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THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Score by Quarters 1 2 3 4 Total Kansas 7 14 7 14 42 McNeese 0 3 13 8 24
Jayhawk Stat Leaders
Webb
Passing 146
Sims
Rushing 104
Shepherd
KANSAS 42
Receiving 107
Kansas
Passing Cmp-Att Int Yds TD Long
Jordan Webb 7-10 0 146 3 56
Rushing No Yds TD Long
James Sims 19 104 1 30
Tony Pierson 5 73 1 47
Darrian Miller 13 63 0 12
Jordan Webb 8 27 1 12
Brandon Bourbon 3 27 0 12
Receiving No Yds TD Long
Jacorey Shepherd 3 107 2 56
Daymond Patterson 3 34 1 25
Tim Biere 1 5 0 56
Kicking FG Long XP
Alex Mueller 0/0 — 6/6
Punting No. Yds Avg Long In20
Ron Doherty 2 92 46.9 49 0
McNeese State
Passing Cmp-Att Int Yds TD Long
Team 31-41 0 325 2 60
Rushing No. Gain TD Long Avg
Team 34 123 1 20 2.8
Receiving No. Yds TD Long
Team 31 325 2 60
Kicking FG Long XP
Team 1/2 33 1/2
Punting No. Yds Avg Long In20
Team 4 126 31.5 35 1
Zenger: Additional tickets available
Dear Fellow Jayhawk,
I want to thank you for your tremendous support during our McNeese State victory on Saturday.
Your enthusiasm and passion carried onto the field and our team responded to your positive energy. Even severe weather and a rain delay could not keep you away. You played a big part in our first victory of the year!
We have another important home game on Saturday against Northern Illinois. Kickoff is at 6 p.m. and I can't wait to see you all back in Memorial Stadium!
To show our appreciation, we would like to offer you an additional complimentary ticket for the Northern Illinois game. Feel
free to use the ticket for a friend or family member.
Zenger
You can pick up your complimentary ticket Tuesday through Friday at the athletics Ticket
Office, located on the Southeast corner of Allen Fieldhouse. The ticket office is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2011
Thanks again for your great support. Rock Chalk Jayhawk!
Dr. Sheahon Zenger Director of Athletics
Kansas better but not perfect
FOOTBALL
ETHAN PADWAY
epadway@kansan.com
It took a year, but Turner Gill finally got the season debut that coaches at major football programs expect.
After losing to North Dakota State in the 2010 season opener—a night when everything seemed to go wrong—the tables turned for the Jayhawks in their 41-24 victory against the McNeese State Cowboys on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
"It's just hard work paying off for us," senior linebacker Steven Johnson said. "When you make investments in the offseason, those checks get cashed during the season."
With Kansas up by four in the second, the offense got the ball down to the 5-yard line and appeared likely to score before the McNeese State defense stuffed James Sims on two consecutive plays, bringing up fourth down. Then came the flaps.
Kansas had a personal foul,
dropping them back to what would have been a fourth and 18, but McNeese State got a personal foul after the play, giving Kansas a new set of downs to work with. Kansas promptly scored to give the Javahawks a 14-3 lead.
"It felt great," junior receiver Kale Pick said. "Our offense executed well in the run game, and
I'm glad we could open up gaps for our running backs and then in the pass game we executed really well too."
field goal wide left to end the first half, and later the All-Southland conference kicker saw his PAT bounce off the goal post.
It still wasn't perfect. The Jayhawks had the typical season
"When you make investments in the offseason, those checks get cashed during the season."
The Jayhawks momentum helped them to victory came in the third quarter when freshman receiver JaCorey Shepherd leapt in front of a pass intended for Pick. Shepherd caught it and
opening road bumps. The defense struggled at times to defend the screen pass, allowing McNeese State to hang around in the game far longer than the Cowboys should have.
"Initially, I was looking at him," sophomore quarterback Jordan Webb said. "But
STEVEN JOHNSON senior linebacker
But they had their moments of fortune when Cowboys' senior kicker Josh Lewis missed a
then I saw Kale wide open, so I tried to just put it right on him. JaCorey just made a great play and Kale through an awesome block and it worked out. It's funny how things just kind of work out sometimes."
Just outside of scoring position, the Jayhawks' drive stalled on the 24-yard line. On fourth down, Webb was sacked and walked gingerly to the sideline.
For a moment, it looked like the Jayhawks luck might run out.
McNeese State drove down and scored, bringing the Cowboys within two scores in the fourth quarter.
The javahaws bounced back, driving down the field in the wildcat formation before Webb returned to the field and threw a strike to Shepherd to put the game out of reach.
"One of our offseason goals was fighting through adversity;" senior center Jeremiah Hatch said. "We told each other we were going to fight through adversity no matter what. Weather, penalties, adversity will come this season and we are willing to stand up and fight it. That was the biggest thing, just keep moving next play."
Edited by Jayson Jenks
MORGAN LAFORGE/KANSAN
Junior cornerback Greg Brown celebrates after tackling a McNeese State player for a loss Saturday in the season opener. Brown recorded two solo tackles in the Jayhawk victory.
Students "wave the wheat" as Kansas scores its first touchdown versus McNeese State University on Saturday evening. Kansas defeated McNeese State 42-24.
MIKF GIUNNOF/KANSAN
Notes
The Glass is Half Full
The Jayhawks are 1-0 after their victory on Saturday. Many young Jayhawks preformed well in their first game in wearing Crimson and Blue. If the Jayhawks are to have any hope of reaching a bowl game this season, the young Jayhawks will have to continue to perform week in and week out like they did against McNeese State.
The Glass is Half Empty
The class is hard Empty
The defense struggled at times to contain the McNeese passing attack. With the Big 12 full of teams with prolific passers, the Jayhawks could be in for a bumpy road if their defense doesn't improve.
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