SPORTS UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1994
SECTION B
'Hawks turn out the lights on Spartans
Damian Manson, Michigan State strong safety, tackles Kansas junior wide receiver Ashuahel Smith in the first quarter of Saturday night's game. Smith, who missed the season opener against Houston because of a shoulder injury, started the game and led all Kansas receivers with 5 receptions for 51 yards.
Kansas senior quarterback Asheikh Presti emulates a Michigan State defender. In using the option play, Preston compiled 72 yards on 13 attempts.
Run or pitch? Option effective for Preston
By Jenni Carlson Kansan sportswriter
The Spartans could not stop it.
Sometimes they could not even see it.
In Kansas 17-10 victory over the Michigan State Spartans on Saturday, nothing dominated the Michigan State defense more than the Jayhawks' use of the option, Michigan State coach George Perles said.
"The option hurt us." he said.
"We couldn't contain them on the option," Spartan strong safety Damian Manson said.
The Jayhawks used the option successfully to open the second half and score what became the game-winning touchdown. Quarterback Asheli Preston capped the 74-yard scoring drive with a quarterback keeper from the one-yard line. Kansas took a 14-10 lead over the Spartans with 9:33 left in the third quarter and never looked back.
In running the option, Preston compiled 72 yards on 13 attempts, 36 yards of which were compiled during the opening drive of the second half.
The Michigan State defense had problems not only containing Preston on the option but finding him, Spartan outside linebacker Ike Reese said. The Spartan linebackers said they had difficulty seeing over the tall linemen on both teams to pick up the progression of the play.
Reese said Michigan State got its signals crossed several times on defensive coverage.
"We got a little confused out there," he said. "We didn't know who had the quarterback or the pitch man."
The Spartans were playing their season opener on Saturday, but the Jayhawks opened their season more than a week ago. Perles said the lack of actual game experience might have resulted in some of the Spartans' confusion.
"It looked like first-game jitters," Perles said.
Kansas coach Glen Mason said he knew early in the game that the option would be an important element if the Jawhaws were to win.
"I told them this week the option would be the key," Mason said.
Kansas' extensive use of the option was in stark contrast to its offensive philosophy in the game against Houston Sept. 1.
The benefits of option were nearly overshadowed by a head injury that
knocked Preston out of the game. The injury came as Preston was scrambling down field during an option play in the fourth quarter.
In their 35-13 victory over the Cougars, the Jayhawks used their running game and four different running backs to overpower the hapless Houston defense.
Preston did not return for the remainder of the game but was cleared to return after the trainers examined him. In the end, Mason had the final say.
"He's OK," Mason said. "He just got his bell rung a little bit."
Kansas overcomes mistakes outlasts Michigan State 17-10
By Matt Irwin
Kansan sportswriter
a bigger test. A bigger victory. Nine more games to go.
"We have to deal with success," Kansas coach Glen Mason said of his team's 2-0 start. "We have to play in one week. I live for 11 Saturdays each fall."
The Kansas football team defeated Big Ten conference foe Michigan State 17-10 Saturday night in front of 48,100 in Memorial Stadium — the largest crowd to watch a home opener since 1988.
Kansas coach Glen Mason said this game would be a much bigger test, and it was.
The Kansas defense rose to the challenge, stopping the Spartans on their last drive to sustain the seven-point lead.
In defeating Michigan State, Kansas captured its first-ever victory against the Spartans, snapping a string of five losses.
The victory also marked the Jayhawks' first defeat of a Big Ten conference team since 1976, when they defeated Wisconsin.
After giving up 361 total yards to an inexperienced Houston team two weeks ago, the Kansas defense returned Saturday and made key stops after Jayhawk turnovers. The defense did not allow the Spartans to score in the second half.
"It was evident we came to play once again," Mason said. "Our defense came out strong."
