Kansas loses heartbreaker to Mizzou

Kansas Jayhawks 2009 ... Head Coach: Mark Mangino

2009 Schedule
CFN Prediction: 9-3
2009 Record: 5-7

9/5 No. Colorado W 49-3
9/12 at UTEP W 34-7
9/19 Duke W 44-16
9/26 So Miss W 35-28
10/3 OPEN DATE
10/10 Iowa St W 41-36
10/17 at Colorado L 34-30
10/24 Oklahoma L 35-13
10/31 at Texas Tech L 42-21
11/7 at Kansas St L 17-10
11/14 Nebraska L 31-17
11/21 at Texas L 51-20
11/28 Missouri (in KC) L 41-39

2008 Schedule
CFN Prediction: 9-3
2008 Record: 8-5

8/30 Florida Int'l W 40-10
9/6 Louisiana Tech W 29-0
9/12 at South Florida L 37-34
9/20 S Houston St W 38-14
9/27 OPEN DATE
Oct. 4 at Iowa State W 35-33
10/11 Colorado  W 30-14
10/18 at Oklahoma L 45-31
10/25 Texas Tech L 63-21
11/1 Kansas State W 52-31
11/8 at Nebraska L 45-35
11/15 Texas  L 35-7
11/22 OPEN DATE
11/29 Missouri (KC) W 40-37
Insight Bowl
12/31 Minnesota W 42-21

Kansas Jayhawks

Nov. 28
Missouri 41 … Kansas 39
In a wild offensive shootout, it took a defensive play to turn the game around. Down three in the final minutes, Missouri came up with a safety on a Brian Coulter and Aldon Smith tackle of Todd Reesing to pull within one, and the offense took care of the rest going 43 yards in eight plays leading to a 27-yard Grant Ressel field goal for the win. The two teams combined for 1,100 yards with Missouri’s Danario Alexander catching 233 yards worth of passes highlighted by a 68-yarder for a Tiger lead late in the third, but Kansas got a bigger performance out of Dezmon Briscoe, who went for 242 yards including touchdown catches from seven and 74 yards. Todd Reesing threw for 498 yards with two touchdown passes to Kerry Meier, but Missouri kept coming back helped by two Derrick Washington touchdown runs and a 37-yard scoring dash from Jerrel Jackson.
Player of the Game: Missouri WR Danario Alexander caught 15 passes for 233 yards and a score, and Kansas WR Dezmon Briscoe caught 14 passes for 242 yards and two scores.
Kansas: Passing: Todd Reesing, 37-55, 498 yds, 4 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Jake Sharp, 7-29, Receiving: Dezmon Briscoe, 14-242, 2 TD
Missouri: Passing: Blaine Gabbert, 23-41, 303 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Derrick Washington, 15-111, 2 TD, Receiving: Danario Alexander, 15-233, 1 TD
What It All Means: This probably isn’t the end of the Mark Mangino era like many think it is. The ugly seven-game collapse to close out the season hurts, but the team played hard and it discovered its offensive punch in a battle of a season finale. However, this is the last game for Todd Reesing, who went out with a bang throwing for 498 yards and bombing away like he had for the first time in weeks. The fatal flaw turned out to be a defense that couldn’t stop anyone’s passing game, to go along with an inability to win close game. KU lost three games by a touchdown or less that it should’ve won. 

Nov. 21
at Texas 51 … Kansas 20
Colt McCoy put up Heisman-like numbers with 396 yards and four touchdowns highlighted by scoring passes to James Kirkendoll from 41 and 12 yards out and a 68-yarder to Malcolm Williams. The Longhorns were never seriously threatened, getting up 27-6 at halftime, but Kansas scored first in the second half on a two-yard Jake Sharp run. And then it was all Texas with a 17-point run to open up the lead. Texas outgained KU 532 yards to 303.
Player of the Game: Texas QB Colt McCoy completed 32-of-41 passes for 396 yards and four scores, and he ran 12 times for 29 yards.
Kansas: Passing: Todd Reesing, 25-39, 256 yds, 1 INT
Rushing: Rell Lewis, 5-43, Receiving: Dezmon Briscoe, 5-101
Texas: Passing: Colt McCoy, 32-41, 396 yds, 4 TD
Rushing: Tre Newton, 12-66, 1 TD, Receiving: Jordan Shipley, 10-108, 1 TD 
What It All Means: After all the drama and all the craziness of this last week, Kansas needed to come up with a strong performance to quiet down all the criticism surrounding Mark Mangino. This game didn’t do that. Now on a six-game losing streak, the disaster of a second half of the season all rests on the home game against Missouri, needing a win to get to a bowl game. Missouri doesn’t necessarily need the win, outside of wanting to come up big in a rivalry game, and KU has to play like the future of the program depends on it, because it might.

