8A the university daily kansan
sports
monday, September 8, 2003
Big 12 football dominant over weekend
Conference posts 10-1 record highlighted by last-minute victories
By Kevin Flaherty
kflaherty@kansan.com
Kansan Sportswriter
Big 12 Conference football was nearly perfect during the weekend, including major victories for Colorado and Oklahoma.
Oklahoma won at Alabama 20-13, utilizing a trick play to add a late touchdown. Oklahoma had a 13-10 lead and was forced into a fourth-and-11 situation when coach Bob Stoops called a fake. Blake Ferguson tossed a 22-yard
rossed a 22 year pass and Jason White took the offense the rest of the way down the field to add the clinching touchdown.
"We felt if they would be that reckless off the corners we would use it." Stoops said. "In games like this on the road, you need to make things happen."
White passed for 259 yards and two touchdowns, while the Sooner defense added five sacks and two interceptions.
Colorado used a fourth quarter score to overcome UCLA 16-14. The victory put the Buffaloes
at 2-0 with nonconference matchups against Washington State and Florida State on the horizon.
In arguably the weekend's most exciting Big 12 game, Texas A&M slipped past
Utah 28-26. Utah scored all 26 of their points in the second half, including a 45-yard touchdown pass from Brett Elliott to John Madsen with eight seconds left in the game. The Aggies dug in and stopped Elliott short on the two point conversion to win the game.
Kansas State beat up on another nonconference foe, winning 55-14 over Division 1-AA McNeese State. Ell Roberson threw his fifth touchdown pass of the season, but hurt his wrist and
left the game. He was off limits to the media afterwards. Darren Sproles added 101 yards on 14 carries. The star of the game was Rashad Washington, who had two interceptions, including one he returned for a touchdown, and a blocked punt which set up another score.
Nebraska used strong defense and a 16-point second half to slide by Utah State 31-7 and Brad Smith racked up 229 yards of total offense in the first half as Missouri defeated Ball State 35-7. Smith left the game near the end of the first half with a concussion.
BJ. Symons had another big game,throwing for 418 yards and five touchdowns while running for another as Texas Tech defeated New Mexico 42-28. Red Raider safety Ryan Aycock intercepted two passes,giving him three for the year.
Oklahoma State rebounded from last week's loss to Nebraska by defeating Wyoming 48-24. Tatum Bell ran for a career-high 215 yards and Rashaun Woods added 152 yards receiving to become Oklahoma State's all-time leader in receiving yardage. Oklahoma State led 41-7 in the third quarter when they sat quarterback Josh Fields, Bell and Woods for the rest of the game. Wyoming quarterback Casey Bramlet had 306 yards and three touchdowns in the loss.
Iowa State used 34 first-half points to defeat Ohio 48-20. Austin Flynn had 330 yards of total offense in the win. The offense looked much more efficient than in last week's 17-10
victory over Division 1-AA Northern Iowa.
The only Big 12 loss of the weekend belonged to Baylor, who lost 52-14 to North Texas. Baylor turned the ball over on six
baylor turned of their seven possessions in the first half. The other possession was when the quarterback
took a knee to end the half. The Bears also lost the opening kickoff when nobody opted to field the kick and Johnny Quinn fell on the ball at the 13 for North Texas.
"It's a step backwards," Baylor coach Guy Morriss said. "Nobody can overcome six turnovers." Baylor dropped to 0-2 with the loss.
Some Big 12 games to watch for this week include: Washington State at Colorado, Arkansas at Texas, Iowa at Iowa State, Fresno state at Oklahoma, and Penn State at Nebraska. Wyoming hosts Kansas on Saturday at 3 p.m.
Edited by Michael Owells
Kansas Athletics Calendar
Royals answer Angels, tie series
Tuesday
Soccer at Southwest Missouri State Springfield, Mo.
Wednesday
Volleyball vs Oral Roberts 7 p.m. @ Horejsi Family Athletic Center.
Friday
Soccer vs Florida State 5 p.m. @ SuperTarget Field
Volleyball vs Creighton 1 p.m.
@ Horejsi Family Athletic Center.
Saturday
Football at Wyoming 3p.m.
Laramie, Wyo.
Sunday
Volleyball vs North Carolina 7 p.m. @ Horejsi Family Athletic Center.
soccer vs Central Florida noon
@ SuperTarget Field.
The Associated Press
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Paul Abbott is exactly where he wanted to be.
Abbott combined with two relievers on a five-hitter and the Kansas City Royals got home runs from Aaron Gueli and rookie Ken Harvey to beat the Anaheim Angels 3-0 yesterday.
The Royals remained three games behind Minnesota and Chicago in the AL Central race after earning a split of the four game series.
Abbott (1-0) earned his first major league win since April 13, 2002. He had shoulder surgery in the summer of 2002.
"It's probably better off for me to come back in this kind of situation, because I have to pitch well right away — instead of feeling my way around the arm surgery." Abbott said.
"We're in a pennant race, which is something I hadn't been a part of since I was healthy. So
it's like not missing a beat — in terms of the circumstances. Now I have to put a premium on pitching, which is a plus for me."
Abbott helped pitch Seattle to the ALCS in 2000 and 2001.
