24 BIG 12
COLORADO BUFFALOES
Quarterback scrambles over Kansas
By Arnie Stapleton Associated Press
BOULDER, Colo. — Three years after Colorado watched Kansas' mobile quarterback Todd Reeing come off the bench and spark a signature comeback win, the Buffaloes may have found their own answer under center in scrambling sophmore Tyler Hansen.
Hansen, who supplanted Cody Hawkins — the coach's son — at halftime at Texas a week earlier, made the most of his first start Saturday night, leading the Buffs to a 34-30 win over previously unbeaten Kansas.
The Jayhawks (5-1, 1-1 Big 12) fell seven spots to 24th in the AP Top 25 poll Sunday.
This is the second straight season that Hansen burned a redshirt at midseason because of Hawkins'inconsistency and glut of interceptions. Last time, Hansen wasn't well-versed in the offense and quickly gave the starting job back to Hawkins.
He was a much different quarterback this time, throwing for 175 yards and a score and running for 34 yards — 64, not counting sack yardage — and a touchdown.
After his turnover helped spark Kansas' comeback from a three-touchdown deficit to take a 30-27 fourth-quarter lead, Hansen coolly directed a 10-play, 76-yard game-winning touchdown drive in the fourth quarter.
"I play a little smarter than I did last year," Hansen said. "I took a little longer to go through my progressions, and I looked downfield a little more. I just didn't look to run. I was able to scramble around and look downfield. That's probably the biggest difference between this year and last year."
It was a dead-on imitation of Reesing, who led Kansas to a 20-15 win over Colorado in 2006, when he burned his redshirt at halftime after standing on the sideline for the first eight games.
He's gone on to lead Kansas to a 24-8 record since then.
"The quarterback for CU, he was the difference-maker today," Kansas coach Mark Mangino said after Reesing's rally in the final minute came up short with two passes batted down in the end zone. "It's unfortunate that they picked this week to take his red-shirt off. I think they found their quarterback, that's for sure."
Colorado quarterback Tyler Hansen, center, eludes Kansas linebacker Arist Wright, left, and cornerback Ryan Murphy in the third quarter of Colorado's 34-30 victory in Boulder, Colo., last Saturday. Hansen ran for 34 yards and a touchdown.
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THE WAVE OCTOBER 23,2009
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN