THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2008
HOMECOMING SECTION 11C
FOOTBALL
Jayhawks to play undefeated Texas Tech in homecoming game
Kansas will face eighth-ranked Red Raiders this Saturday at Memorial Stadium
Todd Reesing, sophomore quarterback, looks to pass to open receiver. Reesing threw for over 340 yards and a record six touchdowns.
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
BY B.J. RAINS rains@kansan.com
The last time Texas Tech was in Lawrence in 2004, the Jayhawks led 30-5 with just 48 seconds remaining in the second quarter and looked ready for the upset. Kansas went scoreless in the second half, gave up a 70-yard touchdown run with two minutes left and lost 31-30.
The Jayhawks hope for better results on Saturday when they host the Red Raiders in the 95th annual homecoming game at 11a.m. on ESPN.
Texas Tech arrives with a perfect 7-0 record and a number eight national ranking but they haven't exactly played the strongest of competition. The Red Raiders' non-conference schedule - Eastern Washington, SMU, Massachusetts, and at Nevada - was rated as one of the worst in the nation. Their three conference games so far - Kansas State, Nebraska and Texas A&M - are all in the lower half of the Big 12.
But that will change quickly for the Red Raiders, who play No. 1 Texas, No. 8 Oklahoma State and No. 4 Oklahoma in their three games after leaving Lawrence.
Kansas has played two ranked opponents in 2008 but has lost both games, 37-34 at No. 19 South Florida in September and 45-31 at No. 4 Oklahoma on Saturday.
Texas Tech boasts one of the nations best offenses, featured by Heisman Trophy candidates
Graham Harrell and Michael Crabtree. Harrell has passed for 2,761 yards and 23 touchdowns in just seven games. Crabtree, one of the top receivers in the nation, already has 51 reception for 724 yards and 12 touchdowns. The Texas Tech offense is averaging more than 45 points per game.
Kansas, meanwhile, boasts one of the top receiving units in the nation. Kerry Meier has a league high 57 catches and Dezmon Briscoe's 700 yards receiving ranks third in the conference. Quarterback Todd Reesing has passed for 2,322 yards, the fourth most of any quarterback in the Big 12, and has thrown 17 touchdowns.
Texas Tech is the best team in the Big 12 at converting third downs. The Red Raiders have converted a league high 55.6 percent
of the time on third down white Kansas ranks third at 49.5 percent. The Red Raiders, however, have committed the most penalties in the Big 12 with 61 in just seven games. Kansas is the second least penalized team in the Big 12 Conference with just 34 penalties through seven games.
The Jayhawks have 28 players from the state of Texas, the most of any state on the KU roster, while Texas Tech has just one player from the state of Kansas.
Luckily for Kansas, the game is in Memorial Stadium where the Jayhawks have won 13 straight games and hold the 4th longest active home winning streak in the nation. Kansas is 22-2 at home dating back to 2006.
Justin Thornton, sophomore defensive back, runs downfield after intercepting a Nebraska pass attempt. Kansas caught four interceptions for over 65 yards.
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
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KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Above: Kansas wide receiver Marcus Henry struggles to gain control of the ball while battling a Nebraska player during last year's homecoming game. Below: Kansas tight end, Derek Fine (85), celebrates with teammates Justin Springer (45) and Dakota Lewis (51). Kansas defeated Nebraska 76-39.