FOOTBALL
FCA
Kansas 35 Ball State 10
SECTION B
FRIDAY, AUGUST 30, 1996
Ball State Kansas
Ball State Kendall
Score 10 38
First Downs 12 28
Rushes Yardage 84 290
Passing Yardage 151 198
Total Offense Yards 235 488
Punts (No./ Yards) 8 for 44.8 0 for 0
Fumbles Loat 2—2 1—1
Penalties/ Yards 6 for 29 11 for 70
Time of Possession 26:29 33:31
Kansas 35 Ball State 10
Kansas Game Notes
The game was Glen Mason's 92nd as Kansas' football coach. He passes Jack Mitchell (1958-66) for most games coached in Jayhawk history.
The win was Mason's 44th at Kansas, which ties him with Jack Mitchell for second all-time in Kansas career wins.
Tonight's win against Ball State was the sixth consecutive home opening win for Kansas.
Senior June Henley's 187 rushing yards is second on his personal list and the ninth 100-yard rushing game of his career.
EVAN BLACKWELL
secure appointee
Henley moved up to third on the Kansas career rushing chart with his 2,679 career yards. He passed Gayle Sayers who has 2,675 rushing yards.
Henley's three touchdowns against Ball State ties him with Tony Sands (28) for first on the all-time Kansas charts.
KANSAS CITY 17 HOUSTON 7
Pigskin Picks
MICHIGAN 33 ILLINOIS 9
BILL PETULA
MICHIGAN 21 ILLINOIS 3
CARLYN FOSTER
KANSAS CITY 27 HOUSTON 3
MICHIGAN 33 ILLINOIS 9
KANSAS CITY 17 HOUSTON 7
ROBERT HEMENWAY
10
7
MICHIGAN 24 ILLINOIS 10
KANSAS CITY 17 HOUSTON 7
Andy Rohrback/KANSAN
INSIDE
SPORTS INDEX
Marian Washington ...3B
Scoreboard ...2B
Horoscopes ...10B
NFL this week ...6B
U.S. Open ...7B
A running start
LEFT, the 1996 Kansas Jayhawk football team enters Memorial Stadium last night for the first game of the 10th season of Kansas football. Kansas beat the Ball State Cardinals 35-10.
BELOW, Kansas linebacker Jason Thoren tackles Ball State running back Michael Blair. The Jayhawk defense held Ball State to only 84 yards on the ground and 1.38 yards passing.
Kathy Driscoll / KANSAN
Cardinals fall to 'Hawks
By Dan Gelston
Kansan sportswriter
New quarterback Matt Johner and newly featured receiver Andre Carter made strong appearances in Kansas' season-opener against Ball State.
But don't forget about the veteran.
Senior running back June Henley made a return to prominence as the Jayhawk's featured back when he rushed for 187 yards with three touchdowns in a 35-10 Jayhawk win against Ball State last night before 36,200 people at Memorial Stadium.
Junior quarterback Matt Johner, making his first career start, answered some questions early about his ability to be a starter and leader of the offense.
The Cardinal defense defending the run, left itself open for the big plays in the Kansas arsenal and Johner took advantage of it.
He was four for eight with 68 passing yards in the first quarter, including a touchdown pass to senior Andre Carter, the first career touchdown for both players.
On the sixth play of the ensuing drive, Johner threw a strike to Carter with 2:46
Kansas took advantage of Maurice Gaddie's fumble recovery of Cardinal quarterback Brent Baldwin's fumble late in the first quarter.
Steve Puppe / KANSAN
left in the quarter for the first score of the game.
That was the beginning of a big game for Carter. The seldom-used senior caught only 14 passes for 171 yards with no touchdowns in his first three seasons.
But he exploded last night with five receptions for 66 yards and a touchdown.
"I just had to take what the defense gave me," Carter said. "They were thinking about the run and kind of left us to ourselves."
Kansas held a 7-3 lead in the second quarter when Henley scammered
He scored again a little more than four minutes into the third quarter on a three-yard run.
