THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2014
PAGE 7
THE DAILY DEBATE
Who is the nonconference MVP for Kansas football?
GRIFFIN HUGHES
@GriffinJHughes
DEXTER MCDONALD
Missouri State and Central Michigan leave Kansas with a winning record heading into Big 12 play. The most encouraging part of the entire nonconference season was that the team played like a team, which is incredibly encouraging for fans who are looking at the best team the program has had in the Charlie Weis era.
However, it makes difficult to pick an MVP of the nonconference season. Sophomore quarterback Montell Cozart has been underwhelming, neither De'Andre Mann nor Corey Avery have stood out individually and, unfortunately, the entire front seven isn't considered "one player."
The Jayhawk MVP so far in the season is the anchor of the Kansas secondary, which has allowed just 7.4 yards per pass and five touchdowns.
The vote goes to senior cornerback Dexter McDonald. The Kansas City, Mo., native was named to the Preseason All-Big 12 Second Team after starting all 12 games at cornerback last season and was ranked eighth in the Big 12 in pass breakups.
This season, however, McDonald seems even more dominant. He has seven tackles and two interceptions
— equaling his total from last year — and has helped the jayhawk defense shut down Duke quarterback Anthony Boone, who is 42nd in the country with 876 passing yards. He threw just 180 yards against Kansas, his lowest total of the season.
None of the Duke wide receivers tallied more than 80 yards against Kansas, and only one opposing receiver has totaled more than that so far this season. McDonald looked out of place at times against SEMO receiver Paul McRoberts in the first week, but has improved every game since. His tackles have been cleaner, his coverage has been tighter and his hands look better than ever.
He did not pick off a pass after his two-interception performance against SEMO, and that's not a bad thing. Very simply, opposing coaches and quarterbacks have taken notice of the senior, and are reluctant to throw his way. For cornerbacks, it's about what they prevent by being present and guarding the opponent's most dangerous receiving threat. Who's to say Duke wouldn't have defeated Kansas by 60 had McDonald not been on the field?
McDonald's showing in the nonconference part of the season is encouraging to say the least. Among Kansas' upcoming opponents is Baylor and the nation's third-best passing attack. In a game against that kind of offensive threat, the man who can force Baylor's receiver K.D. Cannon out of the game becomes more valuable than any offensive option.
Edited by Ben Carroll
TONY PIERSON
BLAIR SHEADE
@realblairsheady
Kansas' nonconference schedule has come to an end, and there aren't too many bright spots. The Jayhawks defeated Southeast Missouri State and Central Michigan at home, and Kansas lost at Duke in a blowout.
One bright spot in the Kansas offense, has to be senior wide receiver Tony Pierson, who leads the Jayhawks with 124 yards receiving on nine receptions.
A lot of talk prior to the start of the season surrounded the prospect that Pierson wouldn't come back from a season-ending concussion he suffered against Texas Tech last season. Pierson has proved that he's reshaped to the speedster that he was recruited to be.
Coach Charlie Weis said the plan is to use Pierson, who was
converted to a wide receiver from a running back two seasons ago, as a receiver first, but give Pierson chances to make plays from the backfield.
Pierson has six carries for 121 yards through the three nonconference games, which is a 20-yard average per carry. Though 74 yards came on one play, Pierson can make a big play happen out of the backfield on any given play.
Pierson is tied with freshman Corey Avery with one rushing touchdown through the first three games, and Avery had 40 more carries than Pierson, as well.
The Kansas offense is based on the speed and the positioning of players in space to create big play opportunities. For example, in the first play of the game against Central Michigan, Pierson motioned from the slot into the backfield and took a handoff 74 yards for a touchdown. The handoff gave Pierson space to make a big play, and Pierson used his speed to get the edge and ran past the whole Central Michigan secondary.
inrough the first three
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nonconference games, Pierson has a 61-yard touchdown catch against SEMO and a 74-yard touchdown run against CMU. Pierson makes big plays through the air and on the ground.
Some people would question Pierson's consistency because of the performance he had against Duke — he caught just two balls for 17 yards, which is a game-low in both categories in the season for him.
But when you look at the rest of the offense against Duke, none of the playmakers came out. Senior wide receivers Nick Harwell and Justin McCay caught a combined four balls for 17 yards. Pierson had the same amount receiving yards against Duke than Harwell and McCay.
