Here are the player takeaways following the Red Raiders' 33-30 win over #25 Houston this evening - featuring Kosi Eldridge, Tyree Wilson, Nehemiah Martinez, and Donovan Smith.
Kosi - "I thought we played really well. We fought through some things…but overall we I think we played pretty well, but we obviously can get better.”
Tyree – “Like Kosi said, I think we played pretty well. I think we have got a lot of things to clean up, but you know we wanted to finish the game off and that’s what we were looking for the whole game.”
On Donovan Smith’s touchdown run to win the game, and the emotions on the sideline that went with it…
Kosi – “Right before that play started, I literally said ‘In Donny I trust.’” I knew Donny was going to take me home, and I was telling him all game, ‘Donny take me home’, so it was good to see…”
Tyree expressed similar confidence in Smith to take the Red Raiders to the finish line…”as a defense we expected it because you know, last year he won the Iowa State game for us and he shines in big games. This was a big game against a ranked opponent and he’s a great quarterback.”
Kosi expressed extreme sureness in the defensive outlook moving forward.
“I think we have potentially not only the best defense in the league, but the best defense in the country. We’ve played a lot together, a lot of us are coming back and a lot of us are old, so we have a lot of confidence in us.”
Tyree – “Like I said at the beginning of the season, I expect our defense to be the best defense in the league, and we’re going to keep doing it each week to be the best defense in the Big 12.”
“When the offense makes a bad play, we got their back. We’re going to hold up and hold (Houston) to a field goal.”
On the Red Raiders’ 2-0 start…
Tyree – “Coming into the season, we expected to be 2-0. We expected to win every out of conference game, so it doesn’t mean anything, we’re just going to keep building off of it and slingshot into the Big 12 Conference games.”
Kosi – “Like you said, everything is going according to plan, nothing is changing…”
After Wilson and Eldridge shared their final thoughts, Donovan Smith and Nehemiah Martinez took center stage.
Martinez on his touchdown catch from Smith, “It was kind of a big deal because my grandpa passed away earlier this year. Two days ago, the 8th, was his birthday, so I really wanted to get one for him.”
Smith – “From my standpoint, just going through my reads, get my first read and he got up and made a great catch for me. That’s what he does and he’s not easy to tackle, he did what he did and scored a touchdown.”
Smith on his game winning touchdown in 2OT…” Coach Kittley always says ‘hey, always use your legs.’ I was going through my reads and saw everyone dropping back. I saw a hole open up so I just saw it, took it and ran for it.”
Oh the 4th and 20 completion in the first overtime to keep the Red Raiders in the game, Smith credited his offensive line and Jerand Bradley for keeping the play alive and allowing him to scramble and throw for a first down.
Smith and Martinez both consoled Bradley after his crucial drop in the endzone and encouraged him to keep his head up and look forward to the next play.
Smith – “I was just like ‘hey man, you’re good. You’ve got nothing to worry about…we’ve got you, we’re going to get the ball back so there’s nothing to worry about.”
Martinez echoed Smith. “I just said, ‘You’re going to get another chance to make a play. Whenever you make that play, most people are going to forget about that drop you had.”
Smith explained that Kittley and McGuire give him the freedom to do what he wants in regard to a couple of checked plays in which Smith ran with the ball. “It goes both ways communicating. If coach Kittley saw something he let me know, and If I saw something I let him know. I check it and Coach Kittley goes with it.”
Oh what he can improve going into NC State, Smith said he’s going to watch film with Kittley first and then go from there.
Smith credits his faith in God for allowing him to bounce back from tough plays and not get too down on himself. “For me, I’m a real spiritual guy and come from a spiritual family. The biggest thing I’ve been practicing on is to ‘let go and let God’…I just take a second to take a deep breath and say ‘God I’m giving this to you. That wasn’t the best play I had, but I have to be there for the team, so just give me strength and the will to keep working and fight for this team.”
Kosi - "I thought we played really well. We fought through some things…but overall we I think we played pretty well, but we obviously can get better.”
Tyree – “Like Kosi said, I think we played pretty well. I think we have got a lot of things to clean up, but you know we wanted to finish the game off and that’s what we were looking for the whole game.”
On Donovan Smith’s touchdown run to win the game, and the emotions on the sideline that went with it…
Kosi – “Right before that play started, I literally said ‘In Donny I trust.’” I knew Donny was going to take me home, and I was telling him all game, ‘Donny take me home’, so it was good to see…”
Tyree expressed similar confidence in Smith to take the Red Raiders to the finish line…”as a defense we expected it because you know, last year he won the Iowa State game for us and he shines in big games. This was a big game against a ranked opponent and he’s a great quarterback.”
Kosi expressed extreme sureness in the defensive outlook moving forward.
“I think we have potentially not only the best defense in the league, but the best defense in the country. We’ve played a lot together, a lot of us are coming back and a lot of us are old, so we have a lot of confidence in us.”
Tyree – “Like I said at the beginning of the season, I expect our defense to be the best defense in the league, and we’re going to keep doing it each week to be the best defense in the Big 12.”
“When the offense makes a bad play, we got their back. We’re going to hold up and hold (Houston) to a field goal.”
On the Red Raiders’ 2-0 start…
Tyree – “Coming into the season, we expected to be 2-0. We expected to win every out of conference game, so it doesn’t mean anything, we’re just going to keep building off of it and slingshot into the Big 12 Conference games.”
Kosi – “Like you said, everything is going according to plan, nothing is changing…”
After Wilson and Eldridge shared their final thoughts, Donovan Smith and Nehemiah Martinez took center stage.
Martinez on his touchdown catch from Smith, “It was kind of a big deal because my grandpa passed away earlier this year. Two days ago, the 8th, was his birthday, so I really wanted to get one for him.”
Smith – “From my standpoint, just going through my reads, get my first read and he got up and made a great catch for me. That’s what he does and he’s not easy to tackle, he did what he did and scored a touchdown.”
Smith on his game winning touchdown in 2OT…” Coach Kittley always says ‘hey, always use your legs.’ I was going through my reads and saw everyone dropping back. I saw a hole open up so I just saw it, took it and ran for it.”
Oh the 4th and 20 completion in the first overtime to keep the Red Raiders in the game, Smith credited his offensive line and Jerand Bradley for keeping the play alive and allowing him to scramble and throw for a first down.
Smith and Martinez both consoled Bradley after his crucial drop in the endzone and encouraged him to keep his head up and look forward to the next play.
Smith – “I was just like ‘hey man, you’re good. You’ve got nothing to worry about…we’ve got you, we’re going to get the ball back so there’s nothing to worry about.”
Martinez echoed Smith. “I just said, ‘You’re going to get another chance to make a play. Whenever you make that play, most people are going to forget about that drop you had.”
Smith explained that Kittley and McGuire give him the freedom to do what he wants in regard to a couple of checked plays in which Smith ran with the ball. “It goes both ways communicating. If coach Kittley saw something he let me know, and If I saw something I let him know. I check it and Coach Kittley goes with it.”
Oh what he can improve going into NC State, Smith said he’s going to watch film with Kittley first and then go from there.
Smith credits his faith in God for allowing him to bounce back from tough plays and not get too down on himself. “For me, I’m a real spiritual guy and come from a spiritual family. The biggest thing I’ve been practicing on is to ‘let go and let God’…I just take a second to take a deep breath and say ‘God I’m giving this to you. That wasn’t the best play I had, but I have to be there for the team, so just give me strength and the will to keep working and fight for this team.”
