PAGE 10
MONDAY NOVEMBER 17,2014
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Kansas nearly pulls off big upset against TCU
BLAIR SHEADE
@RealBlairSheady
Kansas (3-9, 1-6) was on the edge of its biggest upset victory of the season, leading No.4 TCU (9-1, 7-1) 13-10 at half, and holding the Horned Frogs to their lowest half total of the season.
But just when it looked too good to be true, TCU scored 24 points in the second half on its way to a 34-30 victory.
"It's been a message to our kids for weeks that they're Big 12 football players, too," interim head coach Clint Bowen said. "They chose to come to Kansas to play in Big 12 games, to play against teams like TCU. They're here to play Big 12 football. You go out and you play well and compete every game. That's what our players did today."
After Kansas and TCU exchanged punches to start the second half, the Horned Frogs scored 17 unanswered points to bust open a 34-27 lead, one they would not surrender.
The 17 unanswered points didn't come easily or consecutively. The Kansas defense made stops, but the offense couldn't get anything rolling after scoring on its first two possessions in the second half.
After Kansas extended the lead to 27-17, Kansas senior kicker Trevor Pardula forced a fumble against TCU sophomore wide receiver Cameron Echols-Luper on the kickoff. Kansas forced two fumbles and an interception for a plus-two turnover ratio.
"Plus two, you've got a chance," Bowen said. "It was always a big indicator of the turnover battle. And they're an explosive team. Even a plus two wouldn't be any guarantees. But plus two
gives you a chance. And four minutes to go in the game we had a chance"
The following Kansas drive was a three-and-out, giving the ball back to TCU after one minute and 30 seconds of offense.
After the three-and-out, TCU opened the floodgates. TCU junior quarterback Trevone Boykin led an eight-play, 80-yard drive that ended in a 24-yard touchdown run by junior running back Aaron Green, narrowing the deficit to three points.
The next two Kansas possessions were also three-and-outs, and both TCU possessions following those Kansas drives finished with points on the board.
First. Echols-Luper redeemed himself after the fumble and returned a punt 69 yards to give the Horned Frogs their first lead since the first quarter.
The second three-and-out for the Jayhawks followed with a TCU drive that ended in a field goal and gave the Horned Frogs a 34-27 lead.
The beginning of the second half gave Kansas hope it could stay with the fourth-best scoring offense in the nation because the Jayhawks started the second half with a score.
"We found a way to go win the ballgame," TCU coach Gary Patterson said.
Junior quarterback Michael Cummings made a connection with senior tight end Jimmy Mundine, looking his direction twice during the first possession in the second half. On the second catch, Mundine turned a 10-yard play into a 67-yard pickup. Mundine, who caught a career-high 137 yards, broke three tackles on the play and was brought down at the TCU 3-yard line.
The Horned Frogs responded with a 9-play, 72-yard drive. Boykin passed flawlessly by going 4-for-4 for 55 yards and rushed for another 10 yards on the drive. Green capped off the drive with a 3-yard touchdown run, and narrowed Kansas' lead to 20-17.
Cummings scored three plays later on a 1-yard rush and gave Kansas a 20-10 lead, which was the largest lead of the game.
The following Kansas possession, the Jayhawks added to the lead on one play. The play was supposed to be a bitch pattern for junior wide receiver Nigel King, but it ended up as a 73-yard touchdown. Cummings threw into double-coverage, and TCU cornerback Kevin White deflected the pass. King caught the deflection and there wasn't a TCU defender in sight.
"My biggest focus on that ball that was tipped was to keep my feet in bounds because I felt like the defenders took the ball out-of-bounds," King said. "When I realized that I could catch the ball and possibly score, I was focusing on keeping my feet in bounds and catching the ball at the same time."
King finished the game with 128 yards receiving. King and Mundine were the first Kansas duo to have more than 100 yards receiving in the same game since Dezmon Briscoe and Kerry Meier accomplished it in 2009.
"Mike [Cummings] throws it out there, Nigel [King] goes and gets it, Jimmay [Mundine] is making plays." Bowen said. "They're starting to develop some chemistry. And I believe it's a result of the way we practice, the way we prepared, and it's starting to show up."
Edited by Drew Parks
Women's soccer season ends with tourney loss to Missouri
SKYLAR ROLSTAD
@SkyRolSports
For the first time in three years, the Border War was renewed between the Kansas and Missouri women's soccer teams. This time, Missouri won the match 3-1, moving on to the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament.
"I think we lost the game today because Missouri was better than we were," coach Mark Francis said. "You have to give them credit, I thought they came out and outhustled us a little bit."