Nov. 14
Nebraska 31 … at Kansas 17
Roy Helu ran for scores from 20 and 17 yards out in the final 6:19 to take over the lead and put Nebraska in the driver’s seat for the North title. Helu also recovered a fumble in the end zone to start the scoring, but the Huskers settled for three Alex Henery field goals to let a mistake-prone Kansas back into the game. The Jayhawks sputtered early, but Todd Reesing was able to run for a five-yard score and threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Dezmon Briscoe for a 17-16 lead midway through the fourth. The Jayhawk D couldn’t hold.
Player of the Game: Nebraska RB Roy Helu ran 28 times for 156 yards and three scores
Nebraska: Passing: Zac Lee, 13-21, 196 yds
Rushing: Roy Helu, 28-156, 3 TD, Receiving: Niles Paul, 4-154
Kansas: Passing: Todd Reesing, 19-41, 236 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Toben Opurum, 15-43, Receiving: Kerry Meier, 10-127  c Lee, who got the start after being benched last week, has to do a better job in the red zone.
What It All Means: The disaster won’t stop. The team is supposed to be jelling by now with more big plays and Todd Reesing in perfect sync with his targets. Instead, there were too many misfires, the running game continues to be non-existent, it’s going to take a win over Texas or Missouri just to get bowl eligible after losing five straight. The defense hasn’t been bad over the last few weeks, but shockingly, the offense is sputtering too much. Now it’s time to let it rip. There’s nothing to lose against Texas, so it’s time for Reesing to start bombing and bombing and bombing.

Oct. 7
at Kansas State 17, Kansas 10
Daniel Thomas ran for 185 yards and a five-yard touchdown, and Lamark Brown caught a 31-yard touchdown pass as Kansas State took control of the Big 12 North race. Kansas got into the end zone once on a 17-yard Dezmon Briscoe catch, but three turnovers and the running of Thomas were too much to overcome. Kansas only managed 60 yards rushing, while KSU only converted 3-of-11 third down chances.
Player of the Game: Kansas State RB Daniel Thomas ran 24 times for 185 yards and a score.
Kansas: Passing: Todd Reesing, 27-41, 241 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Jake Sharp, 11-35, Receiving: Kerry Meier, 8-92
Kansas State: Passing: Grant Gregory, 7-16, 66 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Daniel Thomas, 24-185, 1 TD, Receiving: Lamark Brown, 3-43, 1 TD 
What It All Means: Where did the offense go? Blame the offensive line. Todd Ressing never had time to operate and was pressured and hurried way too much. With little from Jake Sharp and the running game to take the heat off, it was all Reesing to carry the offense and he couldn’t do it with 241 yards through the air. The run defense continues to get ripped apart and never had a chance against Daniel Thomas as the game wore on. Now on a four-game losing streak with Nebraska, Texas, and Missouri still to play, just getting to a bowl isn’t assured at this point.

Oct. 31
at Texas Tech 42 … Kansas 21
Detron Lewis caught a 61-yard touchdown pass and Baron Batch ran for four scores with three coming in the fourth quarter. The defense also came up with a big day with four forced fumbles and a 31-yard LaRon Moore fumble return for a score. KU was up 21-14 after three quarters helped by six-yard Dezmon Briscoe touchdown pass and a two-yard Toben Opurum run, but Tech scored 28 points in the fourth.
Player of the Game: Texas Tech RB Baron Batch ran 17 times for 123 yards and four scores, and he caught five passes for 13 yards.
Kansas: Passing: Todd Reesing, 20-34, 181 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Jake Sharp, 10-50, Receiving: Dezmon Briscoe, 9-110, 1 TD
Texas Tech: Passing: Seth Doege, 14-28, 159 yds, 1 TD
Rushing: Baron Batch, 17-123, 4 TD, Receiving: Detron Lewis, 5-87, 1 TD 
What It All Means: Kansas might have a few problems here and there, but it’s supposed to be able to get the offense moving on anyone. To sputter and cough like the attack has over the last two games against Oklahoma and Texas Tech is more than just alarming; it’s been a season-killer. The Big 12 North hopes aren’t completely gone, but with a trip to Texas still to deal with along with home games against Nebraska and Missouri, the Jayhawks need to beat Kansas State next week just to make sure that a bowl game is possible. The defense was great at getting into the backfield, making ten tackles for loss, but it couldn’t overcome the screw-ups on offense.

