K-State’s season in peril with quarterback lost

Wildcats inexperienced at position after Ertz’s serious knee injury.

Kansas State traditionally has been a top contender for Big 12 titles.

But the Wildcats’ hopes for any sort of quality season might have been dashed on their first offensive snap Saturday night. Quarterback Jesse Ertz rushed to the left on a keeper. Two blockers were in front of him. But when he was tackled, his knee bent awk- wardly. He tried to stay in the game but was helped offff by two trainers, then dispatched to the locker room via the cart. Ertz was visibly upset.

Coach Bill Snyder rarely

provides details on injuries. But his tone and word choice Monday suggested that Ertz’s injury was serious. He said Ertz would be out “for quite some time.”

“We will miss him,” Snyder said. “We feel badly about the loss, and he will be there. He has been a wonderful individual for us, very representative of our value system, of our team and really developing as a leader.

“I am quite confident he will stay invested in what we are doing and will be very helpful to all of his teammates. We will move on.”

Kansas State had few problems dispensing with FCS team South Dakota, winning 34-0. But moving on for the Wildcats means going with Joe Hubener, a former walk-on who never has started a game at quarterback in college or high school. He’ll start Saturday on the road against Texas-San Antonio.

After Ertz left the game, Hubener completed 9 of 18 passes for 147 yards and a touchdown. He rushed for 38 yards.

Snyder won’t change his offense with a switch in quarterbacks. The Wildcats still rely on play action. Hubener can get adjusted against UTSA, then at home against Louisiana Tech. The Wildcats will know if they can challenge for a title come Oct. 3 and 10, when they travel to Oklahoma State and then entertain TCU.

Mahomes gets Kingsbury’s support: Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury was coy last week, saying he wouldn’t make his quarterback choice known until one of them trotted out to the huddle in the season opener. He was more emphatic with his choice Monday. How can he ignore the play of Patrick Mahomes, who earned conference offensive player of the week honors?

“Mahomes will start,” Kingsbury confirmed.

Tech opened with Sam Houston State. The Red Raiders will get Texas-El Paso next. But then the schedule takes a nasty turn, with a contest at Arkansas, then at home against TCU.

Kingsbury said he was most pleased with Mahomes’ “poise in the pocket.” As a freshman, the dual-threat quarterback could give up on a pass play too early and try to scramble free. On Saturday, he threw for 425 yards, best in the nation. His 33 completions were a career high.

Russell’s percentages down, production up: Baylor quarterback Seth Russell looked spectacular and average, all in one game against SMU. He completed only half of his 30 attempts, but five were for touchdowns, a national best.

By game’s end, the Bears’ offense had rolled to 723 yards, the second-best performance in the country after Oregon’s 731. Baylor set a school record with 10.45 yards per play.

“I thought he did well,” Baylor coach Art Briles said. “He did about what we thought he’d do. His pass percentage was down a little bit, but production was up, and that’s all that matters.”