorded the fourth 100-yard rushing game of his career in the season opener, but he has become more of a receiving threat this year with seven catches for 65 yards.
• Defensively, K-State held Texas to 339 yards of offense last week and 10 points on offense. The Longhorns were averaging 31.2 points and 411.0 yards of total offense entering the game.
• K-State has held each of its last three opponents without a rushing score, the first time a Wildcat team has done so since the Auburn, UTEP and Texas Tech games in 2014.
• Junior linebacker Da’Quan Patton leads the team with 30 tackles, 17 of which have come in the last two games.
• Senior defensive back Duke Shelley is third on the team with 23 tackles and has eight passes defended, the latter tying for third in the Big 12 and 15th nationally.
• Three different Wildcats recorded interceptions against West Virginia, all of which were the first in the careers of AJ Parker, Johnathan Durham and Jahron McPherson.

A LOOK AT BAYLOR

• Baylor heads into the game with a 3-2 overall record following a 66-33 loss at No. 5 Oklahoma.
• The Bears are averaging 35.6 points per game through five games and 488.0 yards of total offense with 331.4 of those coming through the air.
• Quarterback Charlie Brewer has thrown for 1,262 yards and eight touchdowns with Jalen Hurd and Denzel Mims combining for 55 catches and five touchdowns. As a team, Baylor has completed 63.5-percent of its passes.
• On defense, the Bears are led by Terrel Bernard’s 27 tackles, while James Lynch leads the squad in sacks with 5.0 on the year.

  ————
  RYAN LACKEY
  Director of Football and Golf Communications | K-State Athletics

 

 

 

 

MANHATTAN, Kan. – The Big 12 Conference and ESPN announced Monday that Kansas State’s October 13 Homecoming game against Oklahoma State will kick off at 11 a.m., and be televised nationally by ESPNU.

Following last year’s win in Stillwater over the 10^th-ranked Cowboys, Kansas State is looking for consecutive wins over OSU for the first time since winning nine straight from 1990 to 2002. Additionally, the Wildcats are in search of their first home win over Oklahoma State since a 48-14 triumph in 2014.

Wildcat 4-Pack of tickets is available for the game against the Cowboys for less than $50 per ticket in the lower bowl and approximately $37 per ticket in the view level. Fans can purchase tickets through the K-State Athletics Ticket office online at www.k-statesports.com/tickets, by phone at 1-800-221-CATS or at the main ticket office inside Bramlage Coliseum.

Kansas State travels to Waco, Texas, on Saturday for a contest against Baylor. The game, which kicks off at 2:30 p.m., inside McLane Stadium, will be televised by FS1.