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Tuesday, November 28, 1972
University Daily Kansan
Jayhawks Clean Up on Tigers
Conditions were less than ideal for the University of Kansas's season finale with the Missouri Tigers Saturday in Columbia—but you could have fooled the Jayhawks.
In weather better suited for—well, better suited for almost anything other than football—the 'Hawks skidded and sloshed their way to a surpripping 28-17 victory over the Tigers, who only a week ago had climbed to No. 1 in the CBA Bowl by inching by Iowa State. 6-5.
There was a steady drizzle throughout the contest and the temperature never rose above 35, but neither fact seemed to affect the KU squad. The Jayhawks, responding to adversity like they never had before this season, were the most successful and most nearly perfect game of the year.
With his offensive line giving him the best protection he'd enjoyed all season, quarterback Dave Jaynes hit on 16 of 36 passes for 259 yards and two touchdowns, a surprising accomplishment in view of the weather conditions.
MU signal caller John Cherry was not so
fortunate, connecting on only six of 22 for 154 yards. Cherry was under constant pressure by the Jayhawk defense and suffered three interceptions.
In all, the Tigers were the victims of seven turnovers, including three fumbles. The Jayhawks, on the other hand, suffered only two, an interception in the Missouri end zone and a fumble by tailback Jerome Ellis in the game. Despite losing the ball, Nielsen had another fine day—his fourth in a row—picking up 84 yards on 30 carries.
But the big story for KU was its passing. Not since the season opener with Baylor, when he scored 25 points so much. In that contest, Jaynes connected on 25 of 46 attempts for 401 yards and two touchdowns.
Displaying a very obvious confidence in the Hawks big play ability, Jaynes threw long on the Tigers again and again—and often connected. Marvin Foster, with four receptions for 84 yards, was the leading KU receiver. The Tigers found its fruitless to
concentrate mainly on him, however, as Jaynes hit five other players at one time or
A seesaw battle in the first half, the game belonged to the Jayhawks after the third quarter. Although KU could pull no farther away than 11 points, Missouri's utter fury in moving the ball late made the outcome obvious long before it was over.
Kansan Staff Photos
by Pris Brandsted
Aghast at some KU mistake, or perhaps just warmming his jaw, Jayhawk coach Dum Fambrough (top) intently eyes the field's action. As it turned out, the biggest worry, that Fambrough had was the weather, which was no less than
cold and misable, as defensive tackle Gryal Perman (left-ahead), his face wrapped in a trainer's towel, discovered. It was, as many players testified, the worst weather the squad had played in all season.
His disgust plays evident, Missouri quarterback John Cherry (left—12) sits dejected on the playing field, where he was left as the result of a fierce KU pass rush. The rush was not his biggest problem, though. Only seconds earlier, one of his passes was picked off by linebacker Steve Towle (right—50), who obviously has
something to cheer about as he and teammate Dean Baird come rushing off the field. And when the final gun sounded, all the Jayhawks had something to cheer about—primarily a 28-17 victory.