Thanks to sixth-year quarterback Grant Gregory (and a PAT block by Emmanuel Lamur), the Kansas State Wildcats control the Big 12 North.
It’s true. The Wildcats own sole possession of first place. Their thrilling 24-23 Farmageddon victory over Iowa State at Arrowhead Stadium gave them a leg up on idle North heavyweights Kansas, Nebraska and Missouri.
For a day, at least, Grant Gregory is the story. The South Florida transfer was the surprise starter, replacing Carson Coffman, who started the Wildcats’ first four games and took most of the snaps.
On Saturday, Coffman never took the field. Based on what we saw from Gregory, Coffman might be relegated to spot duty the rest of the year. Gregory is a Bill Snyder-style quarterback. Gregory can improvise with his legs, compensating for the shortcomings along the K-State offensive line.
Late in the fourth quarter, with the score tied 17-17, Gregory escaped the Cyclones’ pass rush and unspooled a rainbow to tiny Brandon Banks. It turned out to be the biggest play of the game. Banks grabbed the ball at the 25, kept his balance and raced into the end zone. It was a 54-yard catch and run.
It was just the kind of athletic play Bill Snyder envisioned when he made the decision to insert Gregory into the lineup.
“That’s the thing about Grant, he stayed on his feet,” Snyder said.
Yep. Coffman would’ve fallen to the turf. Coffman has more size and a bigger arm. But he can’t avoid the rush. And the Wildcats don’t have a bunch of future NFLers protecting their quarterback.
The recipe for K-State victories this season will be: 1. win special teams; 2. manufacture points on offense; 3. and get lucky.
Last week Banks returned two kickoffs for points. This week the 6-foot-4 Lamur leaped to block Iowa State’s would-be game-tying PAT in the final seconds. And Gregory sidestepped two rushers, scurried toward the sideline and loosed a bomb to Banks.
For the game, Gregory completed 16 of 23 passes for 206 yards and two TDs. Yeah, he threw a pick and sometimes his decision-making irked Snyder, but Gregory made just enough plays to win a conference game.
“Up and down,” is how Snyder described Gregory’s play. “He made some things happen, and he got us hurt a few times, too.”
Gregory added: “I’m not the prettiest quarterback. Don’t have an NFL arm. But I have passion for the game.”
You don’t play six years without passion. You don’t ride the bench and suffer through injuries at South Florida and transfer to Manhattan, Kan., unless you really love the game. Gregory just might be perfect for this transition season. He’s a playmaker the Wildcats can emotionally rally around.
“It’s a little bit of validation after six years of hard work,” Gregory said of Saturday’s victory. “I finally helped a team to win.”
Can he do it again?
Yes. The Wildcats should gain a little confidence from Saturday’s game. They have a good running back in Daniel Thomas, a big-play receiver and return man in Banks and a matchup problem at receiver in Lamark Brown.
With Gregory’s ability to move in the pocket, K-State will score points against Texas Tech, Texas A&M and Colorado — the Wildcats’ next three opponents.
“I scramble to pass, not to run,” Gregory explained.
The problems is going to be on the defensive side of the ball. Iowa State rushed for 207 yards. When it comes to throwing the ball, Iowa State’s quarterback, Austen Arnaud, is a smaller JaMarcus Russell. You have no idea where the ball is going when it leaves Arnaud’s hand.
Playing at Texas Tech next week is going to be rough. The Red Raiders know how to sling the football. The Wildcats never sacked Arnaud.
The best hope will be for the Wildcats to control the ball with Thomas running and Gregory moving the chains with critical third-down conversions. No Wildcat victory from here on will be pretty. But I can see the Cats getting to six victories this season, and that would qualify as a huge success in Bill Snyder’s first season back.
To reach Jason Whitlock, call 816-234-4869 or send e-mail to jwhitlock@kcstar.com. For previous columns, go to KansasCity.com
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