JAYHAWK
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Football
Inside Sports today
Saturday's game - Kansas vs. Missouri
The Kansas cross country, swimming and volleyball teams ran, swam and played their first home events of the season this weekend. SEE PAGES 4B AND 6B
KANSAS
3-0, 1-0
UNRANKED
15
SECTION B, PAGE 1
MISSOURI
1-1, 0-1
UNRANKED
7
WWW.KANSAN.COM/FOOTBALL
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 15.1997
Jayhawks get their revenge
By Kelly Cannon
Kansas outside Linebacker Ron Warner forces Missouri quarterback Corby Jones to fumble with 49 seconds left in Saturday's game at Memorial Stadium. Kansas recovered to ensure a Jayhawk victory. Photo by Geoff Krieger/KANSAN
κcannon@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
The Kansas football team had revenge on its mind Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
The Jayhawks, still reeling from the thrashing they received from Missouri last year, sent the Tigers home with a 15-7 loss. Kansas is one win away from evening the series, which stands at 48-49-9.
"It was a great football game, and I can't say how proud I am of our team," said Kansas football coach Terry Allen. "It's nice to be 3-0. I think we're for real defensive, and offensively we did the things we had to do to keep them off our heels."
Saturday's match-up was Kansas' Big 12 Conference opener and the third consecutive opener in which the Jayhawks were victorious. Kansas defeated Oklahoma 52-24 last year and Colorado 40-24 in 1995.
"We weren't real pretty last week, but offensively this week we came out and did some things," Allen said. "Our players are starting to believe in us and us in them."
Kansas' offense, which often struggled against Texas Christian in its second game, showed its increased maturity. Allen said.
"We're getting better in the offensive line," Allen said. "They're starting to believe in themselves as a unit. We had some great things today. We had Akili (Roberson) out there making some plays for us, and Brian Gray picks a big reception. Those guys are playing hard."
Running back Eric Vann rushed for 137 yards — the first time in his career he has rushed for 100 yards and the first time a Jayhawk has rushed for 100 yards this season.
"It just happened to be my turn, and I was lucky enough to be in there," Vann said. "If any of the four running backs we have had been in there, they would have
done the same thing with the holes we had today."
Allen credited turnovers and special teams play to Kansas' success in the game. The Jayhawks caused three fumbles, and linebackers Warner, Pat Brown and Dewey Houston III each sacked Missouri quarterback Corby Jones.
"We felt that if we forced them to drive the ball the length of the field, that eventually we'd cause a turnover, or we'd stop them," Allen said. "Sure we were a little conservative, but when you've got your defense playing the way they were, go out, get the lead and force Missouri to drive the ball. And they couldn't do it."
Kansas scored two touchdowns and a field goal but couldn't capitalize on the conversions. Both of placekicker Joe Garcia's point-after-touchdown attempts were blocked.
"We had both those blocked right up inside, and that's unforgivable," Allen said. "Nothing is more frustrating than letting the penetration inside."
Kansas had a severe problem with penalties. Kansas had 11 penalties for 135 yards, compared to Missouri's seven penalties for 45 yards.
we were better today, but we still had some mental mistakes and some penalties that cost us." Vann said. "We could have scored maybe two more touchdowns. We drove the ball and would get in there and then get a couple of penalties, and they'd stop us. That's been our problem all year."
Warner said the Missouri players were heckling Kansas players on the field.
"Missouri kept talking about how they won last year and how they won last week," Warner said. "But I was like, 'You're on our turf now, and you're not going to beat us at home. I don't care what you say, but we can keep playing smash-mouth football."
Outside linebacker Patrick Brown sacks Corby Jones, Missouri quarterback. Brown and the Jayhawks sacked Jones three times in Saturday's victory. Photo by Eric B. Howell/KANSAN
Tigers felt overwhelmed
By Tommy Gallagher
tgallagher @kansan.com
Associate sports editor
"I knew they were going to come out and play over their heads no matter what," Jones said. "I knew they were going to stay with us as long as we kept them in the game. We thought we had (the game) down the stretch."
The Missouri Tigers found no solace in a 1-1 record — they had lost to Kansas.
Missouri quarterback Corby Jones, whose two fumbles in the fourth quarter sealed Kansas's 15-7 win on Saturday, said the Jayhawks overachieved because of their 42-25 defeat against the Tigers last season.
But while Missouri never led in the game, its players felt the Jayhawks had been given the victory rather than earning it.
