4B
MU 36-KU 28
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN MONDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2007
THE WEEKEND WRAP-UP
Sophomore quarterback Todd Reesing dives into the endzone for a touchdown at the end of a five-yard rush Saturday. Reesing's touchdown was the first of three fourth-quarter touchdowns that brought Kansas within eight of Missouri.
Jon Goering/KANSAN
RESILIENT REESING AWAITS 12TH VICTORY
BY MARK DENT
KANSAN SPORTS COLUMNIST
MDENT@KANSAN.COM
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The mud wouldn't come off Todd Reesing's facemask.
He brushed off part of it as he walked off the field after getting sacked in the end zone to seal Kansas' loss, but some of the mud stuck tightly to his helmet. That's the way most of Saturday's 36-28 loss went for Reesing. He tried to clean up a mess and came up short.
The opportunity for the Heisman Trophy, undefeated season, Big 12 Championship and national championship had vanished into the barbecue-filled night air. Reesing had been picked off, outdued by Missouri's Chase Daniel and sacked in the mud, but he hadn't
That resilience helped him morph his Lake Travis High School team from perennial losers to district champs. That resilience earned him the nickname Sparky. That resilience turned a disappointing blowout into a wild finish that Kansas had an opportunity to win.
lost everything. He still showed his defining quality — the ability to fight back and lead a team.
It was partially Reesing's fault (along with kicker Scott Webb and the entire defense) that he had to battle back this time. He didn't play like himself in the first half. Not even slightly.
Kansas had excelled because Reesing had played mistake-free for almost the entire season. He went from Oct. 6 to Saturday night without throwing an interception. The streak was amazing. During that time, star NFL quarterback Peyton Manning threw 11 picks, White Owl bothered thousands of people and Chiefs coach Herm Edwards called a draw play on third and long 623 times.
Anthony Webb, sophomore defensive back, struggles past a Missouri Tiger after a punt return during the first quarter of Saturday night's game in Arrowhead Stadium.
Sarah Leonard/KANSAN
The mistake could have been caused by the glove Reesing was wearing on his throwing hand. Kansas coach Mark Mangino said Reesing wore it because his hands were small, and he had a tough time gripping the ball in the cold. Reesing completed only 9 of 17 passes in the first half.
SCORING DRIVE CHART
So needless to say, it was a surprise when he zipped a 25-yard pass to wide receiver Dexton Fields and Mizzou cornerback William Moore came down with the ball at the two-yard line early in the second quarter with Kansas trailing 7-0. Fields was open. Reesing's throw was short.
KANSAS
MISSOURI
1st Quarter
2nd Quarter
"I wore it this week in practice because I thought it gave me a better grip on the ball," he said. "That had no effect on anything I did."
4th Quarter
3rd Quarter
That's because Reesing doesn't make excuses. The man they call Sparky fights back. After one more interception in the early third quarter that tipped off wide receiver Marcus Henry's hands, Reesing showed that resilience.
He led Kansas on four straight scoring drives during the third and fourth quarters. The Jayhawks trailed 28-7 early in the fourth quarter and went for it at fourth-and-two from the Mizzou five-yard line. Convert, and Kansas still had a small chance. Come up short, and the game would probably be a blowout. Reesing faked a hand-off and sprinted outside for a bootleg touchdown.
He threw two touchdowns later in the fourth quarter to bring Kansas within six at 34-28. Reeing brought the Jayhawks all the way back, and they had a chance for a miracle with the ball in their own territory and 17 seconds left. Reeing got sacked in the end zone. He led the team back but not far enough.
Kerry Meier, sophomore wide receiver, leaps for a pass in front of a Missouri defensive back during Saturday's game. Meier had four receptions for 70 yards. The Jayhawks offense gained 391 yards against the Tiger defense.
Believe him. Sparky always comes back.
"It's tough right now, but we're going to bounce back and take that into the bowl game and get our 12th win," Reesing said.
A few minutes after the game ended, Reesing answered questions with his stocking cap pulled down but not far enough to cover his eyes. He sounded disappointed, maybe slightly upset. He had lost his first
Jon Goerina/KANSAN
Determination still came through in his words. Reesing lost, but he rallied the team. He still has opportunities to come back from the defeat. He can play in a bowl game, possibly a BCS game, and make the most successful season in Kansas history stand out more than it already does. He can do it all again next year and the year after that, too.
game as a college starter and all the championships and awards that would have been possible with a victory.
- Edited by Kaitlyn Syring
Missouri 36. Kansas 28
TEAM STATISTICS
| First downs | Missouri | Kansas |
| :--- | :--- | ---: |
| Rushing yards | 29 | 22 |
| Rushing attempts | 151 | 42 |
| Average yards | 43 | 22 |
| Rushing TDs | 3.5 | 1.9 |
| Passing yards | 1 | 2 |
| Comp.-Att.-Int. | 368 | 349 |
| Passing TDs | 41-50-0 | 28-49-2 |
| Total offensive yards | 519 | 391 |
| Fumbles-lost | 1-0 | 1-0 |
| Penalties-yards | 14-141 | 2-26 |
| Punts-yards | 4-148 | 3-117 |
| Average yards | 37.0 | 39.0 |
| Inside 20-yard line | 2 | 0 |
| Touchbacks | 0 | 0 |
| Punt returns-yards-TDs | 1-43-0 | 2-(6)-0 |
| Average yards | 43.0 | -3.0 |
| Kickoff returns-yards-TDs | 5-75-0 | 7-77-0 |
| Average yards | 15.0 | 11.0 |
| Interception-yards-TDs | 2-49-0 | 0-0-0 |
| Fumble returns-yards-TDs | 0-0-0 | 0-0-0 |
| Third-down conversions | 6 of 15 | 4 of 13 |
| Fourth-down conversions | 1 of 3 | 3 of 3 |
| Red zone: Scores-chances | 4-5 | 4-7 |
| Sacks-yards lost | 2-22 | 2-13 |
| Time of possession | 37:25 | 22:35 |
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
**Passing** Comp-Att-Int. Yards TD Long Sack
Reeasing, Todd 49-28-2 349 2 39 2
Rushing
McAnderson, Brandon 14 43 2 41 1 12 2.9
Reeing, Todd 6 23 22 1 1 7 0.2
Sharp, Jake 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
Kickoff returns No. Yards Long
McAnderson, Brandon 2 16 14
Fine, Derek 1 11 11
Dedeaux, Bradley 1 11 11
Mortensen, Joe 1 11 11
Herford, Marcus 1 23 23
Brorsen, Russell 1 4 4
Punt returns No. Yards Long
Webb, Anthony 1 -10 0
Talib, Aqib 1 4 4
Receiving No. Yards TD Long
Fields, Dexton 8 116 1 31
Briscoe, Dezmon 7 94 0 34
Meler, Kerry 4 70 0 39
McAnderson, Brandon 4 23 0 10
Fine, Derek 3 29 0 13
Henry, Marcus 2 17 1 12
Interception returns No. Yards Long NA
**Punting**
Tucker, Kyle
No. 3
Yards 117
Avg. 39.0
Long 45
In20 0
TB 0
**Field goals**
Webb, Scott
Qtr. 2nd
Time 6:26
Distance 33 yards
Result Missed
Missed
2nd 2nd
Time 1:29
45 yards
Kickoffs No. Yards Avg. TB OB Webb, Scott 5 275 0 0 55.0
1