**royals 3**
**angels 0**
**next:** indians @
**royals**
**records:** royals
73-69 indians 62-
81
2006 and 1988. The Royals got him Aug. 8 from Arizona after he began the season with the Diamondbacks' Triple-A team in Tucson.
"I thought I'd be back around the middle of May," Abbott said. "I talked to some guys who have had labrum surgeries, and they said they were back in 6-8 months. I didn't get back until over a year, so it was frustrating."
In his fifth start with the Royals, Abbott allowed five hits over seven innings while striking out three and walking none.
He's allowed just two earned
runs and seven hits in 17 1-3 innings over his last three starts.
Had Abbott kept his pitch count down, manager Tony Pena said he would have allowed the 10-year veteran to try for his first shutout in 90 career starts. But he spent 13 pitches during one at bat by Scott Spiezio, who fouled off eight straight pitches before grounding out to second in the third inning.
"My pitch count would have been in half if it wasn't for that atbat," Abbott joked. "I told him, 'Next time, just tell me where you want it.' I got him on a fastball down the middle. That one confused him, I guess."
Jeremy Affeldt pitched a perfect eighth and D.J. Carrasco closed for his third save in five chances.
Guiel, who hit his first career leadoff home run last Thursday against Arizona's Randy Johnson, did it again against John Lackey (9-14).
shutouts.
The Royals, who haven't won a season series from the Angels since 1996, won only three of the nine meetings this year against the World Series champions. All three wins were
He tucked a 1-2 pitch just inside the right-field pole for 14th of the season and 10th on the road.
"I had him where I wanted him, but I just missed my spot with the pitch," Lackey said. "I tried to go up and in, and I put it down and in."
Joe Randa followed with a single, and would have been forced at second on Mike Sweeney's potential double-play grounder to third. But second baseman Adam Kennedy crossed the bag before catching Shawn Wooten's throw, and all hands were safe as Sweeney beat the relay to first.
The Royals converted Kennedy's error into an unearned run when Lackey threw a wild pitch and Carlos Beltran hit a sacrifice fly.
How come nobody wanted to storm the field with me after the game? It is not like we are ever going to win again any time soon.
Free forAll
kobe smbe, I am sick of hearing about his crap.
I just want to say that Mizzou sucks but we can't forget that K-State sucks too.
Why are the re-entry passes for The University of Kansas purple. Not purple - blue or cimson. Not purple.
I love the Red Wings. I love Dan. Wait. I lied. I just love the Red Wings.
game.
The two wins were a 20 point victory over Division 1-AA Southwest Missouri State and a win over Tulsa, who at one time
It makes me so happy to see that the girl I grew up playing soccer with on the playgrounds is now at KU scoring a goal nearly every game that she plays in. Caroline Smith you are the best soccer player. Keep up the good work.
I have a class with Keith Langford in it and he was wearing a North Carolina jersey. Something just seems wrong about that.
This goes out to the Kansan sports columnist Ryan Greene. You may think I have forgotten, but I still remember that Mizzou hat you wore last year.
Corrections
Kansas football team gaining on Big 12 competition
The Kansas vs. UNLV breakdown published in The University Daily Kansan on Sept. 5 was compiled by Kevin Flaherty, JJ Hensley and Shane Mettlen.
Kansas looked like a Big 12 team on Saturday night.
Always maligned for their lack of competence when it comes to pigskin athletics, the Jayhawks are starting to field a team that should make fans proud before too long.
Just last season, Kansas was 2-10, and went the whole season without winning a single Big 12 game.
Kevin Flaherty
kflaherty@kansan.com
ranked dead last in the ESPN Division 1-A football rankings. The week of the Tulsa game, Kansas was ranked as the seventh worst team in the poll.
But no longer.
The Jayhawks showed their potential on Saturday. Bill Whitmore threw for 270 yards and rushed for 65, while a backfield combination of Clark Green and freshman John Randle ran for a combined 194 yards.
This year's Kansas team is stronger and faster. More importantly, the talent gap between the Jayhawks and the rest of the Big 12 is getting smaller.
The offensive line blew open holes that enabled the running backs to scamper for almost six
yards per carry.
"It was shocking," Jamaal Brimmer, UNL safety said.
The defense showed big play potential, although they did allow 421 total Rebel vards.
Gabe Toomey had 18 tackles in two games, and returned an interception for a 29 yard touchdown. Mark Mangino said Toomey, an Oklahoma transfer, would be getting playing time for the No. 1 ranked Sooners if he were still there.
Even more than his impressive athletic ability, Toomey
brings attitude to a once soft Kansas defense.
With eight minutes left to go in the fourth quarter, Toomey slammed UNLV quarterback Kurt Nantkes to the ground and forced an incomplete pass. Instead of helping the fallen opponent off the ground, Toomey stepped right over him.
Expect an improvement in the defensive line when Travis Watkins and Chuck Jones get back to full speed. The defensive backs too, will get better with time.
Credit Mangino with the turnaround. He took over a depleted program and brought in several talented recruits who are now shaping his program into what could turn out to be something impressive.
If Kansas wins their next two games against Wyoming and Jacksonville State, Missouri better look out.
Kansas is no longer a door mat.
Flaherty is a Lenexa senior in Journalism.
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