The first of two important Kansas
scoring drives began with 2:24 left in the first half. Down 10-0, Kansas marched 70 yards on 4 rushes and 4 passes. The Jayhawks opened the second half by rushing 74 yards on 12 plays. On these two drives, senior fullback Costello Good ran for 53 of his 66 shots and scored over half
he 30 yards
Asheli Preston
ran for 45 of his
72 rushing yards.
Statistically, the performance was Good's best ever as a Jayhawk.
"I was surprised myself," Good said of how much he got to run the ball.
"I just tried to run hard," he said. "We have some of the best
INSIDE
A roundup of highlights from other Big Eight football games this weekend — Page 2B
Summary of the key plays and events in the Hawks' victory over the Spartans — Page 2B
linemen in the country."
As a whole, the Jayhawks gained 243 yards on the ground, including 86 yards on 24 carries by sophomore running back June Henley. Henley moved to 19th on the Kansas all-time career rushing list with the performance.
Before the two drives, both teams committed mistakes and turnovers.
Mason said he was proud of how Kansas did not give up after turning over the ball three times in the first quarter.
"We didn't beat ourselves," Mason said. "We were able to overcome those mistakes."
The Associated Press Top 25 College Football Poll
First place votes in parentheses, records through Sept. 10, total points based on 25 points for a first place vote through one point for a 25th place vote, and ranking in previous poll:
rank team record pts. prev
1. Florida (27) 2-0-0 1492 2
2. Nebraska (22) 2-0-0 1483 1
3. Florida St. (5) 2-0-0 1384 4
4. Michigan (2) 2-0-0 1370 6
5. Miami (1) 2-0-0 1283 5
6. Pern St. (2) 2-0-0 1239 8
7. Colorado 2-0-0 1239 8
8. Notre Dame 1-1-0 1195 7
9. Arizona (2) 2-0-0 1091 9
10. Wisconsin 2-0-0 1091 10
11. Auburn 2-0-0 918 12
12. Alabama (1) 2-0-0 877 11
13. UCLA 2-0-0 792 13
14. Texas A&M 2-0-0 785 16
15. Tennessee 1-1-0 649 19
16. N. Carolina 1-0-0 582 17
17. Texas 2-0-0 575 20
18. Virginia Tech 2-0-0 473 21
19. Washington 1-1-0 346 25
20. Southern Cal 1-1-0 335 14
21. Oklahoma 1-1-0 233 15
22. BYU 2-1-0 197 —
23. Ohio St. 2-1-0 158 —
24. Wash. St. 2-1-0 130 —
25. N. Car. St. 2-0-0 128 —
Others receiving votes: Kansas
109, Kansas State 53, Boston
College 43, Baylor 40, Illinois 32,
Indiana 26, Georgia 20,
Syracuse 16, Georgia Tech 12, Iowa
11, San Diego State 11, Virginia
11, Rutgers 8, Worthville 8, LSU
7, Utah 5, Stanford 4, Clemson
3, Pittsburgh 1, Western Michigan 1.
Volleyball team takes loss; players value experience
By Chesley Dohl Kansan sportswriter
Katie Walsh is just one Kansas volleyball player who says she would trade a few losses early in the season for the experience of playing tough opponents.
"We're taking steps forward but we have a long way to go," said Walsh, sophomore outside hitter. "Hopefully by conference play, we'll have put the whole thing together when it really counts."
Kansas competed in the the Southwest Missouri State Tournament Friday and Saturday, leaving Springfield, Mo., with a 3-5 overall record. Kansas netted its only victory against Tulsa and finished the tournament in third place behind Montana and SMSU respectively.
But come conference play, Walsh and the rest of the Jayhawks hope to put that experience to the test.
Kansas opened with a match against Montana on Friday. Kansas coach Karen Schonewise said the Jayhawks were unfocused.
"We were a little shaky and started out slow," Schonewise said. "We didn't communicate very well and we weren't playing very aggressive."
Walsh and freshman setter Tiffany Sennett, Kansas came back to test Montana in the second and third matches, 10-15, 10-15.
