Wildcats Need Big Texas Bowl Game From Jesse Ertz
By Stan Unruh
The Kansas State Wildcats need a big game from Jesse Ertz if they expect to win the Texas Bowl. He knows what it will take to bring home a win against the Aggies.
Run the ball Jesse!
The Wildcat Quarterback knows adversity and has overcome it.
Dedicated Kansas State Wildcat fans remember the first offensive play of the 2015 season?
Ertz certainly does. He was injured and out for the year following a simple five-yard running play.
He has made a fabulous recovery this season.
He needs to continue to do the little things that have helped the Wildcats to another bowl game.
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Aggie Defensive Coordinator John Chavis knows how important Ertz is to the Wildcats’ offense.
He told the media in Houston, “The Wildcats ran the ball well over the last six games of the season and it starts with the quarterback.”
Ertz leads the Wildcats, ranks eighth in the Big 12 and sixth nationally among quarterbacks by averaging 78.8 rushing yards per game.
His ability to run the ball will have a huge impact on keeping the Aggies off balance.
Chavis also knows his team will have to tackle better than they did at the end of the season.
His Aggies have had plenty of time to prepare to stop the Kansas State running attack.
Ertz’s 5.94-yard per rush average ranks fifth in the nation among signal callers and fourth in K-State history among players with at least 100 attempts.
Ertz’s total was given a boost at Iowa State (106 yards) and against Oklahoma State (153 yards) when he became the first Wildcat with consecutive 100-yard games since John Hubert in 2013.
He recorded his third 100-yard game of the season – a mark that ties for third in school history among quarterbacks – at TCU when he rushed for a career-high 170 yards. His yardage total was the fifth-most in school history among QBs, and he teamed with Justin Silmon (133 yards) to give K-State its first double 100-yard rushing game since 2012.
The 303 combined yards by Ertz and Silmon was tied for the third most in a double 100-yard game in school history.
If Ertz can run the ball effectively, the Wildcats should bring home a bowl victory.