4B
KANSAS 29, LOUISIANA TECH 0
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2008
FOOTBALL WF
GAMER (CONTINUED FROM 1B)
Not very often does a drive last 22 plays, cover 82 yards, take more than nine minutes off the clock and result in zero points, but such was the case for Louisiana Tech.
The Bulldogs failed to score on a drive that took almost two-thirds of a quarter when Chris Harris picked off quarterback Taylor Bennett's pass in the end zone midway through the second quarter, giving Kansas the ball after a marathon Louisiana Tech drive ended with nothing to show for it.
"I didn't like it because it's uncharacteristic of our defense," coach Mark Mangino said of his defense on the long Louisiana Tech drive. "I really thought they were out there for a very long time. It shows you the character of those kids. They were tired, but they toughened up and went out there and competed."
What could have been seven points for Louisiana Tech resulted in seven points for Kansas when the Jayhawks drove down the field 80 yards in eight plays on the ensuing drive — capped by a three-yard touchdown catch by freshman Daymond Patterson that made it 10-0.
The punt-returning sensation Patterson replaced the injured Dexton Fields in the starting lineup and had eight catches for 130 yards and two touchdowns.
The only dull moment of the night for Kansas came when defensive back Kendrick Harper was taken off the field on a stretcher and driven to the hospital after appearing to injure his head or neck as he attempted to make a tackle late in the first quarter.
The 5-foot-9 senior left the field
under his own power but soon needed medical attention and was attended to for several minutes before being put in an ambulance.
"I don't know all of the details. We're still working on that," coach Mark Mangino said of Harper's condition after the game. "He's in good care. He's in good hands. We don't have a whole lot of information, and we want to talk to his family before stuff is printed all over the Internet."
The defensive play of the game came midway through the third quarter with Kansas leading 20-0. Louisiana Tech's Phillip Livas took an end-around from his own 20-yard line and broke free for what looked like was going to be an 80-vard touchdown run.
But safety Darrell Stuckey, who tipped a ball intercepted by Chris Harris in the end zone earlier in the game, somehow chased down the speedy Livas and knocked him out of bounds at the two-yard line.
Stuckey tackled running back Patrick Jackson for a four-yard loss on the next play and then pressured quarterback Taylor Bennett on third and goal, causing his pass to go incomplete and forcing a field goal attempt that Bulldog kicker Brad Oestriecher would miss.
— Edited by Adam Mowder
"It's what you always talk about and what you always want to see from your players — not ever giving up on a play, no matter how hopeless it looks," said defensive coordinator Clint Bowen. "That's exactly what he did. He continued to run, and he caught the guy and made what turned out to be a play that saved the shutout for us."
MONTEMAYOR (CONTINUED FROM 1B)
unprecedented seasons
The stage is now set for the two teams, both 2-0, to meet early January. Eastern Carolina will win out and Kansas will continue to improve and silence doubters this year.
Momentum has propelled the two so far.
The Javhawks are riding a
three-game win streak back to their Orange Bowl title.
The Pirates closed 2007 with a Hawaii Bowl win against a team no stranger to disrupting the BCS's plans either — former Fiesta Bowl champs Boise State.
Edited by Rachel Burchfield
football notes
Freshman wide receiver Davmond Patterson takes a hard hit during the first half of Saturday's game. Patterson's fumble on the play was recovered by sophomore wide receiver Dezmon Briscoe.
HARPER UPDATE
Coach Mark Mangino released a statement Sunday evening with an update on senior cornerback Kendrick Harper.
"As we speak he is being released," Mangino said. "He underwent a battery of tests and everything seems to be fine and he feels a lot better. I am glad he is doing well and that is the main thing. We will discuss football stuff when he comes over."
Harper was carted off the sidelines and taken away in an ambulance late in the first quarter. He suffered an apparent neck injury while attempting to make a tackle.
BIG PLAY DEFENSE
Quarterback Taylor Bennett escaped the defensive rush for a 14-yard run and also threw a
Kansas' defense surrendered only three plays of more than 12 yards on the evening.
22-yard pass to Phillip Livas.
KICKIN' IT
Livas had the Bulldogs longest play of the game, a 78-yard end-around that ended at the two-yard line. Without that run, the Jayhawk defense allowed only 70 rushing yards in the 29-0 victory.
Freshman kicker Jacob Branstetter was cleared academically late in the week and assumed the starting role on Saturday.
Branstetter was impressive in warm-ups, hitting from as far as 46 yards away. In the game he nailed field goals of 28, 25 and 26 yards, but missed his third extra point attempt.
Bransetter should remain the starting kicker ahead of Grady Fowler, but Mangino may still use punter Alonso Rojas for longer field goals.
— Taylor Bern
Ryan McGeeney/KANSAN
ABOVE: Senior defensive end Russell Brorsen, right, takes down a Louisiana Tech receiver with other Jayhawk defenders during Saturday's game in Memorial Stadium. The Jayhawks shut out the visitors 29-0.
Jon Goering/KANSAN
ABOVE RIGHT: Junior safety Darrell Stuckey takes down Louisiana Tech running back Patrick Jackson during Saturday's game. Stuckey led Kansas with 10 tackles, six solo and four assisted, in the game.
Ryan McGeeney/KANSAN
LEFT: Junior quarterback Todd Rees-ing throws a pass to freshman wide receiver Daymond Patterson during the first quarter of Saturday's match against Louisiana Tech in Memorial Stadium. The Jayhawks shut out their challengers 29-0.
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