University Daily Kansan
Page 5
6
Mailen Intercepts Pass for Touchdown.
KU Breaks Jinx; Whips NU,29-7
Kansas broke a jinx, broke a record, and broke some hearts when it smashed the Nebraska Cornhuskers' defense with a 29-7 victory.
The game, played before 23,000 homecoming fans, marked the fourth time in the long series of Kansas-Nebraska games that the Jayhawkers have been able to win in Memorial Stadium. The 22-point victory margin was the largest Kansas has ever piled up over the Cornhuskers anywhere.
But the game was not quite as much of a Kansas runaway as the score might indicate—at least not until the fourth quarter when Norman Mailen intercepted a Nebraska pass and sprinted 65 yards for a touchdown.
Offense Started Tough
Up until then, the Nebraska offense had been showing the Jayhawkers around. The final game statistics showed Nebraska had a 3-yard lead over Kansas, 297-294. Nebraska's second half offensive margin was even bigger, 186 yards to KU's 147.
But, regardless of the statistics, Kansas won a sweet victory which gave those in the stadium, and the TV fans, plenty to cheer about.
Homer Floyd, the star of the first half, scored the first Kansas touchdown with a 1-yard run on a reverse around left end. This climaxed a 12-play, 93-yard drive by KU.
Floyd scored the second Jayhawk-ker touchdown after John Pepper-corn partially blocked a Nebraska punt and Kansas took the ball on the Nebraska 46. Larry McKown threw to Floyd who took the ball on the 25. Bob Marshall threw a needed block and Floyd outraced two NU defenders to the goal line.
KU Freshmen Beat MU 12-0
The second score came with only 26 seconds left before the half. Marshall's pass attempt for the extra point was incomplete, but a penalty on Nebraska gave Kansas a second chance. Floyd scored on a run over center and the halftime score was Kansas 14, Nebraska 0.
Nebraska came within inches of the goal line early in the second quarter, however. The Kansas defense held for four plays inside the seven yard line.
NU Came Close
Nebraska rushed back in the third quarter with a 57-vard push for a touchdown. Larry Naviaux, Husker halfback, ran from the five for the score. Quarterback George Harshman kicked the extra point to make it Kansas 14. Nebraska 7.
The first event in the circus of sports events at KU this weekend was the freshman football team's 12-0 victory over the Missouri freshmen.
Varsity Whips Frosh, 83-49
Then, midway through the final period, Norman Mailen, sophomore fullback, intercepted a Nebraska pass and scored the touchdown that broke the game up. From then on, Nebraska was an ineffective team.
The first one came in the second quarter when Kent Staab, center from Phoenix, Ariz., charged through the Tiger line and slapped down an attempted punt on the Missouri four. Larry Weimer, Clay Center fullback, grabbed the ball and stepped across for the touchdown.
The second Jayhawker touchdown came near the end of the game when John Hadl, Lawrence half-back, took a Missouri punt and threaded his way 63 yards to a touchdown. The try for the extra point failed.
A thin crowd of 4.000 basketball fans watched the KU varsity take an easy victory over a hapless group of freshmen 83-49.
The try for an extra point run by Leland Flachsbarth, Atchison quarterback, was unsuccessful.
Bill Crank, sophomore quarterback, scored the final Kansas touchdown when he kept the ball and ran 65 yards to the goal line. Buddy Merritt ran for the extra point to make the final score Kansas 29, Nebraska 7.
Strong defensive play was responsible for both of the KU touchdowns.
Kansas offense was stronger than the two touchdowns indicated. The Jayhawkers pushed their way beyond the Missouri 30-yard line six times only to be stopped by a bad play or a penalty.
The nearest the Tigers came to the KU goal was the 20-yard line. This was in the first quarter and was the only scoring threat.
Wayne Hightower, 6-foot, 8-inch center from Philadelphia, was the game's high scorer with 18 points. He got off to a slow start in the game, but came back strong in the second half to give a momentary suggestion of older days with his rebounding.
Monday, Nov. 10. 1958
Experience seemed to be the important factor of the game. The varsity worked well as a team, while the freshmen were forced to scramble alone too often.
Gary Mowry, center starter for the varsity, scored the game's first point. He hit the first basket with a little more than three minutes gone in the first half. Mowry had a total of seven points.
In 1941, Nebraska played Stanford in the Rose Bowl before 91,000 fans.
Dick Harp, varsity coach, and Jerry Waugh, freshman coach, allowed every player to play part of the game.
Mitchell Is Pessimist After Kansas Victory
Coach Jack Mitchell, happy with the victory over Nebraska, paused in the dressing room after the game and surveyed Kansas' situation.
Ron Loneski and Al Donaghue were the top varsity scorers with 12 points each.
"I was very impressed with their first unit. They were much better than ours was. Today, our second unit looked best. I'd have to give the credit for the game to our second unit."
"We're the champion of the chumps," he said. "Our season is over now. We don't have a good enough team to face Oklahoma State and Missouri."
Mitchell looked at the game statistics then shook his head and announced that the score was no indication of the kind of game that was played.
Those standing around him just laughed. Mitchell looked far from dejected as he said the words. And the Jayhawkers looked far from being chumps in Saturday's game.
"Their first unit hurt us worse than any other team we've played," he said. "Their only trouble was, they didn't have any depth.
"We looked awfully good on that first series of plays. Then we slowed down.
Mitchell was emphatic in his praise for the Nebraska team.
that pass. We were never in a position to pass ourselves.
"Their defense was unusually strong up until Maileen intercepted
"We don't throw too well, you know, and as long as you are ahead you hate to throw. Every play was crucial until that interception. Then we had the game."
Nebraska Coach Bill Jennings had nothing but praise for the Jayhawkers and Jack Mitchell.
"Mitchell has done a fine job, as good as anyone in the country. KU's team showed good spirit and hustle. It is a good team," said Jennings. Going over the game Jennings said:
"Homer Floyd was the man that killed us. He is a good hustler and ball player. His fine run after catching a pass from Larry McKown for the Jayhawkers' second touchdown is the play that put our boys down"
The largest crowd ever to watch a Nebraska football game at Lincoln was 39,770 in 1950 when the Cornhuskers played Penn State. In 1952 the Kansas Jayhawks drew 39,577 fans to Nebraska's stadium.
Grease Job $1
Brake Adj. 98c
Mufflers and Talipples Installed Free
1 gt. oil free with oil & filter change
PAGE'S SINCLAIR SERVICE 6th & VL.