Sports
The University Daily Kansan
Nationally ranked basketball recruit Malik Hairston visited Kansas' volleyball game Saturday in Horesji Family Athletic Center. PAGE 8B
12A
Monday, September 22, 2003
KANSAS 41 - JACKSONVILLE STATE 6
'Hawks dominate Gamecocks
I Whittemore, senior quarterback, charged between Jacksonville State defenders Kenny Brown and Jonathan Crutcher during the first quarter of Saturday's game. Whittemore ran 319 yards and made two touchdowns.
By Ryan Greene rgreene@kansan.com Kansan sportswriter
Courtney Kuhlen/Kansan
The Kansas football team followed its coach's advice by not overlooking Jacksonville State. In fact, the Jayhawks went one step further, overwhelming the Gamecocks from start to finish in a 41-6 victory.
With a raucous crowd of 34,712 at its back, the Jayhawks dominated the game early both offensively and defensively never looking back.
Kansas presented an offensive attack in the first quarter that would have been confusing to any defense in the country.
The Division 1-AA Gamecocks were simply no match for the perfect blend of sophomore tailback Clark Green bruising defenders on the ground and senior quarterback Bill Whittemore lighting up the secondary with two touchdown passes of more than 50 yards.
The Jayhawks held onto the ball for 8:13 in the opening period, constantly keeping the Gamecock defense off balance.
On the opening drive, eight of Kansas' 10 plays were on the ground, culminating in Whittimore slamming his way into the endzone, head first as always, from two yards out.
Then after forcing Jacksonville State to punt, Whittemore hit sophomore receiver Mark Simmons for a lengthy touchdown bomb for the second consecutive week.
The 65-yard throw was placed perfectly, hitting Simmons in stride to not only speed past the Jacksonville State secondary, but also leaving any hopes of a road upset in his wake.
The Jayhawks added a 15-yard Whititemore touchdown and a 57-yard touchdown catch by junior Brandon Rideau to take a commanding 28-0 lead. That was only the first 15 minutes.
Jacksonville State was finally able to find a seam in the stingy Kansas defense in the second quarter, and added a touchdown on a 57-yard pass from Maurice Mullins to Neilka Willis.
With a missed extra point, the Gamecocks headed to the locker room in a 28-6 hole. Even though Kansas' offense was unable to score in the second quarter, Jacksonville State headed to the locker room at halftime with little hope of a comeback.
Courtnev Kuhlen/Kansan
SEE FOOTBALL ON PAGE 7A
Marcus Lewis, junior defensive back, tackled wide receiver Mark Simmons in the second quarter of Saturday's game against Jacksonville Stat$. Simmons, a sophomore, caught three passes in the Javahawks 41-6 victory over the Gamecocks.
Courtney Koblan/Kansan
Charles Gordon, freshman wide receiver, wheeled around Jacksonville State linebacker Johnathan Crutcher in the fourth quartar Saturday. Gordon caught five passes for 80 yards in the Jayhawks' victory over the Gamecocks.
'Stage fright' kills Jax State
By Kevin Flaherty
kflaherty@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
Like many Division 1-AA football teams taking on a Division 1-A opponent, Jacksonville State entered its game at Kansas Saturday thinking it had a chance to win. But the Jayhawks quickly jumped ahead of the Gamecocks, demoralizing them with a 28-point first quarter that led to a 41-6 Kansas victory.
When Kansas came out hot, there was nothing the Gamecocks could do as the Jayhawks outgained them 262 yards to seven in the first period.
Jack Crowe, Jacksonville State coach, said his team began the game in a weakened emotional state.
"We had stage fright," Crowe said. "I kept asking them if they were seeing something they hadn't seen before."
Jacksonville State did get a brief burst of energy from backup quarterback Maurice Mullins in the second quarter. Soon after entering the game, Mullins threw a 57-yard touchdown pass to Neika Willis, cutting the score to 28-6.
Mullins said the play worked to perfection.
While both Jacksonville State quarterbacks struggled, Mullins showed flashes on his way to completing 9 of 18 passes for 147 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
"It was a designed play that we worked on all week, and it worked like we thought," Mullins said. "They bit on the option fake and it was wide open."
It was his interception, thrown to Tony Stubbs, that bothered Mullins afterward.
SEE JACKSONVILLE STATE ON PAGE 7A
Jayhawks crush Colorado
By Mike Norris
mnorris@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
The Kansas volleyball team used to be unsuccessful against the Colorado Buffaloes, but not anymore.
The Jayhawks defeated Colorado 3-0 Saturday afternoon in their Big 12 Conference home opener, their fourth victory in five matches against the Buffaloes.
"They had our number for the first three years I think." Kansas coach Ray Bechard said. "I think they're still very good, it's just a little bit about what we're doing: getting better."
Eric Braam/Kansan
Junior middle blocker Ashley Michaels attempted to split Colorado outside hitters Nicole Carr and Austin Zimmerman Saturday. Michaels recorded 10 kills in the Jayhawks' three-game match with the Buffaloes. Freshman Janaina Correra led Kansas with 11 kills last weekend.
When Bechard came to Kansas (8-4 1-1) in 1998, his teams lost five out of its first six matches against the Colorado team.
But the victory Saturday night was the third in a row against the Buffaloes, and it came right after a 3-0 loss to rival Kansas State.
SEE VOLLEYBALL ON PAGE 8A