4B
KU 30-KSU 24
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MONDAY,OCTOBER 8,2007
THE WEEKEND WRAP-UP
Sophomore running back Jake Sharp makes his way down the field during the game against Kansas State Saturday. Sharp rushed for 77 yards in the game
BY CASE KEEFER
ckeeefer@kansan.com
Anna Faltermeyer/KANSAN
The 2007 Sunflower Showdow started simply as the 105th meeting between Kansas and Kansas State. But the 30-24 Kansas win quickly turned into a competition between each team's sophomore quarterback.
Although Wildcat quarterback Josh Freeman went 16-for-21 for 189 yards in the first half and looked superior to Jayhawk quarterback Todd Reesing, it didn't last. Reesing in the second half while Freeman found it tough to maintain the pace of his first half.
"I think a couple of times, we forced the ball into places we didn't need to," Kansas State coach Ron Prince said. "We didn't perform well today."
But forcing the ball was no problem in the first quarter. On his fourth passing attempt, Freeman gently floated the ball into the hands of senior wide receiver Jordy Nelson who ran for a 64-yard touchdown. Freeman never completed a pass for more than 15 yards for the rest of the game. He said it was because of adjustments in the Kansas defensive
Reesing
backfield, but Prince had a different idea.
"We were able to take advantage of that match-up point, but we could never find it again; part of it was the coverage, they were more
mindful of that match-up," Prince said. "But ultimately, the protection wasn't good enough."
Wildcat tackles Alesana Alesana and Penisini Liu were often nothing more than observers as Jayhawk defensive linemen sped into the KSU backfield. In the first half, Freeman dealt with the unwarranted pressure exceptionally well.
On Kansas State's second scoring drive, the 6-foot-6, 250-pound quarterback refused to be taken down on a second-down play. A sack would
have brought up a third-and-long situation but, instead, Freeman fired a 14-yard pass to running back James Johnson for a first down.
The Jayhawk pass rush was more than an irritation Freeman could thwart off as the game went on.
With a minute and a half remain-
exactly where he wanted to put the ball. That's what good quarterbacks do."
Freeman received one last chance to become victorious with just more than two minutes remaining. But on a fourth down play from the 49 yard line, he threw a pass that Jayhawk junior cornerback Aqib Talib stepped intercepted.
ing in the first half, Kansas defensive tackle Caleb Blakesley penetrated the backfield and tipped Freeman's pass into the hands of Kansas defensive end Russell Brorsen. It was the first of three Freeman interceptions.
"They got some pressure, we didn't have time for the whole play to develop." Freeman said. "I had to get rid of it."
As Talib sprung off of the ground holding the ball, the fans clad in purple began to exit. The fans wear-
SCORING DRIVE CHART
"All of their blitzes were working. I imagined we could do what
first time in 18 years.
Edited by Kaitlyn Syring
we could do and bring everybody in," Alesana said. "But it was just tough." In the second half, Reesing was 10-for-15 with 150 yards and two touchdowns.
"To this point, the best quarterback that we've faced. He's got a lot of poise, can make all the throws," Prince said. "He knew
KANSAS
ing blue began singing Rock Chalk Jayhawk over the crowd of 50,924 at Bill Snider Family Stadium for the
KANSAS STATE
1st Quarter
2nd Quarter
3rd Quarter
4th Quarter
Anna Faltermeier/KANSAN
Kansas State sophomore quarterback Josh Freeman throws a pass Saturday during the game in Manhattan.
Todd Reesing looks to pass during Saturday's game against the Kansas State Wildcats in Manhattan. Though Reesing had three interceptions, he threw for 267 yards and three touchdowns.
Sarah Leonard/KANSAN
Kansas 30. Kansas State 24
TEAM STATISTICS
<table><thead><tr><th></th><th>Kansas</th><th>Kansas State</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>First downs</td><td>24</td><td>17</td></tr><tr><td>Rushing yards</td><td>170</td><td>53</td></tr><tr><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Rushing attempts</td><td>39</td><td>21</td></tr><tr><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Average yards</td><td>4.4</td><td>2.5</td></tr><tr><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Rushing TDs</td><td>1</td><td>1</td></tr><tr><td>Passing yards</td><td>267</td><td>310</td></tr><tr><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Comp.-Att.-Int.</td><td>22-36-3</td><td>32-49-3</td></tr><tr><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Passing TDs</td><td>3</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td>Total offensive yards</td><td>437</td><td>363</td></tr><tr><td>Fumbles-lost</td><td>0-0</td><td>0-0</td></tr><tr><td>Penalties-yards</td><td>3-34</td><td>4-45</td></tr><tr><td>Punts-yards</td><td>5-165</td><td>6-283</td></tr><tr><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Average yards</td><td>33.0</td><td>47.2</td></tr><tr><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;在side 20-yard line</td><td>0</td><td>4</td></tr><tr><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Touchbacks</td><td>0</td><td>2</td></tr><tr><td>Punt returns-yards-TDs</td><td>0-0-0</td><td>1-1-0</td></tr><tr><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Average yards</td><td>0</td><td>1.0</td></tr><tr><td>Kickoff returns-yards-TDs</td><td>4-62-0</td><td>2-39-0</td></tr><tr><td>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Average yards</td><td>15.5</td><td>19.5</td></tr><tr><td>Interception-yards-TDs</td><td>3-3-0</td><td>3-5-0</td></tr><tr><td>Fumble returns-yards-TDs</td><td>0-0-0</td><td>0-0-0</td></tr><tr><td>Third-down conversions</td><td>6 of 14</td><td>4 of 16</td></tr><tr><td>Fourth-down conversions</td><td>0 of 1</td><td>0 of 1</td></tr><tr><td>Red zone: Scores-chances</td><td>4-5</td><td>3-3</td></tr><tr><td>Sacks-yards lost</td><td>1-6</td><td>2-15</td></tr><tr><td>Time of possession</td><td>29:20</td><td>30:40</td></tr></tbody></table>
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Individual Statistics **Passing** Comp-Att-Int. Yards TD Long Sack Reesing, Tod 22-35-3 267 3 30 2 Webb, Scott 0-1-0 0 0 0 0
| Receiving | No. | Yards | TD | Long |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| Fields, Dexton | 6 | 78 | 1 | 30 |
| Briscoe, Dezmon | 4 | 67 | 1 | 28 |
| Fine, Derek | 4 | 38 | 0 | 17 |
| McAnderson, Brandon | 3 | 30 | 0 | 23 |
| Henry, Marcus | 2 | 24 | 0 | 12 |
| Meier, Kerry | 1 | 16 | 0 | 16 |
| Sharp, Jake | 1 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| Talib, Agib | 1 | 5 | 1 | 5 |
**Rushing**
McAnderson, Brandon 12 81 0 81 0 16 6.8
Sharp, Jake 17 82 5 77 1 20 4.5
Reeing, Todd 7 31 15 16 0 10 2.3
No. Gain Loss Net TD Long Avg.
Kickoff returns No. Yards Long Herford, Marcus 3 52 27 Mortensen, Joe 1 10 10
Interception returns No. Yards Long
Harper, Kendrick 1 3 3
Talib, Aqib 1 0 0
Brorsen, Russel 1 0 0
**Punting**
No. Yards Avg. Long In20 TB
Tucker, Kyle 4 130 32.5 37 0 0
Meier, Kerry 1 35 35.0 35 0 0
Field goals
Webb, Scott
Qtr. Time Distance Result
4th 2:21 24 yards Good
Kickoffs No. Yards Avg. TB OB Webb, Scott 6 243 40.5 4 0