But with 49 seconds left to play, Jones lost the ball and any chance for a Tigers victory when he was sacked by Kansas outside linebacker Ron Warner.
"This loss is on me," he said. "I took at least 10 points off the scoreboard for us. At that point, we were just trying to salvage (the game) and send it into overtime, but they kept on playing hard."
"I didn't see him coming," Jones said. "The ball was raised, and I was ready to throw it. When you're hit like that, it's kind of hard to hold onto the ball."
earlier in the game, Warner hit Jones on an option play and knocked him out of the game for two plays.
"Last week, Missouri had a bunch of yards," Warner said of the Tigers' 382 yards rushing against Eastern Michigan. "We knew we had to stop the option, and we stopped it. This week, the coaches emphasized hitting Jones, even if he didn't have the ball."
The Tigers fared no better through the air. Jones was 10 of 20 passing for 107 yards and one interception. He was sacked three times.
Missouri running back Brock Olivo led the team with 17 carries for 62 yards and a touchdown. Against Kansas' quick perimeter defense led by outside linebackers Patrick Brown and Warner, Missouri rushed the ball 52 times for 165 yards.
The game plan worked.
"The game was in our hands, but we let it go." Olivo said. "It's the worst feeling in the world to lose them, especially when we know that we did it to ourselves. Everything we did today was correctable, and that makes this loss hurt."
Missouri football coach Larry Smith said turnovers and a lack of execution lost Missouri the game.
Olivio said the loss stung because of the opponent and the way the game unfolded.
"The turnovers hurt us," Smith said. "Then when we tried to throw the ball and loosen things up on first down. We did not execute in the passing game. The Jayhawks came with a lot of pressure, got some sacks and made the big plays. The bottom line is that they made the big plays — we didn't."
Flag football teams air it out for charity
By Aerica Veazey
The tournament began in 1980 as a philanthropic event for the Delta Upsilon fraternity. The event was renamed in 1983 as a tribute to Greg Wilkerson, a member of the Delta Upsilon fraternity who was killed that summer.
Nineteen men's teams and nine women's teams have been placed on the tournament's brackets. Each team contributed $110 to play, and organizations with more than one队 contributed $40 for each additional team after the first.
James Colyer, Phoenix sophomore, philanthropy chairman and event organizer, said Delta Upsilon hoped to raise about $7,500 through the tournament.
The 17th Annual Greg Wilkerson Memorial Flag Football Tournament will kick into action at 3:30 p.m. today at the YSI Sports Complex at 23rd and Wakarau streets. The tournament will run all week, with the men and women's championship games played on Sunday at Memorial Stadium.
"The money we make will go to benefit the Villages," he said. "It is a home for underprivileged children in Topeka."
The fraternity is holding a drawing for two tickets to the Chicago Bulls vs. Seattle Sonics game on Oct. 11. The drawing will be held between the women's and men's championship games on Sunday. The proceeds will go to benefit The Villages.
sports@kansan.com
Kansan sportswriter
Meagan Leahy, Salina sophomore and member of Alpha Delta Pi, hopes to return this year and take the title.
Last year, Beta Theta Pi fraternity and the Alpha Delta Pi sorority won the championship titles.
"We want to take it again," she said. "We lost our quarterback from last year. We will be rebuilding."
About 25 women had signed up to play on this year's team with about 10 returning from last year's team, she said. They needed four times last week.
"We were teaching the people how to play," Leahy said. The team won't see any action until tomorrow because it has a first-round bye.
The members of Beta Theta Pi also will make an appearance. Brent Scholz, Overland Park senior and member of Beta Theta Pi, said everyone on the team was getting ready by learning passing routes.
"We have changed a couple of key spots, including the quarterback position," he said. The team for this year has about eight returning from the championship team last season. "You hope to win but can't expect anything." Scholz said.
Flag Football
Games begin today at the YSI Sports Complex at 23rd and Wakarau streets. Kickoff times for the men's and women's divisions are from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. on fields No. 1-4 at the complex.
