THE UNIVERSITY OF DARTMOUTH KANSAS
THURSDAY, MAY 8, 2008
SPORTS
9B
NOVEMBER 3,2007
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Sophomore quarterback Todd Reesing had six passing touchdowns on Nov. 3, 2007, against Nebraska. The Jayhawks won, 76-39, setting a record for the most ever scored in a conference game.
Kansas continues undefeated streak
BY ASHER FUSCO afusco@kansan.com
The Nebraska Cornhuskers visited the Kansas Jayhawks on Nov. 3, and the game was an absolute blowout. There's nothing unusual about that statement.
What was strange about the game was that the Jayhawks were the ones doing the dominating.
For the better part of the last half-century, Nebraska football pushed Kansas around, winning 37 of the teams' last 38 matchups. On Nov. 3, the Jayhawks played the role of bully, turning the tables and routing the Cornhuskers, 76-39.
With the victory, Kansas secured its first ever 5-0 start in conference and first 9-0 start since 1908. The Jayhawks' 76 points set a school record for the most ever scored in a conference game and easily surpassed the team's previous high of 40 points against Nebraska. In fact, Kansas passed that mark by halftime, scoring 48 points before the end of the second quarter.
"Nebraska has a good tradition and they always play hard," senior wide receiver Marcus Henry said. "So to look up and see that score on the scoreboard was pretty amazing."
The Jayhawk offense looked impressive for all 60 minutes of the game, but the defense suffered through several rough patches near the start of the game. Nebraska, which had relied on its strong run game all season, threw Kansas a changeup by going to the air early and often. In the first half alone, Nebraska junior quarterback Joe Ganz threw for 266 yards and two touchdowns, leading two solid scoring drives in the first 12 minutes of play.
"They threw the ball a lot," Kansas coach Mark Mangino
said. "We did not anticipate them throwing the ball as much as they did because they had not done that all year. We were caught a little bit off-guard."
From that point on, Kansas patched up its imperfections and performed like the undefeated powerhouse it has all season.
Nebraska entered the game in a tailspin and left Lawrence in no better shape. The Cornhuskers extended their losing streak to five games and fell into a tie for last place in the Big 12 North Division standings. To add insult to injury, Kansas' 76-point outburst marked the most points Nebraska has ever allowed in a single game.
Despite Nebraska's status as one of the most disappointing teams in the nation, Kansas' decisive victory was impressive because the team did exactly what it needed to do: stay undefeated while making a positive impression on pollsters and media around the nation.
A decade ago, Nebraska was the team scoring more than 50 points routinely and rolling to 9-0 starts. In 2007, Kansas is the powerhouse.
— Edited by Mandy Earles
》 JANUARY 3, 2008
Jayhawks take Orange Bowl title Victory against Virginia Tech tops off near-perfect football season
BY ASHER FUSCO afusco@kansan.com
The Hokies took possession at their own 18-yard line but quickly moved the ball downfield with help from a 15-yard pass interference penalty on Kansas freshman cornerback Chris Harris and an improbable diving catch by sophomore tight end Greg Boone. The Hokies advanced to the Jayhawk 8-yard line before opting to attempt a 25-yard field goal attempt on fourth-and-two.
The blocked field goal may have been the biggest play in a game full of momentum swings, big hits and closely contested short-yardage struggles. With six minutes and 31 seconds to play in the third quarter, Virginia Tech was picking up steam. An 84-yard punt return touchdown by senior wide receiver Justin Harper with 11:35 remaining in the third pulled the Hokies within three points, 17-14, and the pro-Virginia Tech fans at Dolphin Stadium were at full volume.
MIAMI - Kansas didn't do anything out of the ordinary to defeat Virginia Tech and capture the 2008 FedEx Orange Bowl title. Well, at least nothing more unexpected than the 12-1 team had done already this season.
The team that turned analysts' predictions and preconceptions on their heads all season continued to upset college football's natural order Jan. 3 in a way that has become strangely normal for the winningest team in the history of Kansas football.
Over the course of the season, the Jayhawks emerged from a decade-long stint of mediocris to win 12 games and a BCS bowl. On Jan. 3 in Dolphin Stadium, the Jayhawks defeated Virginia Tech, 24-21, by beating the Hokies at their own game: special teams. The Jayhawks (12-1) overcame several exceptional kick and punt returns by Virginia Tech (11-3) with a timely blocked field goal and an expertly executed fake punt.
"We were able to make a big, big play on that punt and turn the game around with the blocked field goal," Kansas junior wide receiver Dexton Fields said. "When we blocked the field goal it was really a big momentum-stopper and it gave us some extra confidence. If they would have been able to tie the game it would have let them pick up a lot of momentum."
The ball had barely left senior kicker Jud Dunlevy's foot when Kansas senior linebacker Joe Mortensen burst through the offensive line and blocked the ball with his chest.
Kansas spent much of the 2007 season breaking school records and setting new and lofty standards for a program that had spent much of the last century mired in mediocrit. It spent Jan. 3 putting the finishing touches on a season that was one victory short of perfection, but close enough to be considered a triumph.
"Our kids were determined to play well," Mangino said. "A lot of folks counted us out on this one, and we heard that for about a
"Usually when we line up I usually come out in zone and drop back," Mortensen said. "But this time we went for an all-out block; coach (Bill) Young did a good job and there was good penetration by the d-line. I just let my shoulders slip through and pretty much came untouched and blocked it. It was great."
The Jayhawks needed nearly all of their 24 points to hang on and defeat a Virginia Tech team that fought until the clock filled with zeros. The Hokies scored on a 15-play, 78-yard drive with 2.51 remaining to cut the Jayhawks' lead to three, but McAnderson rumbled his way to the first down marker several times on Kansas' next drive to run out the clock and seal the victory.
Just five minutes later, Kansas outsmarted Virginia Tech on special teams once again. Faced with fourth-and-10 at its own 49-yard line, Kansas lined up in punt formation. But instead of snapping the ball to senior punter Kyle Tucker, sophomore long snapper Kayl Anderson shot a quick snap left to senior running back Brandon McAnderson, who was lined up as Tucker's "personal protector".
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
- Edited by Jared Duncan
are here now. It's been a great day for KU football - it truly has been."
The Jayhawk football team celebrates their January 3 victory over Virginia Tech at the Fed Ex Orange Bowl in Miami Gardens, Fla.
month - that's OK because we've been in that position quite a bit. I think we always play better when we're an underdog anyhow. I'm very proud of our players, many of whom
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