MONDAY, OCTOBER 10,2005
KSU 12 KU 3
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN 5
FOOTBALL
Rylan Howe/KANSAN
Senior linebacker Nick Reid pursues Kansas State freshman quarterback Allan Evridge during the second half Saturday afternoon in Manhattan. Reid had six tackles during the loss against the Wildcats. The Jayhawks fell to 3-2 overall and 0-2 in the Big 12 Conference.
'Hawks defense tames'Cats rushing
BY DANIEL BERK
dbrek@kansan.com
KANSAN SENIOR SPORTSWRIETER
Coming into Saturday's Sunflower Showdown, the Kansas defense heard all about the effectiveness of the Kansas State offense.
But the defense was up for the challenge.
The Kansas defense totalled six three-and-outs that forced Kansas State to punt. The Wildcats came into the game averaging more than 400 yards of total offense. Kansas State gained 182 yards of total offense against Kansas and mustered just 35 rushing yards on 45 attempts.
The Kansas defense delivered many bone-rattling hits at or behind the line of scrimmage. Kansas State's first drive was a template for how most drives would go for its offense.
On the first offensive play of the game, Kansas State running back Thomas Clayton was met at the line of scrimmage by senior linebacker Banks Floodman for no gain. The next play saw Kansas State's starting quarterback, Allen Webb, getting sacked for a five-yard loss. After not converting a first down on the next play, Kansas State was forced to nunt
"Much credit to the KU defense," Clayton said. "They played an awesome game. We came out victorious and I'm really excited about that, but they did a good job defensively."
Clayton entered Saturday's game with more than 300 yards of rushing in just three games, but managed only 29 yards on 16 carries.
Kansas State football coach Bill Snyder echoed Clayton's comments after the game and said fans saw two fine defensive football teams.
"It was a penalty-ridden ball"
game for both sides that created some field position problems," Snyder said. "Outside of that, nobody thought we played very well offensively. As I said, a lot of that is to the credit of the University of Kansas."
The crew of Kansas linebackers led the defense all game and gave the offense opportunity after opportunity to put points on the board. Senior linebacker Kevin Kane led the team in tackling and compiled 14 total tackles. He combined with the other two linebackers, Floodman and senior linebacker Nick Reid, to put together eight-and-a-half tackles for losses. This amounted to 26 yards lost on those plays. Floodman also had double-digit tackles with 11.
Reid only had six tackles, but had an interception in the first quarter and returned it 28 yards. Reid set Kansas up with good field position at the Kansas State 39 yard line, but the KU offense could not convert on the drive and had to punt.
Kansas had offensive possessions that started at Kansas State's 39 yard line, Kansas State's 16 yard line and a couple at midfield. The Jayhawks were unable to score on any of those possessions.
Kane said after the game that no one would point fingers and the defense would continue to pick up the offense.
"It's a two-way game," Kane said. "You do your part and you hope the offense does theirs. If they are not doing their part, you have to make plays for them. We are stressing trying to score on defense and we just didn't get it done. The offense will pick it up. They are a little down right now, but they will swing it back."
— Edited by Nate Karlin
scoring position at the Wildcats 18-vard line.
Mangino
CONTINUED FROM 1B
Of course, Mangino immediately benched Herford, even though he had finally given Kansas some offensive momentum.
In came Barmann, who fumbled the ball away and all but eliminated the chance of a Jayhawk victory. Mangino should have let Herford finish the drive, if not the game. At the very least, he should have put Luke in instead of Barmann.
Another critical mistake was Mangino's choice to try to convert a fourth and 11 on Kansas' first offensive series.
To make matters worse, Barmann gave Kansas only the smallest chance of converting the first down when he threw the ball to a covered receiver well short of the first down line. Mangino should have taken his chances with Webb.
After two Kansas State penalties, Kansas was on Kansas State's 29-yard line. Kansas could have attempted a 46-yard field goal, which, though long, is inside sophomore kicker Scott Webb's range.
Three points would have helped tremendously. Besides early momentum, Kansas' last drive would have implications
In retrospect, many of those losses could have been attributed to Mangino instead of the kicker who missed a late field goal, a defensive collapse in the fourth quarter or a referee who made a questionable call.
Optimistic fans thought last season was indicative of an improving team. Saturday was a sign of a stagnant program.
Saturday's close loss was nothing new. Last year, six of Kansas' seven losses were by an average of 4.9 points.
Those games proved Kansas had the talent to compete with almost any team in the Big 12.
for a victory instead of just covering the point spread.
Sure, Mangino has taken the first step toward building a winning program. He recruited what could be the best defense in the Big 12 and built Kansas from being the laughing stock of the Big 12 into a program with some respectability. Kansas fans should appreciate him for that.
BIG 12 FOOTBALL
But if he doesn't start winning close games, this offseason Kansas needs to take the next step and hire a better in-game coach with the ability to deliver a winning season.
Bears jump five spots after beating Cyclones on the road
Baylor, Texas break streaks
Robinett is an Austin, Texas,
junior in journalism.
Editor's Note: The Kansan Big 12 Power Rankings are voted on by Ryan Colaianni and Daniel Berk, Kansas football writers, as well as Kellis Robinett, sports editor, and Eric Sorrentino, associate sports editor.
Two big streaks were snapped Saturday in the Big 12 Conference. Texas broke its winning streak the same weekend that Baylor broke a losing streak
The Bears won on the road for the first time in the conference's 10-year existence.
Baylor's victory against Iowa State made the Bears the biggest winner in the power rankings this week, jumping five spots from last week.
Voters ranked them as high as fourth and as low as eighth.
Texas ended a significant streak as well. The Longhorns beat the Oklahoma Sooners in Dallas for the first time since 1999. The Longhorns were dominant in the 45-12 victory
The biggest loser of the week was Iowa State.
at the Cotton Bowl. They were a unanimous No. 1 selection for the fifth straight week.
The biggest loser of the week was Iowa State.
After a huge victory at Iowa that got the Cyclones ranked, they have dropped two conference games to Nebraska and Baylor.
Iowa State was ranked as high as No. 9 and as low as 11
The Cyclones were ranked sixth last week.
Kansas dropped from eighth to 11th after its loss to K-State.
1. Texas
Oklahoma State remained in the bottom spot for the second consecutive week after dropping a home game to Missouri. The Cowboys go on the road to face the Texas A&M Aggies next week.
2. Texas Tech
4. Nebraska
7. Oklahoma
8. Missouri
6. Texas A & M
3. Colorado
9. Kansas State
10. Iowa State
11. Kansas
12. Oklahoma State
Rylan Howe/KANSAN
Coach Mark Mangino walks off the field after the loss against Kansas State Saturday in Manhattan. Kansas lost 12-3 and fell to 3-2 and 0-2 in the Big 12.
Rvian Howe/KANSAN
Junior quarterback Adam Barmann tries to avoid Kansas State junior defensive tackle Quinton Echols during the first half Saturday. Barmann started the game against the Wildcats, but was replaced after three series.