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6B • THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
KU FOOTBALL
MONDAY,SEPT.10,2001
LAURIE SISK/KANSAN
Senior defensive tackle Nate Dwyer (No. 92) dives for a loose ball jarred loose by senior outside linebacker Algie Atkinson as UCLA quarterback Cory Paus looks for the ball.
Defense: Despite struggles, Kansas still falls
CONTINUED FROM 1A
Redshirt freshman quarterback Mario Kinsey dives into the end zone for the Jawhawks' first touchdown at the end of the second quarter. Kinsey was redshirted his first year and is now battling with Zach Dyer for the starting quarterback slot.
CHRIS BURKET/KANSAN
Kansas had three chances to increase its lead before Dyer was devoured by Bruins middle linebacker Robert Thomas on third down and 10. Dyer attempted to throw the ball, but the play was ruled live. It was the start to the offensive theme of three plays and out, something that would haunt the Jayhawks throughout the game.
UCLA would score the next 27 points, building its lead by feeding the football to Foster and capitalizing on Kansas turnovers. The Heisman trophy candidate had more rushing yards in the first half,110, than the Jayhawks did the entire game. Foster finished with 179 yards on 28 carries and a touchdown, despite being held out for most of the fourth quarter after UCLA had cemented a 41-10 lead.
"He's one of the best in the country. If not the best, one of the best," said Kansas cornerback Andrew Davison. "But it's nothing but the second game."
If UCLA was not milking the clock with its running attack, it was victimizing Kansas with big plays. Only a few seconds elapsed during each of three of its scores — a 22-yard interception return by linebacker Ryan Nece, a 37-yard reverse by Craig Bragg and a 49-yard touchdown grab by wide receiver Tab Perry.
Each play except the interception was followed by a Kansas three-and-out.
"That really killed us, the defense being out on the field so much," Etienne said. "The offense did what they could. You are always going to have mistakes on offense. But the simple fact that we were out there so long really wore us down."
The Jayhawks offense was inspired by the return of freshman quarterback Mario Kinsey, even though both his touchdown drives came when the game appeared to be slipping away. Kinsey, who has been labeled both electrifying and inconsistent by Allen, showed a little bit of both on Saturday. On a third-down bust, Kinsey scampered around three Bruins for a four-yard first down. But he also telegraphed a pass to UCLA linebacker Ryan Nee on a slant route. The interception return gave the Bruins a 17-point advantage.
Kinsey, who saw his first action with just more than 12 minutes to go in the second quarter, was 6 of 17 passing for 93 yards and an interception. He plunged for a pair of touchdown runs from one vard and two yards out.
Dyer was 6 of 16 for 63 yards and an interception. After making his second straight start at quarterback, Dyer was benched in favor of Kinsey to start the second half.
"We need to continue to play the two," Allen said. "I think Mario can make plays out there. He makes it happen. But he has to eliminate the mistakes.
"Zach is more consistent, but we just have to bleed our way through the process."
On Saturday, while he watched his offense struggle, it was the Kansas defense that gave Allen hope. At times, it
would have been easy for them to surrender, Allen said, but they never gave up — even when the coach himself would have done the opposite.
"We didn't quit out there," Allen said. "When you are a defensive player in that third quarter, I might have quit — but they didn't."
Senior wide receiver Harrison Hill, who needs 26 more catches to become Kansas' all-time leader in receptions, may be lost for the season after breaking the scapula bone in his left shoulder Saturday.
Allen said the co-captain could miss four to eight weeks, but said he would not know the injury's severity until Hill received X-ray results early this week.
While returning a punt in the first quarter, Hill weaved 15 yards through the Bruins defense before his left shoulder was plowed into the ground when he was tackled.
Hill left the game before the Jayhawks offense took its first snap.
On third and 18 from the 25 late in the first quarter, Kansas linebacker Algie Atkinson pummeled UCLA quarterback Cory Paus, jarring the ball loose in the process. Defensive lineman Nate Dwyer recovered the fumble at the 20-yard line.
It was Atkinson's third sack in two games and his 16th of his career, propelling him to fourth all-time in sacks at Kansas.
At his current pace, Atkinson would shatter the school record of 20.5 sacks, held by Ron Warner from 1996-97.
Sophomore running back Reggie Duncan tries to get past Bruin defensive end Mat Ball. Duncan rushed for 16 yards on 11 carries, having returned to the team following a one-game suspension.
Contact Denton at 864-4810
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