Bautista hits home run, Blue Jays beat Mariners 14-4
You might think the offense revolves around sophomore quarterback Montell Cozart. But when a team needs to focus on a player with top-end speed like Pierson, he resides as the biggest threat and thus the offensive MVP through the first three nonconference games.
TORONTO — Jose Bautista homered and reached base four times, J.A. Happ won for the first time in four starts and the Toronto Blue Jays dealt a blow to Seattle's wild card hopes, routing the Mariners 14-4 Monday night.
Bautista went 3 for 3 with a walk and drove in two runs before getting the rest of the night off. His
solo homer off the facing of the second deck in the fifth, against Mariners reliever Tom Wilhelmsen, was his 35th.
Kevin Pillar hit a two-run homer and Anthony Gose added a solo blast as the Blue Jays handed Seattle its third straight defeat. The 14 runs were the most by a Mariners opponent this season.
Seattle gained ground on Kansas City in the wild-card race before taking the field when the Royals
lost to Cleveland in a game that had been suspended from Aug. 31.
Not much went right for the Mariners after that.
— Edited by Sarah Kramer
Associated Press
Happ (10-11) allowed an RBI double by Robinson Cano in the first, and Kyle Seager's solo in the sixth, but was otherwise sharp. The left-hander walked one and struck out five in seven innings for his first victory since Aug. 31.
@KANSANSPORTS
Playoff odds: 87.1% (espn.com)
Last time out: Defeated Cleveland Indians 2-0 on Monday
Next opponent: at Cleveland Indians on Tuesday
Division standing: 2nd place -1 game behind Detroit Tigers
Wild card standing. Own second spot - 2 games ahead of Seattle Mariners (not including Oakland Athletics-Los Angeles Angels game)
CHECKING IN ON THE ROYALS
YOUR GO TO FOR ALL THE LATEST IN KU SPORTS
ASSOCIATED PRESS Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Danny Duffy delivers in the first inning of the Royals game against the Cleveland Indians on Monday night in Cleveland, Ohio.
Record: 85-71
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Brian Hillix
Trending up: Danny
Duffy, starting
pitcher - Pitched
Looking ahead: Winning the division is still very much possible for the Royals. First-place Detroit faces the two worst teams in the division to close out the season, but the Tigers are a combined 15-16 against those teams.
six scoreless innings after missing two starts due to a sore shoulder. He has the best ERA among Royals starting pitchers (2.32)
Trending down: Alex Gordon, outfielder - Has only three hits in his last seven games
KU Homecoming 2014
Join the Jayhawks for the 102nd annual Homecoming celebration in Lawrence! With over 20 events held on and off campus, it is sure to be an exciting week.
Tuesday, September 23
Chalk 'n Rock
United Across Borders - T-shirt Drive
3 vs. 3 Basketball Semifinals/Finals
Jayhawk Jingles Dress Rehearsals
Glow KU Judging
Wednesday, September 24
United Across Borders - T-shirt Drive
Homecoming Food Fest - featuring
Jayhawk Jingles
Thursday, September 25
United Across Borders - T-shirt Drive
Friday, September 26
Football & Flapjacks ($5 per person)
United Across Borders - T-shirt Drive
Homecoming Parade
Homecoming Pep Rally
Saturday, September 27
Homecoming Reception
KU vs. Texas Football Game
Ex C.E.L. and Homecoming Awards
Wescoe Beach
Alumni Center
Student Rec Fitness Center
Alumni Center
KU Campus/Lawrence Community
Alumni Center
Alumni Center
10 a.m.-2 p.m.
10 a.m.-2 p.m.
5-9 p.m.
6-8 p.m.
7 p.m.
10 a.m.-2 p.m.
6-9 p.m.
Alumni Center
Alumni Center Parking Lot
Alumni Center
Massachusetts Street
8th and New Hampshire Street
Alumi Center
Memorial Stadium
Memorial Stadium
10 a.m.-2 p.m.
9 a.m. - Noon
10 a.m. -2 p.m.
6 p.m.
6:45 p.m.
1 p.m.
3 p.m.
halftime presentation
Visit www.homecoming.ku.edu for schedule updates.
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Instagram: @ku_homecoming
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