Kansas State-South Dakota football preview
When/where: 6:10 p.m. Saturday at Bill Snyder Family Stadium in Manhattan, Kan.
TV/radio: No TV (webcast at K-StateHD.tv); WHB (810 AM)
The series: K-State leads 3-0
The line: N/A
KANSAS STATE (0-0, 0-0 Big 12)
Date | Opponent | Result/time |
Saturday | South Dakota | 6:10 p.m. |
Sept. 12 | at Texas-San Antonio | 11 a.m. |
Sept. 19 | Louisiana Tech | 2 p.m. |
Oct. 3 | at Oklahoma State | TBA |
Oct. 10 | TCU | TBA |
Oct. 17 | Oklahoma | TBA |
Oct. 24 | at Texas | TBA |
Nov. 5 | Baylor | 6:30 p.m. |
Nov. 14 | at Texas Tech | TBA |
Nov. 21 | Iowa State | TBA |
Nov. 28 | at Kansas | TBA |
Dec. 5 | West Virginia | TBA |
SOUTH DAKOTA (0-0)
Date | Opponent | Result/time |
Saturday | at Kansas State | 6:10 p.m. |
Sept. 12 | at UC Davis | 8 p.m. |
Sept. 19 | Drake | 2 p.m. |
Oct. 3 | Youngstown State | 2 p.m. |
Oct. 10 | at Western Illinois | 3 p.m. |
Oct. 17 | at North Dakota State | 2:30 p.m. |
Oct. 24 | Missouri State | 2 p.m. |
Oct. 31 | at Northern Iowa | 1 p.m. |
Nov. 7 | Southern Illinois | 1 p.m. |
Nov. 14 | South Dakota State | 1 p.m. |
Nov. 21 | at Illinois State | Noon |
What’s at stake
Victory is always the primary goal, but Bill Snyder has several side objectives in mind for this game. The fewer penalties the better. The more playing time coaches give to backups the better. The Big 12 will provide several difficult tests, so the Wildcats want a stress-free win while they can get one.
Cheers if …
A K-State running back tops 100 yards rushing. That didn’t happen a single time last season.
Jeers if …
Jesse Ertz turns the ball over. K-State’s new starting quarterback opened up the spring game by throwing an interception that was returned for a touchdown. He blamed nerves. That is something he needs to learn from.
Three things about South Dakota
1 South Dakota is coming off a 2-10 season, and was picked to finish last in the Missouri Valley Football Conference this season.
2 The Coyotes have an experienced roster. They return 18 starters from a year ago, eight on offense and 10 on defense.
3 Five players on South Dakota’s roster are from Kansas, including Wichita Heights product Jet Moreland, Derby product Tanner Anderson and Conway Springs alum Kayl Barkley.
Key matchup
K-State’s offensive line vs. South Dakota’s defensive line: The Wildcats struggled to run the ball last season, but they return four starters up front and Charles Jones, the team’s leading rusher a year ago. Many are expecting a much improved rushing game. K-State needs to show progress right away and dominate the line of scrimmage against a smaller opponent.
K-STATE OFFENSE
P | No. | Player | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. |
WR | 6 | Deante Burton | 6-2 | 205 | Jr. |
WR | 19 | Kody Cook | 6-1 | 200 | Sr. |
LT | 55 | Cody Whitehair | 6-4 | 305 | Sr. |
LG | 77 | Boston Stiverson | 6-4 | 316 | Sr. |
C | 71 | Dalton Risner | 6-5 | 300 | Fr. |
RG | 68 | Luke Hayes | 6-6 | 295 | Sr. |
RT | 65 | Matt Kleinsorge | 6-5 | 310 | Sr. |
TE | 80 | Cody Small | 6-5 | 241 | So. |
WR | 4 | Dominique Heath | 5-9 | 175 | Fr. |
QB | 16 | Jesse Ertz | 6-3 | 205 | So. |
RB | 24 | Charles Jones | 5-10 | 206 | Jr. |
K | 16 | Matthew McCrane | 5-10 | 165 | So. |
K-STATE DEFENSE
P | No. | Player | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. |
DE | 75 | Jordan Willis | 6-5 | 250 | Jr. |
DT | 95 | Travis Britz | 6-4 | 293 | Sr. |
DT | 60 | Will Geary | 6-0 | 297 | So. |
DE | 45 | Marquel Bryant | 6-3 | 254 | Sr. |
LB | 9 | Elijah Lee | 6-3 | 218 | So. |
LB | 35 | Will Davis | 6-0 | 224 | Jr. |
LB | 52 | Charmeachealle Moore | 6-0 | 221 | Jr. |
CB | 33 | Morgan Burns | 5-11 | 201 | Sr. |
SS | 22 | Dante Barnett | 6-1 | 193 | Sr. |
FS | 4 | Kaleb Prewett | 6-1 | 204 | So. |
CB | 7 | Danzel McDaniel | 6-1 | 205 | Sr. |
P | 14 | Nick Walsh | 5-11 | 212 | So. |
SOUTH DAKOTA OFFENSE
P | No. | Player | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. |
WR | 1 | Riley Donovan | 6-1 | 185 | Jr. |
LT | 76 | Nick Jensen | 6-6 | 285 | Fr. |
LG | 62 | Niles Banks | 6-5 | 305 | Jr. |
C | 70 | Thomas McGuire | 6-4 | 280 | Sr. |
RG | 78 | Ed Kennedy | 6-4 | 285 | So. |
RT | 65 | Derek Chancellor | 6-5 | 305 | Sr. |
TE | 80 | Aaron Ramsey | 6-3 | 230 | So. |
WR | 11 | Eric Shufford | 5-11 | 195 | Sr. |
QB | 2 | Ryan Saeger | 6-4 | 220 | Jr. |
FB | 41 | Drew Potter | 6-3 | 250 | Jr. |
HB | 21 | Trevor Bouma | 5-11 | 210 | Jr. |
K | 16 | Miles Bergner | 6-0 | 225 | Jr. |
SOUTH DAKOTA DEFENSE
P | No. | Player | Ht. | Wt. | Yr. |
DE | 45 | Colin Mertlik | 6-2 | 230 | Jr. |
DT | 94 | Drew Iddings | 6-6 | 285 | Sr. |
DT | 56 | Nick Jacobs | 6-4 | 280 | Sr. |
DE | 17 | Andrew Van Ginkel | 6-4 | 230 | Fr. |
LB | 33 | Keyen lage | 6-3 | 235 | Sr. |
LB | 28 | John Wessel | 6-2 | 230 | Jr. |
LB | 4 | Ryan Hillier | 6-1 | 220 | Sr. |
CB | 26 | Chris Tyler | 6-2 | 200 | Sr. |
FS | 8 | Tyson Graham | 6-2 | 210 | Jr. |
SS | 24 | Jacob Warner | 6-0 | 200 | Jr. |
CB | 2 | Mike Lilly | 5-9 | 165 | Sr. |
P | 16 | Miles Bergner | 6-0 | 225 | Jr. |
Kellis Robinett’s pick: K-State 40-10
With a new quarterback, K-State may not be sharp right away on offense, but the Wildcats will find their rhythm and score touchdowns against a bad FCS opponent.
To reach Kellis Robinett, send email to krobinett@kcstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @KellisRobinett.
This story was originally published September 3, 2015 at 2:25 PM with the headline "Kansas State-South Dakota football preview."