Sports
University Daily Kansan / Monday, September 21, 1987
9
Willie Vaughn's TD helped Jayhawks but wasn't enough
By ANNE LUSCOMBE
Associate sports editor
Associate sports editor
Willie Vaughn sprinted down field, outdistancing the strong safety from Kent State. He was open, and the end zone loomed in front of him. The ball came spiraling toward him. He caught it and ran past the goal line. Touchdown.
Vaughn's second-quarter 69-yard pass reception, the lonest of his career, ended the 14-quarter scoreless draught the Jayhawks had been caught in. It gave Vaughn the opportunity to take a bow, and it gave the fans something to cheer about.
"Obviously, he was one of the highlights of the ball game, but when the team doesn't win. . . . I love his effort coming off the bench after we had made some changes in the team as coach Bob Valentece of the junior wide receiver. "He's a winner. He tried to turn it around for us."
But, it didn't win the game. Kansas fell to Kent State. 31-17.
Vaughn, the only Kansas player to receive All-Big Eight Conference first team honors last season, was
moved to second string after the Auburn game because of dropped passes. Sophomore Quintin Smith, who lost a year of eligibility last season as a Proposition 48 casualty, started the game at wide receiver.
Vaughn had 156 yards in inceptions for the game — more than half of the 276 net yards gained by the entire team. He moved up four spaces to ninth on the Jayhawks' all-time receiving chart with 938 yards.
"Records are a personal goal, and that fine, but there's nothing to be happy about," Vaughn said of the game. "I plan to have a good game, but I'm also pumped to have a win. I'm happy about the good game, but I'm sad about the loss.
"I'd rather win anytime. I feel personally that I had a good day, but we didn't do it as a team. We didn't try to lose. He answered, we should have hammered them, but they came out and played their hearts out. It feels as bad losing to Kent State as it does losing to Oklahoma. They all count the same. You don't practice all week to go out and lose on Saturday. It feels really bad."
Tony Vourax/KANSAN
Darryl Terrell. Kansas bandack, is brought down by a group of Kent State defenders in the Jayhawks' 31-10 loss Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
Fred Sadowski/KANSAN
Mistakes haunt Kansas in 31-17 loss to Kent State
Kansas corner back Milt Garner goes after the football. In one sign of the problems of the KU special teams, Garner returned two punts for a total of only four vards in Saturday's game against Kent State.
By CRAIG ANDERSON
Staff writer
The ghosts of Kansas football games past came back to haunt the Jayhawks Saturday in their 31-17 loss to Kent State in Memorial Stadium.
The most evil of the goblins was probably the one of the special teams' breakdowns. Last week a 69 yard punt return by Auburn's Freddy Weygand had chilled the Kansas punt coverage unit. In a span of 19 seconds midway through the third quarter in this Saturday's game, the Jayhawk special teams self-destructed once again.
The biggest blow came when Kent State's Eric Wilkerson returned a Louis Klemk kickoff 88 yards for a touchdown. Kansas coach Bob Valentele called it the turning point of the game.
Klemp had just kicked a goal field to cut the Kent State lead to 14-10. There was almost a quarter and a half left for the Jayhawks to make a comeback and end their eight-game losing streak. Members of the Kansas kick coverage team were waving their helmets as they moved involved in the game. It seemed to be working. Then disaster struck.
Wilkerson ran the kickoff back, barely having to shift directions against the oncoming kick coverage. Any momentum that the Jawhawk
had vanished at that point.
The special teams' breakdown wasn't over, however. On the ensuing kickoff, Kansas freshman running back Frank Hatchett fumbled the ball and Kent State recovered on its own 35-yard run. But Larry Steinberg kicked a 37-yard field goal, building the Golden Flash lead to 24-10.
"The kickoff return really broke our backs," Valesette said. "We do work on special teams. It was some tough, dangerous game and this one that hurt us."
The field goal prompted the fans in Memorial Stadium to begin leaving en masse. There were still almost four minutes left in the third quarter.
But the fumble of the kickoff also hurt the Kansas running game. Hatchett suffered a contusion on his back and did not return to the game.
Hatchett had been a spark for the Jayhawks' other dismal running game. He and fellow freshman running back Maurice Hooks started the second half in the backfield together and seemed to give the offensive unit a little lift. Hatchett gained 24 yards in his first four carries, equalling the entire Kansas team rushing total in the first half.
"Everytime I touch the ball, I'm thinking touchdown," said the 5-foot-10, 185-pound Hatchett. "I want to play and contribute."
Valesante said he was impressed with the freshman speedster. As a junior at El Dorado High School, Hattchell won the 100 and 400-meter dash titles at the Kansas Class 5A state track meet.
"Hatchtie showed some wheels today." "Valesente said." He can flat
The ghost of Jayhawk slow starts of games past was also probably flying around Saturday at Memorial Stadium. Against Auburn, Kansas was five touchdowns behind after the first 15 minutes of the game. He missed the wack that he hoped his Kansas team would jump on, Kent State.