Football results
Big 12 Conference
Kansas 15
Missouri 7
No. 8 Colorado 3
No. 14 Michigan 27
Iowa State 53
Minnesota 29
Kansas State 23
Ohio 20
No. 6 Nebraska 38
Central Florida 24
Oklahoma State 35
Fresno State 0
UCLA 66
No. 11 Texas 0
Texas Tech 59
Southwestern
Louisiana 14
ASSOCIATION PRESS TOP 25
No. 1 Penn State 52 Temple 10
No. 3 Washington 36 'San Diego State 3
No. 5 Florida State 50 Maryland 7
No. 7 North Carolina 28
No. 17 Stanford 17
No. 9 Ohio State 44 Bowling Green 13
No. 10 Louisiana State 24 Mississippi State 9
Purdue 28
No. 11 Notre Dame 17
No. 24 Arizona State 23
No. 13 Miami 12
No. 16 Auburn 19 Mississippi 9
No. 18 Iowa 54 Tulsa 16
No. 19 Clemson 19 North Carolina State 17
No. 21 Michigan State 51 Memphis 21
No. 22 Virginia Tech 31 Syracuse 3
Washington State 28 No. 23 Southern Col 21
No. 25 Colorado State 35 Utah State 24
USA Today/ESPN Top 25
The Top Twenty Five teams in the USA Today/ESPN college football poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, records through yesterday. Total points based on 25 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote, and previous ranking:
| rank | team | rec | pts | pve |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| 1. Florida (25) | 2-0 | 1,451 | 1 |
| 2. Penn St. (14) | 2-0 | 1,440 | 2 |
| 3. Washington (12) | 2-0 | 1,430 | 3 |
| 4. Tennessee(6) | 2-0 | 1,352 | 4 |
| 5. Florida St (2) | 2-0 | 1,316 | 6 |
| **6. Nebraska (1)** | **2-0** | **1,195** | **5** |
| 7.N. Carolina (1) | 2-0 | 1,177 | 8 |
| 8. Ohio St (1) | 2-0 | 1,125 | 9 |
| 9.Michigan | 1-0 | 1,069 | 13 |
| 10.LSU | 2-0 | 1,035 | 11 |
| 11.Albama | 2-0 | 896 | 14 |
| 12.Auburn | 2-0 | 782 | 16 |
| 13.Iowa | 2-0 | 777 | 17 |
| 14.Virginia Tech | 2-0 | 705 | 19 |
| 15.Clemson | 2-0 | 543 | 21 |
| **16. Colorado** | **1-1** | **524** | **7** |
| 17.Arizona State | 2-0 | 514 | — |
| 18.Michigan State | 2-0 | 490 | 23 |
| **19.Kansas State** | **2-0** | **458** | **20** |
| 20.Washington St | 2-0 | 398 | — |
| 21.Miami | 1-1 | 256 | — |
| **22.Texas A&M** | **1-0** | **206** | — |
| 23.Stanford | 1-1 | 175 | 18 |
| **24.Texas** | **1-1** | **120** | 10 |
| 25.Georgia | 2-0 | 118 | — |
The Top 25 teams in The Associated Press college football poll, with firstplace votes in parentheses, records through Saturday, total points based on 25 points for a first place vote through one point for a 25th place vote and previous ranking:
Other teams receiving votes Nome Dame 11, Colorado State 83, Brigham Young 65, UCLA 56, North Carolina State 42, Oregon State 37, University of California 32, Southern California 20, Wyoming 18, Northwestern 17, Virginia 13, West Virginia 13, Oregon 7, California 5, Texas Tech 4, Georgia Tech 3, Mississippi State 3, Purdue 3, Utah State 3, Navy 1, New Mexico 1, Pitbush 1, Wake Forest 1
rec pts pvs
AP Top 25
1. Penn St. (25) 2-0 1,641 1
2. Washington (19) 2-0 1,615 3
3. Florida (14) 2-0 1,598 2
4. Tennessee (8) 2-0 1,543 4
5. Florida St. (3) 2-0 1,483 5
6. N. Carolina (1) 2-0 1,379 7
7. Nebraska (2) **2-0** 1,364 6
8. Michigan 1-0 1,302 8
9. Ohio St. 1-0 1,235 9
10. LSU 1-0 1,165 10
11. Alabama 2-0 1,007 15
12. Auburn 2-0 878 16
13. Iowa 2-0 850 18
14. Arizona St. 2-0 698 24
15. Colorado 1-1 696 8
16. Clemson 2-0 669 19
17. Michigan St. 2-0 660 21
18. Virginia Tech 2-0 603 22
19. Washington St. 2-0 490 —
20. Kansas St. **2-0** 431 20
21. Stanford 1-1 323 17
22. Miami 1-1 244 13
23. Colorado St. 2-1 172 17
24. UCLA 1-2 131 —
25. Georgia 2-0 127 —
Other teams receiving votes: Texas A&M 113, Notre Dame 82,
North Carolina State 37, Kansas 29, Wichita 11, Air Force 9