The Tigers jumped into an early lead with forward Taylor Grant finishing a cross just under three minutes into the match. Grant was Missouri's key player in the game, scoring a goal in the second half as well.
"They came out in a different formation that we weren't expecting, so we adjusted a little bit at halftime which I think definitely helped us offensively," Francis said. "We created a lot more [opportunities] but I think on the day the best team won."
Missouri began the game with quick passing on the wings, and dominated the first half with seven corner kicks and 10 shots, compared to no corner kicks and six shots for Kansas.
The 4-4-2 formation Missouri typically plays with was instead replaced by a 3-5-2, which the Tigers used to exploit Kansas' midfield of only three players.
Francis also commented on
Missouri's close marking of Kansas playmaker Liana Salazar. The junior midfielder was unable to make a big impact on the game until she redirected a shot into the goal in the 57th minute to make the score 2-1.
"It's just part of the game," Salazar said about her struggles in parts of the game. "Some things work and some do not."
"It's been a really good year, we finished third in the league, won 15 games and broke a bunch of scoring records."
The goal generated some momentum for Kansas, but Missouri's Kaysie Clark would later finish a chance that sealed the win for the Tigers, 3-1.
MARK FRANCIS Soccer coach
"The killer was [Missouri's] third goal," Francis said. "When we scored, I thought we had the momentum and I really thought we were going to come back, I had no doubt in my mind. The third goal was the killer blow."
"Trying to maintain the lead was really good, so I think it was huge for us to get relief for our defense." Grant said.
Although the teams are now in separate conferences, the Border War rivalry still motivated senior defender Caroline Van Slambrouck. In 2011, when the Jayhawks last faced the Tigers, Missouri also won.
With a third-place finish in the Big 12 and a national ranking as high as No.9, Kansas can consider the 2014 season an encouraging one, despite the early exit from the tournament.
Kansas is not a team that gives up goals often. This game was only the third occasion this season that the Jayhawks gave up three goals in a single game.
"You definitely feel a sense of a rivalry," Van Slambrouck said. "We also played them three years ago so the senior class was the last class that got it. I think the seniors understood it more."
"We have to look back with pride of what we accomplished as a group," Francis said. "It's been a really good year, we finished third in the league, won 15 games and broke a bunch of scoring records."
"A year from now, we need to be sitting here having played in the first round again," Francis said. "Because I think with this facility there's no reason that making the NCAA Tournament can't be an expectation. It shouldn't be a goal."
According to Francis, the team should expect to achieve even more in the future.
Kansas' brand new stadium, Rock Chalk Park, was finished for the beginning of the 2014 season.
Edited by Alex Lamb
Recycle this paper
Senior linebacker Michael Reynolds pursues TCU junior quarterback Trevone Boykin during Saturday's game. Reynolds registered four tackles, one sack and one quarterback hit in Kansas' 34-30 loss.
JAMES HOYT/KANSAN
Clip & Save!
KANSAN COUPONS
Helping you maintain your student budget!
Checkers LOW FOOD PRICES
BUY 1
GET 1 FREE!
**Limit 1 coupon per person.
May not be combined with any other offer.
STORE COUPON GOOD THRU 11-23-14
Coke, Pepsi or 7-Up
12pk - 12 oz cans
SPECIAL DISCOUNT FOR STUDENTS!
$35/Month
Unlimited Classes
No Contract
No Joining Fee
40+ Classes per week
See full schedule at JAZZERCISE.COM
JAZZERCISE LAWRENCE FITNESS CENTER
3115 W. 6TH STREET-LAWRENCE, KS 66049
785-331-4333
800-FIT-IS-IT
jazzercise FIRST CLASS FREE
JOIN OUR NEW LOYALTY PROGRAM TO RECEIVE DISCOUNTS EVERY VISIT. STOP BY TO JOIN THE FUN!
LoyalBlocks
Participating locations in Lawrence:
KU Booksstore at the Kansas and Burge Unions
Jayhawk Ink, Level 2, Kansas Union • KU Art and Design Shop
Participating locations in KC: Javhawk Central • KU Med Store
KUBOOKSTORE.COM
Happy Hour Specials $4.25 Rock Chalk Rita ON THE BORDER
$5 Corona Rita
3080 Iowa St.
[785] 371-4075
Mon & Thurs 3-11, All Day Sunday, Tues, Wed, Fri 3-7
$1 off ANY foot-long
Step up your tailgate this weekend
Delivery Yello Sub (785) 843-6000 Carry-out 1814 W.23rd St Dine-in
$ \bigwedge $
+