What unfolded, though, was something that looked frighteningly similar to the Jayhawks' season opener. In fact, Kent State scored its first touchdown against Kansas quicker than Auburn had done the previous week. The Golden Flashes took a little more than two minutes to drive 76 yards in seven plays on the opening drive of the game.
The first three plays of the game seemed to be straight out of the script for a football game horror movie. On the first play from scrimmage, Kent State freshman Terry Foley cuts through a screen pass, benefited from a couple of Jayhawk missed tackles, and gained 12 yards. On the second play of the game,
tailback Eric Wilkerson ran a sweep around the right end and 43 yards later was arm-tacked by Kansas cornerback Mill Garner. The third and final play of the opening barrage proved to be the shortest gain — an 11-vard gain by the Kent State fullback on a dive play up the middle of the Javhawk defense.
"It was a lousy, pathetic effort for us," Valesente said. "I don't feel good about the job I've done getting the team ready to play. I must find the secret."
Landons honored at game
The Associated Press
The University of Kansas paid tribute to Alf M. Landon and his family during a brief ceremony prior to Saturday's KU-Kent State football game.
Landon, who observed his 100th birthday on Sept. 9; his wife, Theo Landon; their daughter, U.S. Sen. Nancy Landey Kassebaum; and three of Landon's grandchildren. He is landy's family's recognition on Parents' Day at the university. Landon and Sen. Kassebaum are KU graduates.
Ennacillor Gene A. Budig presented Landon, Sen. Kasebaum and the three grandchildren small bronzed statues of the KU mascot, the mythical Jayhawk. The grandchildren住家 Mills, both KU graduates, and B凯Kasebaum, presently a KU law student.
Landon waved to the applauding crowd, sang along as the KU band played the national anthem before the game, then was driven slowly around the track of Memorial Stadium before returning to Topeka.
Oakland completes sweep by defeating Royals again
The Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — They're still $3\frac{1}{2}$ games behind Minnesota in the American League West race, but the Oakland Athletics are feeling much better about themselves nevertheless.
A 7-6 victory over Kansas City Sunday — after leading 7-0 — gave the A's a three-game sweep of the Royals as they completed the second leg of a three-city road trip. Now it's on to Cleveland for three games, hoping all the while the Twins will encounter trouble when they meet the Royals in six of their last nine games.
"When we came in here, we figured we had to win the series," said
Seattle fullback excels in victory over Chiefs
"It was a tough deficit to come back from," Royals Manager John Wathan said of the 7-0 hole. "We spotted them too many runs early in the game. That's the way it's been lately. On the positive side is the fact that we battled back again and didn't quit."
Oakland Manager Tony LaRussa.
"But to sweep the series, any series,
when you're on the road is something
you wouldn't dare dream of. It's quite an accomplishment."
The loss was the fifth in six games for the Royals, who walked nine batters and dropped deeper into third place West, East, six games behind Minnesota.
The Associated Press
SEATTLE — John L Williams understands his role for the Seattle Seahawks.
"I'm supposed to block for Curt Warner because he's our premier running back," the second-year fullback said with a smile Sunday. "Of course, if I get my opportunity..."
Williams, Seattle's 1986 first-round draft choice, carried the ball 15 times for 112 yards, including his first game in a season as a one-yard run in the third quarter.
Williams, a 5-foot-11, 22-pounder from the University of Florida, got his opportunity against the Kansas City Chiefs, recording the first 100-yard rushing game of his NFL career in a 43-14 victory.
"This was really a great thrill."
Williams said. "It's been a long time
since I had a 100-yard rushing game."
At Florida, Williams was the school's third all-time leading rusher with 2,409 yards. He had seven 100-yard rushing games.
"We wanted to give him a lot of work today," Seattle Coach Chuck Knox.
While Williams was having his biggest day in the NFL, Kansas City rookie Christian Okeye was suffering a turnaround from his debut last week.
"You have off days and on days," the 253-pound Okoye said after he was held to 30 yards on 11 carries after rushing for 105 yards in the Chiefs' opening win over San Diego. "Today, Williams was on and I was off."
Williams had a 48-yard run and
"That meant a lot to me." Williams said of his touchdown opportunity. "I was nervous about that."
carried all four times in Seattle's drive for a touchdown that made the score 34-7 in the third quarter.
Dave Krieg passed for three touchdowns for Seattle, and Kansas City's offense turned over the ball five times, four on fumbles.
Norm Johnson kicked a team-record five field goals, from 34, 25, 46, 27 and 49 yards for Seattle, 1-1. Johnson also missed a 39-yarder.
"I never even did that at UCLA," said Johnson.
The Chiffs fumbled three times in the third quarter, and the Seahawks scored 20 points to break open the game after leading 17-7 at halftime.
Krieg had touchdown passes of
17 and 17 vards to Daryl Turner in
the second quarter and also passed two yards to tight end Mike Tice for a score in the third quarter.
first-year Kansas City Coach Frank Ganzs brought in nine-year veteran quarterback Bill Kenney in place of starting quarterback Todd Blackledge in long passing situations.
Blackbleck passed 10 yards to Carlos Carson for Kansas City's touchdown in the second quarter. Kenney threw a fourth-quarter interception for Kansas City's fifth turnover of the day. Kenney passed 10 yards to Carson for a touchdown with 1:07 to go.
