The halftime score of the No. 20 Arizona vs. No. 14 Kansas State game doesn't necessarily tell the whole story of how the half went. The Wildcats lead the Wildcats, oh wait, Kansas State leads Arizona 14-7 at halftime in Manhattan, KS.
In a game where everyone thought it would be an offensive explosion, it has actually been the defense and special teams that have highlighted the half. The difference right now in the game is a punt return for a touchdown in the second quarter by Dylan Edwards that has K-State leading Arizona.
The game started with both teams going on long drives that ended in a touchdown knotting the game at 7-7 with just seconds left in the first quarter.
Arizona stepped onto the field for their second offensive drive and the K-State defense was able to get a stop and force a punt.
Enter Dylan Edwards and his incredible speed.
After fielding the punt on a hop, Edwards got just one solid block and was off to the races. Really only one other Arizona player got close to taking down Edwards, but it was a defensive lineman and Edwards was able to turn on the jets a take it back for seven with no flags on the field. It seemed like the momentum was swinging in K-State's favor.
Shot out of a cannon pic.twitter.com/iqRM9I0jNH
— K-State Football (@KStateFB) September 14, 2024
Arizona took the field for their third offensive drive and it ended in an interception by Keenan Garber, just the second of his career and first this season. Garber read the play perfectly and again using speed was able to jump the pass and intercept the young gunslinger Noah Fifita.
The excitement doesn't stop there. After the interception, Kansas State drove the ball down the field, but the drive stalled and they were forced to settle for a field goal. Kicker Chris Tennant however was unable to pull through and hit the 48-yarder keeping the game at 14-7.
Kansas State's defense was able to hold up yet again and force a punt giving the K-State offense about two minutes left for a drive.
This is where Johnson's youth began to show. The sophomore quarterback was able to get the Wildcats down the field, but after a run play with about 18 seconds left, head coach Chris Klieman chose not to call his final timeout and give Johnson one more play before kicking the field goal.
Johnson snapped the ball and scrambled, but he seemed to lose track of the clock and ran around too much as the time expired before he ran out of bounds. Johnson could be with his hands on his head after he realized there was no time on the clock. A more experienced quarterback might have known to throw the ball away in order to allow the team time to kick a field goal and hopefully go up by 10.
Don't worry Kansas State fans, Johnson is still 19 years old and is still learning what it takes to be a full-time starter, he will learn and get there, but give it time.