Post-Game Quotes vs Kansas State

POSTGAME QUOTES
Oklahoma State 20, K-State 18 | November 7, 2020

MIKE GUNDY, OKLAHOMA STATE HEAD COACH
On the spark running back L.D. Brown provided...
"He's been good all year. He practices hard, he's got a smile on his face. His attitude's good, he's unselfish, and I'm very proud of him. He stuck around a long time. He's backed up a lot of good running backs in our organization, and he's getting his shot this year. He didn't practice much all week. In fact, he practiced a little bit Thursday, and that's about it. Kudos to him for fighting through an injury and coming out and making some plays."

On running back Chuba Hubbard's health entering the game…
"Chuba didn't practice this week either. He worked a little at tailback and that was about it."

On the injuries on the offensive line…
"Teven (Jenkins) went down and we put the backup in and then he went down. I don't know who we put in after that. Teven came in eight or ten plays later. We're down to so many young guys I'm not even sure who's playing anymore on the offensive line."

On the defense's performance late in the game…
"Obviously it was big. We played okay offensively in the second half, but it wasn't anything to write home about, so our defense needed to make plays. Obviously, we got a strip and the ball went into Jason's (Taylor) hands and he was able to score. In the end, Tre (Sterling) made the play on the overthrow. They gave us a chance. The defense was able to step up and score a touchdown. Percentages will tell you when the defense scores a touchdown, you really have a good chance of winning the game. That's what happened today and that's why we won the football game."

On the importance of winning a close game after losing a close game against Texas…
"I told the team after the game that this was a really big game for them because we limped through practice this week on both sides of the ball. We didn't get quality work during the week in practice. The results usually aren't very good, but they found a way to win the game, and ultimately that's all that matters. It wasn't easy, it wasn't pretty, but they found a way to win the football game. I told them it's got to be them. The coaches can't do it. The players have got to make a decision to get it done and that's what they did."

TRE STERLING, REDSHIRT JUNIOR SAFETY
On how the team feels after the game…
"Feels good. We were down 12-0 and coming back to win it, that's big time."

On if he ever doubted the team's chances….
"Nope. I didn't practice much this week, but I came into the locker room and the defense was just saying 'They've done everything that they have. They've already done it to us. They've used everything that they have. There's nothing new that they're going to come out with.' That was proven. We held them to just one more touchdown in the second half. This is exciting. It's a good feeling. The offense turned it on in the second half. Like I said earlier this year, we're just getting started and it's only going up from here."

On his interception…
"We just had lined up in a basic two-high safety look with man-under. They had lined up trips to the field on my side, and all three of them ran a vertical. Then the quarterback threw it, I'm not sure why he threw it, but he threw it. I just had to go up and make the play when the balls up in the air like that, and I did. I should've gone down, but I think I was just too excited. I wanted to show Coach Dungy what I could do at receiver."

DILLON STONER, SENIOR WIDE RECEIVER
On the locker room mood after the game…
"I guess you could say we were pretty excited and happy with the outcome of that one."

On putting up points in the second half…
"The first half was very frustrating, we just couldn't get rolling, couldn't get points on the board. And then, coming out of half and being able to march down there and set up for a field goal and then get in the end zone was definitely a confidence booster. We've got a veteran group even though we had some guys down. We were able to rally around each other and ultimately come out on top."

On the defense holding K-State's offense in the 3rd quarter…
"With our defense, we're never out of it. They've kept us in pretty much every game we've played this year so far. We've got to do more as an offense to give them a break and put more points up. I can't say enough about the defense and the way they played. We know we played well but nowhere near where we want to be right now."

LD BROWN, SENIOR RUNNING BACK
On the story of today's game…
"Adversity and overcoming it. We got the W, that's all that matters. Number one thing."

On the offensive line…
"They played through injuries, it was just the next man up. They played their butts off and we couldn't have done it without them. Running behind them, they played tough today and I'm proud of those guys because we had to move some guys around as you all could see, but it worked out for us."

On how he's feeling after how he played…
"I'm happy. We got a W and we're going into a bye week, so my body can rest then. Coach Gundy knows and he's got a plan for us to rest, and we'll go from there."

CHRIS KLIEMAN, KANSAS STATE HEAD COACH
Opening statement...
"Obviously a disappointing loss. Our kids battled, they fought, they played their tail off for 60 minutes. Missed some opportunities and give Oklahoma State credit. They capitalized on some opportunities. But really proud of how our guys fought this entire week. Good week of practice, and we told them that they belong on the field. We had a really good first half, kept them off balance rushing the football. On defense, we were able to get off the field and not sit out there for 90 plays like they want you to. I think we were maybe out there for 55 or 60 plays which bodes well for us. In the end, we had our chances and we didn't quite finish the job. Make no mistake, I'm pleased because for us the mission is the mission. We're improving as a football team."

On if any missed opportunities stick out from today's game...
"Nothing that really sticks. There were a couple of things. We had a third and long on defense, they ran a jet sweep and we lost contain. They scored, so maybe hold them to three there. Then having a couple of opportunities in the first half to get touchdowns and we only get field goals. Little things here or there that are magnified when you have a 20-18 game."