Kansas struggled in the first match against Montana and lost, 1,15. But thanks to intense play from
Walsh said she felt good about the tournament and although the team is making strides forward, Walsh said the major obstacle in winning consistently was the lack of knowing each other's abilities on the court.
"We have all the physical ability.
We just need to work on playing well together as a team," she said.
"It's going to take some time until we start clicking."
Blocking was the key to the victory against Tulsa as Kansas defeated Tulsa in three straight games, 15-5, 15-11, and 15-4.
Junior outside hitter Jenny Larson was named to the All-Tournament team, her second All-Tournament honor of the season including the Colorado State Tournament Sept. 2-3.
After a slow start Friday, Kansas regrouped and went into Saturday's play against Tulsa and SMSU with confidence and noise.
Chonewise said net play from Walsh and freshman Maggie Mohrfeld, who combined for 13 blocks, cemented the Kansas victory.
Kansas ended the tournament against Southwest Missouri State and dropped three straight games, 13-15, 9-15, 9-15.
Cox ran one of his best races ever in defeating Eric Mark of the Air Force Academy by more than 10 seconds for the championship.
Kansas runners defeat defending champs
Cox said the meet had a special, personal significance.
By Kent Hohlfeld Kansan sportswriter
Both liked what they saw as the Kansas men's team defeated the defending national champion Arkansas Razorbacks, 52-54.
Kansas coaches and athletes said they wanted to test the team's fitness level Saturday at the Jayhawk Invitational at Rim Rock Farm.
"Some teams like to start off slow," said senior runner and meet champion Michael Cox. "We jump in with both feet."
"It was the last time I'll race here," Cox said. "I got a little choked up about it."
The Air Force Academy, Southern Illinois and Missouri rounded out the top five places in the men's race.
The women's team came in second to Arkansas, scoring 54 points, 18 points in front of the Razorbacks. Rounding out the top five schools were Southern Illinois, Missouri and the Air Force Academy.
The lowest score wins in cross country, with points awarded to the top five runners. Points are given according to the place the runner finishes. For example, a first-place runner gets one point while second place gets two points.
"I was impressed with the way the teams kept fighting
Both Cox and Johnston said they were pleased with the team's performance and that they thought the race would give them some national recognition.
"I think it says a lot about our team that when I hurt my foot, Brian was able to step up and take over for me," Johnston said. "That way it didn't hurt when I fell off a little."
The men's team benefited from Arkansas' decision to hold three top runners out of Saturday's competition to give younger runners a chance to compete. That helped three Kansas runners place in the top 10.
"The competition was a little less than I expected," said David Johnston, team co-captain, who finished seventh. "But I think we ran a little better than I expected."
Johnston, who injured his right foot on a rock on the course, finished behind teammates Brian Schultz, who finished fourth, and Cox.
"Beating Arkansas might help us get into the national rankings." Cox said.
Assistant coach Steve Guyon said that he liked the way both of his teams competed.
back," Guymon said. "It's a tough course. I'm very pleased with how we ran against Arkansas."
This year, Arkansas had more of a struggle to repeat as meet champions.
Last year Arkansas dominated the women's meet with four of the top five runners crossing the finish line all at the same time.
↑
Senior co-captain Melissa Swartz was Kansas' top runner, finishing fifth behind meet champion Meghan Flowers from Arkansas. Flowers finished more than 40 seconds ahead of her closest competitor.
Kansas and Southern Illinois each had three top-10 finishers, Arkansas had two. Arkansas was able to put enough runners in the top 20 places to win the meet, however.
"This was the best race I've had on this course," Swartz said. "I think I'm capable of running better though."
She said she was very pleased with the team's progress to this point in the season. Swartz said that the times weren't as important in this race because of the difficulty of the course.
"We placed our top three runners in fifth, sixth and seventh," she said. "We're just going to get stronger as the season goes on."
V
Sean Crosier / KANSAN
Sophomore runner Josh Weber checks his watch as he crosses the finish line at the Jayhawk Invitational. The men's team defeated the defending national champion Arkansas Razorbacks Saturday at Rim Rock Farm.