Oct. 24
Oklahoma 35 … at Kansas 13
Oklahoma’s offense wasn’t humming, but the defense picked up the slack with three interceptions of Todd Reesing including an 85-yard interception return for a score from Dominique Franks in the first half. The Sooner attack woke up in the second half with Chris Brown running for his second touchdown run of the game and taking a Landry Jones pass eight yards for a score. The Jayhawks didn’t get into the end zone until 4:27 to play on a five-yard Todd Reesing run.
Player of the Game: Oklahoma WR Ryan Broyles caught 11 passes for 121 yards
Kansas: Passing: Todd Reesing, 22-42, 224 yds, 3 INT
Rushing: Toben Opurum, 13-59, Receiving: Kerry Meier, 8-54
Oklahoma: Passing: Ladry Jones, 26-38, 252 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Chris Brown, 22-66, 2 TD, Receiving: Ryan Broyles, 11-121 
What It All Means: Uh oh. Losing to Oklahoma is no sin, but coming off the loss to Colorado, KU is in big trouble. Once the possible leader in the North race, now, with Kansas State stepping up and playing well, there isn’t a sure-thing win left on the schedule. The passing game struggled with Todd Reesing under pressure all game long, and the ground game wasn’t able to pick up the slack. To beat a team like OU, the Jayhawks have to be far sharper and can’t turn the ball over three times and commit eight penalties. With three road games in the next four, starting with a trip to Texas Tech, everything has to be working.

Oct. 17
Colorado 34 … at Kansas 30
Colorado, led by new starting quarterback Tyler Hansen, got up 24-3 in the first half, and then it was the Todd Reesing show. The Kansas quarterback was sacked six times, but he threw for 401 yards and two touchdowns with a 25-yarder to Dezmon Briscoe giving the Jayhawks a three point lead in the fourth quarter. But Colorado took the lead for good with a 13-yard Rodney Stewart scoring run with 8:36 to play. Reesing wasn’t finished with two more shots deep into CU territory, but they both came up empty including a last-second pass in the end zone that went through Briscoe’s hands. Hansen ran for a one-yard score and connected with Riar Geer for a 12-yard touchdown in the second quarter, but he didn’t lead the Buffs back into the end zone again until the fourth. KU finished with -8 rushing yards but outgained CU 423 yards to 322.
Player of the Game: Colorado RB Rodney Stewart ran 24 times for 108 yards and two scores
Kansas: Passing: Todd Reesing, 30-51, 401 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Jake Sharp, 13-29, Receiving: Kerry Meier, 11-103, 1 TD
Colorado: Passing: Tyler Hansen, 14-25, 175 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Rodney Stewart, 24-108, 2 TD, Receiving: Scotty McKnight, 5-33 
What It All Means: The offensive line has to do a better job of protecting Todd Reesing. He had a brilliant game, and Kerry Meier and Dezmon Briscoe were fantastic once again, but he’d be even better with more time. Now the Jayhawks have to deal with the Oklahoma defensive front followed up by a suddenly hot Texas Tech pass rush. This was a win the team needed to have, and with the brutal finishing kick, the North title dream might be gone. The defense wasn’t bad, Drew Dudley 17 tackles Darrell Stuckey 12 tackles, but it’ll have to be even sharper with the Sooners up.