"Kenny was throwing the ball very well in practice." explained Gansz. "Todd has more mobility, but when we want to throw the ball, we get the guy in that can do that best."
Softball team drops three in tourney, has 2-5 record
By a Kansan reporter
Sometimes, for every step forward a young team takes, it slides two back.
After finishing second in KU Invitational No. 1 a week earlier, the Kansas softball team took a nose dive in KU Invitational No. 2 Saturday and Sunday. The Jayhawks lost three games by a combined score of 16-2
Tournament champion Nebraska broke a scoreless tie with three third-inning runs. Two of the scores came on an error by freshman center fielder Missy Bond. The Cornhuskers, whom Haack expects to be ranked in the top 10 nationally, added another unearned run in the fifth.
KU, 2-5 for the year, lost 3-0 to Illinois State on Saturday and suffered back-to-back losses Sunday to Iowa State, 11-1, and Nebraska, 4-1
"We didn't play very well, and we
didn't do much statistic." Coach
Kohm Hankel said.
Sophomore pitcher Roanna Brazer singled-in freshman left-felder Jessica Hennig, scoring Kansas' only run in the sixth inning.
"We would have liked to have come in undefeated, then take whatever happened," Haack said after the Nebraska game.
"The girls saw teams that were stronger than we are and we didn't improve very much," Haack said. "Now they realize they have to get better each weekend in order to compete."
Hennig went 3-for-9 on the weekend and was the only player to hit in all three games. KU produced just eight hits as a team.
The Iowa State loss demonstrated the contrast between the two tournaments. KU shut out the Cyclones 5-0 in Invitational No. 1.
kansas teams have frustrating weekend
The Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — To non-football fans, it was a gorgeous Indian Summer weekend in Kansas. But followers of the Kansas State Wildcats and the Kansas Jayhawks probably saw nothing but dark, angry storm clouds gathering over their proram.
The Big Eight Conference's two entries from the Sunflower State dropped to a collective 0-4 with rather embarrassing losses at home. Kansas, a week after losing 49-0 at Auburn, bowed to Kent State 31-17.
Kansas State got bombed 41-14 by an Army team which had looked very beatable after losing its opener to Holy Cross. Combined with the opening punch, Kansas State played Poytie the whipping by Army left a lot of K-State fans feeling discouraged.
Otherwise, it was another good weekend for the big game with glamour teams Oklahoma and Nebraska taking a rest. Missouri and Oklahoma State remained unbeaten and Colorado upended Stanford 31-17
to square its mark at 1-1 and guarantee there will be no repeat of last season's horrible start.
Iowa State, home against state rival Iowa, proved that Coach Jim Walden was right when he said the Cyclones lacked the talent to beat the Hawkeyes. The final score of Iowa 48, Iowa State 9 gave Walden's first Cycle team an 0-2 record identical to Kansas and Kansas State.
Thurman Thomas continued his climb up the Heisman ballot with 193 rushing yards for Oklahoma State and Rod Smith recovered three turnovers. Each team scored 19 points in the frantic fourth period.
Missouri is riding its first two-game winning streak since 1983 after beating Northwestern 28-3 at home. The Cardinals beat a wild 45-28 win against Wyoming.
lowa has outscored Iowa State 258-50 in five straight victories since the series was resumed. But Hawkeye Coach Hayden Fry said he was impressed with the signs of progress under Walden.
"I truly feel like Jim Wilden will do a super job here, if people just don't get impatient." Fry said. "There is room in the state of Iowa for two good teams. I think they both have potential."
have pooled
Walden's first Iowa State team
opened the week before with a 25-12
loss at Tulane.
"I don't know if we could beat Iowa," Walden said. "I know we can't beat them if we turn the ball over on our side of the field."
The Hawkeyes led only 10-6 midway through the second quarter when interceptions by Kerry Burt and Sean Ridley off Derek DeGennaro put the rout in motion. Iowa tailback Kevin Harmon ran for a career-best 179 yards.
Colorado, like Kansas State and Kansas, spent much of the day making mistakes. But the Buffs made up for it by a nearly 2-to-1 advantage in total offense and time of possession. Colorado's ground-oriented offense rushed for 413 yards, including 119 by freshman Eric Bieniemy. Backup
quarterback Rick Wheeler, replacing the injured Mank Hatcher, scored two short-yardage touchdowns in the second half for the Buffs
When Missouri halfback Robert Delpino sped 82 yards with 14:03 left to give the Tigers a 21-3 lead, an Orange came flying out of the stands onto Faurot Field. The Tigers增值 a recent loss to Northwestern as Missouri got off to its best start since 1982.
One more victory, and Missouri will have matched its total of last year. Two more victories and the Tigers will have matched their victory total in Woody Widenhofer's first two years as head coach.
"This football team is different," Widenhofer said. "They look forward to Saturdays. They're having fun on Saturdays. You work hard all week and then you get a paycheck. This was their paycheck today."
Kansas State tied a school record with 14 penalties for 115 yards against Army.