Slate: Press Conference notes ahead the big game

Cross Country

The team second place finish over the weekend, but for his efforts leading the Wildcats with a 6th-place finish, freshman Jack Thomas was named Big 12 Runner of the Week, becoming just the fourth true freshman to win the conference’s weekly award, and just the 7th male cross country runner overall.

Football

There’s like, a big football game this weekend, or something. But, as Coach Klieman said in his weekly press conference, they’re still taking it one day at a time but know they face a tough challenge this weekend.

Ryan Black at The Mercury has a report on the injuries that Klieman discussed during the press conference, and the first-year head coach is “hopeful” his three injured defenders are all available this weekend. Over at the Wichita Eagle, Kellis Robinett has his “five noteworthy things” from the press conference. Also at the Eagle, Hayden Barber talks about the glimpse that K-State fans got of the future in the Wildcat backfield in Jacardia Wright and Joe Ervin, both true freshman getting action early in their careers. Via Yahoo Sports, AP reporter Dave Skretta writes that the Wildcats are riding the momentum of the fast start into this weekend’s contest.

The Wildcats still certainly have questions heading into this weekend, but Mississippi State has some of their own, as the Mississippi Clarion Ledger’s Tyler Horka outlines three questions the Bulldogs must answer against the Wildcats.

Be sure and check back here a little later today for the first part of a film breakdown of the Bulldogs from our own Drew Schnieder.

We do have one bit of sour news related to football, as Manhattan High senior and K-State commit Sam Shields is expected to be out “for the foreseeable future” after an injury sustained during the Indians win over Olathe Northwest last Friday night.

Soccer

The Wildcat Soccer team will kickoff the longest home stand in program history this weekend, as the Wildcats take on the Gonzaga Bulldogs at 7pm on Friday to start a five-match home slate. As is custom, the Wildcats will take Saturday off before taking on Tulsa on Sunday to complete the weekend.

Women’s Golf

K-State junior Reid Isaac knocked in three birdies over her final four holes on Tuesday to get back to even and retain her spot in the top 5 to finish the tournament. Isaac’s fourth career top-5 finish helped lead the Wildcats to a 7th-place overall finish Trinity Forest Invitational, finishing just two shots behind 6th-place Memphis in the final team standings.