U N I V E R S I T Y D A I L Y K A N S A N
Jayhawk FOOTBALL
Kansas 38
Texas Christian 20
Jodie Chester / KANBAN
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1995
Richard Cram, a Kansas graduate from the School of Law, and his wife, Georgiann, watch last night's Kansas-Texas Christian football game from Campanile hill. The Jayhawks played their third nationally televised game on ESPN in four years. However, this year's 38-20 victory was the Jayhawks first in three attempts. They lost the other games to California, 27-23, In 1992 and to Kansas State, 21-13, last year.
SPORTS
Carol Thobae/KANSAN
Jayhawks ready soccer field not
SECTION B
The Kansas women's soccer team will play two games in Overland Park this weekend. Page 3B.
SATURDAY'S GAMES
Iowa at Iowa St.
'Hawks leave TCU green with envy
SW Missouri St.
at Oklahoma St
NE Louisiana at Colorado
Kansas running back L.T. Levine tries to shake Texas Christian cornerback Godfrey White in last night's game at Memorial Stadium. Levine ran for 137 yards in Kansas' win against the Horned Frogs 38-20.
Paul Katz / KAMRAN
Missouri at Texas Tech
Arizona St.
at Nebraska
SMU at Oklahoma
AP Top 25
rank team rec. gta. pv.
1. Florida St. (33) 2-0 1,514 1
2. Minnesota (28) 2-0 1,482 1
3. Texas A&M (4) 1-0 1,272 3
4. Florida (2) 2-0 1,313 5
5. Auburn (2) 2-0 1,302 6
6. Southern Cal 1-0 1,217 7
7. Penn St. 1-0 1,155 4
8. Tennessee (1) 2-0 1,058 8
9. Colorado 2-0 1,033 10
10. Ohio St. 1-0 1,023 9
11. Michigan 3-0 967 11
12. UCLA 2-0 941 12
13. Alabama 2-0 762 13
14. Oklahoma 1-0 720 14
15. Texas 1-0 647 15
16. Virginia 2-1 637 16
17. Arizona 2-0 509 17
18. Washington 1-0 478 18
19. Miami 1-1 393 19
20. Oregon 2-0 296 24
21. Air Force 2-0 287 —
22. Kansas St. 2-0 249 21
23. Georgia 1-1 153 —
24. Notre Dame 1-1 137 25
25. Northwestern 1-0 121 —
Oklahoma State basketball Gorton College 80,
North Carolina 54, Tigers 73, Bayer 49, Texas Tech 38,
UCLA 30, Virginia 68, Rosen 26, Ruen 18,
Michigan 15, Pitching 10, Iowa 7, Dengon 7,
T. Grant Cimolla 6, Arkansas 6, Clemson 6,
Texas Christian 6, Indiana 4, Stanford 4,
Kansas 3, Michigan 8, D. Soleyman 8,
Wilsonville 2, Columbus 6, 1.
By Robert Sinclair Kansan sportswriter
Led by a defense that wasn't expected to do much and a running back tandem known for its ability, Kansas avenged last year's loss to Texas Christian, winning 38-20 last night in Memorial Stadium.
After giving up two first downs on the Horned Frogs' first drive, the Jayhawk defense didn't allow another until halfway through the second quarter. By that time the offense had already jumped to a 21-0 lead.
"Everything was clicking right at the same time," Kansas football coach Glen Mason said. "We were playing good defense, and we were getting some consistency."
The Jayhawk offense took flight the first time it got its hands on the ball by putting together an 11-play, 80-yard drive that was capped by senior quarterback Mark Williams' 1-yard touchdown run. After the score, Texas Christian took over on its own 35-yard line. But Kansas senior outside linebacker Keith Rodgers sacked TCU senior quarterback Max Knake on third down.
The Associated Press KANOAM
Kansas picked up in the second quarter where it left off by marching 67 yards. Although senior running back L.T. Levine scored on a 9-yard run, sophomore running back Eric Vann did the brunt of the work, tallying 28 yards on six carries.
After the Kansas defense held TCU to three plays and a punt, the offense was quick to strike again.
