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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER 5, 2007
FOOTBALL IN REVIEW
5C
KANSAS 55, FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL 3
Talib's big return highlights blowout
BY ASHER FUSCO afusco@kansan.com
Junior defensive lineman Russell Brorsen puts pressure on Florida International quarterback Wayne Younger. The Jayhawks defense kept the Golden Panthers out of the end zone.
Patience paid off for the few thousand fans who stuck around for the duration of Kansas' 55-3 victory over Florida International.
Trailing by 38 points early in the fourth quarter, Florida International quarterback Wayne Younger heaved a
pass toward the end zone and into the waiting arms of Kansas cornerback Aqib Talib. Talib gathered the ball several yards deep in the end zone and sprinted forward without hesitation.
The Kansas defenders turned
"That was one of the best plays I've seen from a defensive performer in my career."
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
into blockers and formed a wall as Talib raced down the left sideline. By the time he crossed midfield, he was heading diagonally toward the end zone with just a few offensive linemen to beat. Sophomore safeties Justin Thornton and Darrell Stuckey teamed up to bring down the last Golden Panther standing in the way as Talib sprinted into the corner of the end zone.
"That was one of the best plays I've seen from a defensive performer in my career," Kansas coach Mangino said. "I've had the good fortune to be
around a lot of quality defensive players - All-Americans, first-round draft picks - and that was one of the most impressive plays that I've seen. The people in the stadium tonight to see a real treat."
MARK MANGINO Kansas football coach
Though the
Though the game was well under control at the time of Talib's interception, the sensational play added fitting punctuation to a completely dominating performance from Kansas. The Jayhawks outgained the Golden Panthers 615 yards to 255 despite running only three more plays and holding the ball for five fewer minutes than their opponents. The Jayhawk victory moved Kansas to 4-0 on the season and dropped Florida International to 0-4.
Though the final score accurately depicted the imbalance on the field, matters could have been much worse for the Golden Panthers. Kansas senior running back Brandon McAnderson fumbled twice in the first half and sophomore quarterback Todd Reesing misfired on a fourth-and-seven deep in Florida International territory early in the second quarter.
McAnderson finished the game with 105 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries. Reesing bounced back from some early-game incompletions and an interception in the third quarter by finding receivers all over the field and scrambling for positive yardage when the pocket collapsed. Reesing, in just his four game as a starting quarterback, completed
The Jayhawks only led 10-3 at the end of the first quarter, but picked up the pace of the offense in short order. Kansas scored 10 points on drives of 66 and 56 yards in the second quarter, relying on the arm of Reesing and the legs of McAnderson to move the ball down the field.
"We're winning the ones we are supposed to and there was a time when that didn't happen. Overall, progress was made."
"I felt like I needed to make up for some of the mistakes that I made," McAnderson said. "The best part about it was having my teammates' and coaches' support. They made my mistakes seem like our mistakes and I got back on track."
"He's doing a lot of positive things," Mangino said. "He seems to improve every week. When he sees an area that needs some work
23 of 37 passes for 368 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for 47 yards and a touchdown.
MARK MANGINO Kansas football coach
he seems to get it rectified."
Reeing and the rest of the Kansas offense did not have to piece together many long drives because the defense stopped Florida International dead in its tracks on the majority of its possessions. The Jayhawk defense forced eight punts, five turnovers and one turnover on downs, giving the offense outstanding field position – the Jayhawks' average starting point was their own 37-yard line. The only time the Golden Panthers turned a possession into points was late in the first quarter when a 54-yard drive
resulted in a field goal by kicker Chris Abed.
"They played hard and we didn't execute," Florida International running, back Amod Ned said. "I don't get into rating teams, but I know they are a great team. They handed it to us in
every phase of the game."
The slow start of the lajayh offense was also taken out of focus by some spectacular work by the special teams unit. After losing seven yards on their first possession, the Golden Panthers lined up to punt the ball away from their own 8-yard line.
Junior wide receiver Raymond Brown broke through the line of
blockers and swatted the ball as it left the foot of punter Chris Cook. Freshman linebacker Dakota Lewis fell on the ball before it could sneak out of the end zone, giving Kansas a quick seven point advantage just two minutes into the game.
"It took all of the pressure off of the offense," McAnderson said. "We won the field position battle, came away with three-and-outs and scored on turnovers. The defense and special teams are actually part of our offense."
But the Jayhawk offense might not have needed the help on Saturday night. Eleven Jayhawks caught passes, four scored offensive touchdowns and three ran for over 40 yards.
Sophomore Kerry Meier was the most versatile Jayhawk of all. He lined up at wide-out, in the backfield and
as a slot receiver in the first half and returned to quarterback in the fourth quarter. Meier's final stat line was bizarre: 15 receiving yards, six rushing yards and 23 passing yards. But his appearance in the multi-dimensional role was about more than padding the stat book.
"Kerry is too good of an athlete to spend all of his time on the sideline," Mangino said. "He will continue to play and contribute to our program in a number of different ways."
The cushion afforded by the mismatch allowed the coaching staff to throw a number of new wrinkles into the offense. Senior tight end Derek Fine became the teams go-to receiver, catching seven passes, and sophomore running back Jake Sharp enjoyed an expanded role in the passing game, making three receptions.
For the fourth consecutive game, Kansas did not go head-to-head with a powerhouse program. Instead, the Jayhawks cut their teeth on lower-
level competition and emerged victorious with a generous number of points to spare.
"There are a lot of teams that were tested with games that they were supposed to win and ended up with a lower score, but we didn't," Mangino said. "We're winning the ones we are supposed to and there was a time here when that didn't happen. Overall, progress was made."
—Edited by Luke Morris
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