LAST WEEK 11
Mike Gunnoe/KANSAN
Jayhawks finish strong against Duke
Kansas improves to 3-0 with victory against Blue Devils
After starting the game with a slow first quarter, the Jayhawks got things rolling against the Duke Blue Devils last Saturday. A solid second quarter gave Kansas a 20-7 lead heading into halftime, and the team never looked back. The Jayhawks won 44-16 and improved to 3-0 for the season.
Senior running back Jake Sharp played sparingly because of an injury suffered during practice, but freshman Toben Opurum picked up the slack for the Jayhawks. Opurum rushed for 72 yards on 17 carries and scored two touchdowns.
The Jayhawks' defense improved after surrendering a touchdown to Duke on its opening drive. The Blue Devils went 87 yards on just two plays to go ahead 7-0. The defense later intercepted two Duke passes and senior defensive end Maxwell Onyegbule returned one of them for a score.
The Kansas offense picked up 490 yards for the game. Todd Reeing passed for three touchdowns and 338 yards. Dezmon Briscoe gained 117 yards on six catches and Kerry Meier caught eight passes for 64 yards.
The victory came in the first meeting between Kansas and Duke in football.
Scott Toland
Weston White/KANSAN
Freshman running back Toben Opurum shoves cornerback Leon Wright to the ground before breaking outside for extra yards. Opurum rushed for 72 yards and two touchdowns Saturday to help Kansas in its 44-16 win.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THE WAVE SEPTEMBER 25, 2009