Rutz relieved Johner with 6:13 left in the third.
for a two-yard touchdown with 3:47 remaining.
Johrer completed 14 of 20 passes for 147 vards and one touchdown.
"I feel I did well," he said. "I did everything
the coaches told me to do."
Rutz came in and threw a 31-yard touchdown pass to John Gordon to increase the Kansas lead to 28-3.
He finished three-for-six for 51 yards.
He finished three-for-six for 51 yards. Although both Kansas quarterbacks played exceptionally well last night, Rutz felt that their competition could only improve the team's play.
"I don't think there'll be a lot of negative controversy on." Rutz said. "Matt and
I are friends and have gone through this together. We're getting used to this."
"For the most part, the decisions they made were pretty good," Kansas coach Glen Mason said. "There's definitely room for improvement."
After rushing more than 1,000 yards his freshman season, Henley shared the running load with L.T. Levine the past two seasons
But last night, Henley continued his assault on the Kansas rushing records.
His one-yard touchdown run with 12:35 left in the game tied him with Tony Sands on the all-time touchdown mark with 28. His 187 yards put him third on the list, surpassing John Riggins and Gayle Sayers.
"It was hot out there tonight," Henley said. "I was getting kind of tired, but this was the first game, and I was ready to play."
Cardinal coach Bill Lynch said Kansas was dominating.
"They beat us everywhere possible tonight," he said. "They stuffed us and they controlled the ball. Their receivers made some nice catches and they used some play action."
Despite the win, Mason wasn't entirely pleased with Kansas' performance.
"We made more mistakes than I can believe we did," he said. "We made way too many mistakes."
Henley sets the score in football home opener
By Evan Blackwell Kansan sportswriter
For the first time since his freshman year, Kansas senior running back June Henley was a solo act last night.
Judging by his performance in the No.25 Jayhawks 35-10 season-opening victory against Ball State. Henley enjoys the spotlight.
Several milestones fell at Henley's feet last night. His three touchdowns gave him 28 career rushing touchdowns, tying him with Tony Sands for the all-time lead. Henley also moved to third on the Kansas all-time rushing list, passing both John Riggins and Gale Sayers, with 2,679 career yards.
Henley stole the offensive show with 184 vards on 28 carries and three touchdowns.
"I wasn't aware of it until I was two yards away from it. I was just playing." Henley said.
Kansas football coach Glen Mason said Henley's performance shouldn't be surprising to anyone who's watched Kansas football for the past three years.
"Someone asked me coming out here, 'What did you find out about June Henley?' Mason said. "June Henley's been here a long time, I know he's a good back."
Indeed, Henley's performance was reminiscent of his freshman season, in which he
rushed for 1,127 yards. However, Henley said
he's a different player now.
Henley made a favorable impression on his Ball State opponents.
"My legs are a lot stronger, and my vision's a lot better." Henley said.
"I have a lot of respect for him. He's a good back." said Ball State safety Cory Gillard.
After a slow start in the first quarter and a second-quarter fumble that led to a Ball State field goal, Henley kicked things into gear late in the first half.
A 28-yard run helped set up Henley's first touchdown, a two yard run with 3:47 left in the first half that gave Kansas a 14-3 lead at the break.
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Henley got the Jayhawks scored again on their first possession of the second half with a three-yard touchdown run with 8:41 left in the third.
Henley got his third touchdown of the night in the fourth quarter, after senior linebacker Ronnie Ward recovered a fumble deep in Cardinal territory. The one-yard plunge came with 12:35 left and gave Kansas a 35-3 lead.
While Henley was pleased with his record-setting night, he said the win was just the start.
"I'm happy about the record, but we have a long season ahead of us," Henley said.
Steve Punne / KANSAN
Kansas running back June Henley slips by Ball State linebacker Aaron Garlak. Henley rushed for 187 yards and three touchdowns. His three touchdowns gave him 28 career rushing touchdowns, tying Tony Sands for the all-time Kansas record.
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