It only took 1:09 and four plays for Kansas to cover 75 yards. On first and 10 from the TCU 43-yard line, Kansas junior running back June Henley took the handoff, burst through the line and scampered down the sideline.
Although Henley was actually cut off by TCU senior cornerback Chuckie McWilliams, the running
back stretched his frame over the goal line for the score.
After making it a 21-0 ball game, the Kansas offense didn't get another first down for six consecutive series.
With just less than 7:30 remaining, TCU marched the ball down to the Kansas 33-yard line. On fourth down and three from the Kansas 33-yard line, Rodgers again made the big play.
Knake rolled out and was met by Rodgers. The play went for a 10- yard loss, and Kansas took over on downs.
With about 5:30 left in the half,
Texas Christian got on the board with 1:31 remaining in the half. Texas Christian started driving on its own 35-yard line. On second down and one, Knake lobbed a 21-yard pass into the corner of the end zone. TCU junior wide receiver John Washington stretched out and made the catch.
That was when the defense knew it had to take it upon itself.
"We were facing a little bit of adversity there down at the end of the first half and the beginning of the second half," Rodgers said. "I knew as soon as the offense started getting on track we were in the money."
Although TCU moved the ball deep into Kansas territory twice, each time it was held to a field goal.
The Jayhawks finished the game with 364 yards rushing.
offense came out of its shell.
It was about this time that the
With 6:46 remaining in the game,
Henley took the ball around the
corner and down the sideline on his
way to a 59-yard touchdown.
"I guarantee we're a better team now in that locker room than we were before the game," Mason said. "It was a great team victory. I thought we came together offensively and defensively."
Paul Kotz / MANHAN
Kansas sophomore cornerback Avery Randle attempts to break up a successful touchdown pass to Texas Christian senior wide receiver John Washington. TCU passed for 379 yards in last night's game.
Defense leaps on TCU, slows Knake's passing
Horned Frogs' 458 yards not enough to defeat Kansas
By Bill Petulla
Kansan sportswriter
Last night's showdown against Texas Christian had all the ingredients for a Kansas loss: Thursday night, on ESPN, against a purple team, under the lights.
Kansas senior outside linebacker Keith Rodgers, sophomore linebacker Jason Thoren and a cast of others pitched in to slow down TCU quarterback and Heisman Trophy hopeful Max Knake. Knake passed for only two touchdowns. The second one came when Kansas had the game well in hand.
However, the Jayhawks put a similar loss to Kansas State last season behind them and sent the Horned Frogs home with a 38-20 defeat. More surprisingly, in a game in which 58 points were scored, the major factor for Kansas was defense.
"We knew we were capable of performing like we did, and it was just a matter of us setting our mind to it and doing it," Rodgers said.
The Jayhawk defense was tested early as it faced a critical TCU fourth down and three in the second quarter. Knake was flushed out of the pocket and rolled to his right. He was only being pursued by Rodgers in the open field. Knake put
on a ball fake, but Rodgers didn't buy it. Rodgers sacked Knake for a 10-yard loss.
"I was thinking what my dad has been telling me since I was in fourth grade: 'Get the quarterback.'" Rodgers said.
As the Jayhawks defensive squad jogged off the field, it received an ovation not heard lately in Memorial Stadium.
"I thought we played well defensively," Kansas football coach Glen Mason said. "I was really pleased with our type of passing attack. I told our guys that you have to keep the pressure on them."
Behind an offense that totaled 466 yards and burned 26:55 off the clock, the defense could enter the game well-rested.
"The offense sparks the defense," Thoren said. "We felt we could go out there and go three and out."
Kansas senior quarterback Mark Williams was especially grateful for the defensive play in comparison to last season's 31-21 loss.
Sparked by the offense or sparked by a feeling of revenge from last year's loss against the Horned Frogs, Kansas got a lift from its run defense that held Texas Christian senior tailback Andre Davis to 61 yards after he turned in a 174 performance last week.
"Last year they got the third-and-longs, and this year our defense stopped them," he said.
KANSAS FOOTBALL: Team and individual statistics from Kansas '38-20 victory, Page 28.