K State’s Adrian Martinez leaves mark on Sooners
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Juan Lozano, Sports business columnist
- September 26, 2022
Kansas State's Adrian Martinez earns Our Esquina Player of the Week honors
Adrian Martinez made it look easy while toying with mighty Oklahoma. The Kansas State quarterback from Fresno put on one of the greatest displays of the college football season Saturday evening. Folks from at least three states will talk about his performance for decades.
In Nebraska, Cornhusker fans surely wondered what could have been as their former quarterback destroyed Oklahoma. In the Sooner state they’ll wonder why coach Brent Venables’ vaunted defense couldn’t stop Martinez.
And in Kansas, Martinez will be celebrated for leading the Kansas State Wildcats to an amazing upset. On a college football weekend full of impressive performances by Latinos, Adrian Martinez is Our Esquina’s Player of the Week.
Adrian Martinez runs around Sooners
Martinez’s performance was so electrifying he overshadowed other impressive feats from Latino college football players.
The Wildcats’ quarterback gashed then-No. 6 Oklahoma for five touchdowns and 382 total yards of offense. Martinez rushed for 148 yards and four touchdowns in a 41-34 upset road victory.
The Nebraska transfer also threw for 234 yards and one touchdown on 21-for-34 passing. The Wildcats pulled off the surprising victory a week after they were dropped by Tulane.
Mariano Sori-Marino, Defensive Player of the Week honors
Minnesota linebacker Mariano Sori-Marin cooked up something special to help the Gophers destroy Michigan State 34-7.
Sori-Marin had nine tackles, including two for loss, to earn Our Esquina’s Defensive Player of the Week honor. Latinos in college football got off to a good start on Friday. UTEP’s all-purpose weapon Reynaldo Flores, Our Esquina’s first Player of the Week this season, scored for the first time in his college career.
Flores’ touchdown capped off a 14-play, 80-yard drive that took up 9:10 off the clock in the fourth quarter. That score helped the Miners pull off a 27-10 upset win over Andy Avalos’ Boise State Broncos.
Flores, a running back-wide receiver, finished with 9 carries for 41 yards. He also grabbed two passes for 17 yards.
Oregon defensive back Christian Gonzalez made five tackles as the Ducks came from behind to defeat Washington State 44-41. Washington State edge rusher Ron Stone, Jr. had two tackles and a pass defended in the loss.
University of Texas punter Daniel Trejo averaged 43.7 yards per punt on three punts. Two of the punts landed inside Texas Tech’s 20-yard line in the 37-34 loss.
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Colorado wide receiver Daniel Arias hauled in four catches for 82 yards in a 45-17 loss to the UCLA Bruins. Oregon State freshman running back Damien Martinez rushed five times for 14 yards in the Beavers 17-14 loss to the visiting USC Trojans.
Jose Ramirez dazzles again in loss
Eastern Michigan defensive end/edge rusher Jose Ramirez had nine tackles and a quarterback hurry in the Eagles’ 51-30 loss to the Buffalo Bulls.
Eastern Michigan kicker Jesus Gomez, last week’s Our Esquina Player of the Week, knocked in a 35-yard field goal. He was also perfect on all four PAT attempts.
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Arizona State and guard Chris Martinez began a tumultuous week with a change at head coach. It ended with a 34-13 loss to the University of Utah. The Sun Devils struggled offensively, gaining only 6 yards on 20 carries.
Iowa safety Sebastian Castro made four tackles, and a pass defended in the Hawkeyes’ 27-10 win over Rutgers.
Tough weekend for Miami
Miami quarterback Jake Garcia replaced starter Tyler Van Dyke in the Hurricanes’ surprising 45-31 loss to the Middle Tennessee State. Garcia completed 10 passes and threw for 169 yards.
Miami tight end Elijah Arroyo added two catches for 21 yards. Kicker Andres Borregales nailed his only field goal attempt, a 39 yarder, for the Hurricanes. He was also perfect on four PAT attempts.
San Diego State’s Jesse Matthews had 3 receptions for 11 yards as the Aztecs squeaked by the visiting Toledo Rockets, 17-14. Tulsa wide receiver JuanCarlos Santana hauled in four passes for 55 yards in the Golden Hurricanes’ 35-27 loss to Ole Miss.
North Carolina tight end Kamari Morales grabbed two passes for seven yards in a 45-32 loss to Notre Dame. Sophomore Notre Dame nose guard Gabriel Rubio was in on four plays in the victory over North Carolina.
Juan Lozano
Sports business columnist
Juan Lozano, a native of San Diego, is an attorney who represents coaches and sports executives. He has been in the business of sport in various capacities for more than 20 years. He possesses first-hand knowledge of the collegiate athletic landscape after working for various FBS and FCS college football programs.
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