On going for two in the first half...
"You're always trying to get to that 14 points rather than chasing it later on. Let's be honest, we had a great play called. We just didn't execute it. It was open and we just didn't execute it, or it is 14-0."

On if Will Howard's quarterback keeps were designed or his own decisions...
"A little bit of both. We were able to run some of our two-back runs today. I thought our offensive line played well, so we were able to keep them off balance by running inside with some of our power stuff. They were running so fast. When we were trying to get the edge on them, they were running guys out there so fast to try to level the ball back whether it was Seth, Deuce, Phillip, anybody running the ball, they were doing a really good job of running us down. The read on that we changed to keep read, and he was making some pretty good plays."

On if taking a 12-0 lead changed the way the game was coached...
"We wanted to go the same way. It was windy out here, and we just couldn't flip the field in that third quarter. Had a couple of three and outs that we were close, but we couldn't have because we weren't punting the ball into the wind very good and they had a number of short fields. In all honesty, at the end of the third it was 13-12 and I really felt pretty good because we were going to get the wind in the fourth quarter. It was a factor in the kicking game for sure, and it was a factor in the throwing game. You hate to give up a lead like we did in the third quarter, but I felt comfortable because our guys were still confident in the system and confident in what we were doing."

On not having Briley Moore today...
"It was kind of everybody on deck today. Briley is such an impact to our offense. To not have him obviously hurt us. We played Jax (Dineen) a lot more, played a couple of tight ends a little bit more. We were down some wideouts again, so everybody needed to step up. I thought our guys competed exceptionally well today."

JUSTIN HUGHES, SENIOR LINEBACKER
On the feeling after the scoop and score…
"I wouldn't say deflating, they made a play. We can go out there and make opportunities for our offense like they did for their offense, and unfortunately scoring points. I see it as an opportunity for our defense to go out there and prove who we are. Are we going to fold and say the game is over because they scored or are we going to go out there and get a stop and get our offense an opportunity to get back in this game. I feel very confident in our defense and the way we played. We got an opportunity to go out there and get a stop and gave our offense the ball to go try and tie the game up, unfortunately they didn't get it. That's what we play for, the opportunities."

On coming into the game with something to prove…
"Absolutely we did. I felt like last week everybody was a little lax with the streak we had going, and we didn't come out and give it our best ball from top to bottom. Guys knew that we didn't give our best or play our best and guys missed some mental things and so we challenged each other this week knowing that we have to practice on Sunday after the game and have a day off in the middle of the week. It was a lot of adversity our entire week, but we held true to what we believe in and that's working hard, and it showed out there today. We proved we can play with anybody in the country and I stand on that with everything in me. We have some of the best special team guys in the country. We have a great offense. We have a great defense. Our defensive line is amazing. Any given Saturday we can come out with our best and put up points and stop anybody in this country."

On Oklahoma State's third quarter…
"They forced the issue. They came out in a formation over and over and showed some different looks in the formation. Once you're doing that, they were coming out just to see if we would mess up. We made a couple mistakes because we got laxed and they capitalized on it. We just have to continue to be disciplined, continue to make tackles, and continue to take great angles to the ball and rally to the ball. We showed we can stop anybody because that's a prolific offense that we just went up against, and they only scored 13 points offensively, and we did a great job of holding them down. Like I said, that just shows we can stop anybody in this country and I feel good about the direction the team and this defense is headed."

NOAH JOHNSON, SENIOR CENTER
On what was most frustrating today…
"It's frustrating to lose when I didn't have any doubt that everyone on our team was battling with everything they got the whole game. It's frustrating when stuff like that happens. Some untimely mistakes by everyone. Falling off a block and allowing our quarterback to get hit from behind, that's on me. The most frustrating thing is how hard we fought and came up short, but at the same time when you know you gave everything you got and were prepared and focused the whole game, a loss is going to sting. But we are going to flip the page and attack this next week and we are moving on."

On the red zone trips…
"We just have to finish. As a whole offense, we have to finish. We can't get complacent and think we are driving and in the red zone and automatically score. We have to finish, we have to stay on blocks and get displacement, make plays and score. I have all the confidence in the world we are going to work on it and start doing it."

On Will Howard…
"He's a heck of a competitor, so he's going to take a loss like that hard. Everyone on the team took that loss hard. The dude played his butt off today. He battled and put us on his back as a true freshman making plays all over the field. You can look at whatever you want and people can say whatever they want but he battled. I'll go to battle with him any day of the week. He's going to be stung by the loss, he's frustrated, but we are going to show up tomorrow and get to work and get better."

WYATT HUBERT, JUNIOR DEFENSIVE END
On the first half…
"This game is divided into three phases, special teams, offense and defense. But within the defense itself, the defensive line takes so much pride in being disruptive and making plays and being the most disruptive unit on the field. We practice like that. We practice hard, so hard actually, and we just transition it to the game."

On bouncing back from back to back losses…
"That's who we are. We are K-State. A little bit of adversity has never affected us in a negative way. No one points fingers, no one gets down on themselves, and we just go to work harder next week."

On Oklahoma State scoring on defense…
"Things happen, but as a defensive player, you can't control what the offense does or what the special teams does. We just have to go out there and do our job and whatever adversity is in front of us, just get off the field."

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