Kansas State defense can validate early success with strong showing against Louisiana Tech

No college football team is playing better defense than Kansas State.

That’s what the numbers suggest, anyway.

K-State allowed a national-best three points in their first two games, matching Boston College and Illinois. It is one of four teams that hasn’t surrendered a touchdown. It is one of 10 teams allowing fewer than 50 rushing yards. And it is one of 16 teams allowing fewer than 250 total yards. Outside of a 51-yard field goal, the Wildcats have been perfect.

Can it last?

Up next is a more challenging game against Louisiana Tech, which averages 583.5 yards and 50 points. Then Big 12 play begins. Will a hot start lead to sustained success? That seems to be the question of the week.

[ VIDEO: Kansas State linebacker Elijah Lee respects Louisiana Tech’s offense ]

“There is still a lot out there, I would say,” K-State coach Bill Snyder said. “Also, it gets tougher, tougher and tougher now. Here is a team that has over 1,100 yards of total offense in two games, and they can throw it in. We are getting into more complex times right now. I think before we pass judgment, we want to see how we play.”

It is understandable for Snyder, or anyone really, to hold off on anointing K-State’s defense. Sure, its numbers are gaudy, but they came against teams everyone expected the Wildcats to dominate. South Dakota is a bad FCS team. Texas-San Antonio is better, and the Roadrunners have a potent offense, as evidenced by the 525 yards and 32 points it amassed against No. 22 Arizona, but they were plagued by penalties against K-State.

The level of difficulty was low.

“A lot of people still have questions about our defense,” K-State sophomore linebacker Elijah Lee said. “That gives us something to prove.”

Louisiana Tech should pose a stiffer challenge, and maybe provide some answers.

Quarterback Jeff Driskel, a Florida transfer, averages 315.5 yards and three touchdowns. Kenneth Dixon, a candidate for the Doak Walker and Maxwell awards, averages 8.8 yards per carry. Receivers Trent Taylor and Paul Turner both average close to 90 yards and a touchdown. The Bulldogs are not pushovers.

“They are definitely the best offense we have seen this year,” junior linebacker Will Davis said. “They have talent all around the ball. They have a quarterback from Florida who can do special things with his arm and can run, too. Their running back is a special player and he can do a lot of things. He has had a lot of touchdowns in his career and it will be tough for us.”

Things will continue to get more challenging when K-State begins Big 12 play. First up for the Wildcats is Oklahoma State, followed by TCU and Oklahoma. Texas and its struggling offense could offer a reprieve, but Baylor and Texas Tech are the nation’s most explosive teams.

Dominating a soft nonconference schedule may not lead to the same results in the Big 12, especially with top safety Dante Barnett sidelined indefinitely due to an injury.

Still, Louisiana Tech offers a good preview. A strong outing Saturday could validate K-State’s defense.

Dixon, in particular, should be a challenge to tackle. K-State has been strong against the run, allowing an average of 49 rushing yards, but Dixon, a senior running back, has rushed for 3,684 career yards, and he’s trying to become the 18th player in college history to top 5,000 yards.

“He is one heck of a running back,” defensive tackle Travis Britz said. “We are really going to have to improve our tackling and our run defense if we are going to have a chance against him. Their offensive line is filled with a lot of big guys. They are probably the biggest offensive line that we have seen so far. So it is going to be a challenge for us, but it is a good challenge and we like challenges.”

This story was originally published September 17, 2015 at 1:40 PM with the headline "Kansas State defense can validate early success with strong showing against Louisiana Tech."