Oct. 10
at Kansas 41 … Iowa State 36
Todd Reesing threw four touchdown passes and Kerry Meier and Dezmon Briscoe combined for 28 catches and four scores as KU rolled up 551 yards of total offense, but the defense had to hang on as a last-gasp touchdown pass attempt sailed just out of the end zone. Iowa State got a huge day from Austen Arnaud, who threw two touchdown passes and ran for a two-yard score, but Reesing and the KU passing game were too much with a 46-yard scoring pass to Briscoe and a six-yarder to Kerry Meier. Alexander Robinson ran for two short scores in the first half for the Cyclones.
Player of the Game: Kansas WR Dezmon Briscoe caught 12 passes for 186 yards and two touchdowns and Kerry Meier caught 16 passes for 142 yards and two scores.
Iowa State: Passing: Austen Arnaud, 25-40, 293 yds, 2 TD
Rushing: Alexander Robinson, 27-152, 2 TD, Receiving: Jake Williams, 7-58
Kansas: Passing: Todd Reesing, 37-49, 442 yds, 4 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Toben Opurum, 24-98, 1 TD, Receiving: Kerry Meier, 16-142, 2 TD
What It All Means: The passing game was stellar with Dezmon Briscoe and Kerry Meier proving to be unstoppable against the Iowa State defense, and it appears that the production isn’t going to slow down any time soon. However, the pass defense had better come up with some more answers at corner in a big hurry or the Big 12 is going to put up video game-like numbers. The Jayhawks are giving up 260 yards per game through the air and haven’t faced anyone who can throw on a consistent basis. Fortunately, Colorado is up next, but Oklahoma and Texas Tech follow. 

Sept. 26
at Kansas 35 … Southern Miss 28
The Kansas offense rolled up 433 yards of offense, but the team struggled to put away Southern Miss needing a 12-yard Kerry Meier touchdown catch in the fourth quarter to take the lead for good. The Golden Eagles pressured the KU backfield all game long, but Todd Reesing threw three touchdowns passes, with two to Meier including a 62-yarder to open the scoring. Toben Opurum provided the balance with scores from 12 and two yards out, but USM kept coming back with Austin Davis throwing for three scores and running for another. But the KU D stiffened in the fourth quarter to get the win.
Player of the Game: Kansas WR Kerry Meier caught ten passes for 141 yards and two scores.
Southern Miss: Passing: Austin Davis, 28-42, 331 yds, 3 TD
Rushing: Damion Fletcher, 10-27, Receiving: Freddie Parham, 7-36
Kansas: Passing: Todd Reesing, 30-41, 331 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Toben Opurum, 28-109, 1 TD, Receiving: Kerry Meier, 10-141, 2 TD
What It All Means: This wasn’t the prettiest performance, the offensive line struggled in pass protection and the defense gave up 331 passing yards, but Todd Reesing and Kerry Meier were excellent and the running of Toben Opurum gave the team some balance with Jake Sharp out. This was the team’s first real test, and while they didn’t pass with flying colors, they got the win over a good Conference USA team with two weeks off before kicking off Big 12 play against Iowa State. 

Sept. 19
at Kansas 44 … Duke 16
It took a little while for Kansas to heat up, and then Todd Reesing and company couldn’t be stopped. Reesing found Dezmon Briscoe from 14 yards out, connected with Jake Sharp for a seven-yard score, and found Kerry Meier, who made a great grab, for a six-yard pass as part of a first half flurry for a 21-7 halftime lead. Duke started off the scoring on a 21-yard Thaddeus Lewis run, but didn’t get back into the end zone until the fourth quarter on an 11-yard Donovan Varner catch. Toben Opurum ran for two short second half scores for the Jayhawks.
Player of the Game: Kansas QB Todd Reesing completed 28-of-41 passes for 338 yards and three touchdowns, and he ran eight times for 51 yards.
Duke: Passing: Thaddeus Lewis, 16-27, 184 yds, 2 INT
Rushing: Jay Hollingworth, 9-38, Receiving: Johnny Williams, 8-75
Kansas: Passing: Todd Reesin, 28-41, 338 yds, 3 TD
Rushing: Toben Opurum, 17-70, 2 TD, Receiving: Kerry Meier, 8-64, 1 TD
What It All Means: The offense is humming. It might have only been against Duke, but once Todd Reesing got hot, he worked with his star targets, along with his backs out of the backfield, to keep the Blue Devils on their heels. Jake Sharp got a little bit or work, but the bigger, stronger runner, Toben Opurum, showed that he can carry the load if needed. With Southern Miss up next before Big 12 play starts, he’ll get more work to keep Sharp fresh.

Sept. 12
Kansas 34 ... at UTEP 7
Jake Sharp scored three times, running it in from one and three yards out, and catching a five-yard touchdown pass, and Jacob Branstetter kicked two field goals on the way to a 34-0 lead. UTEP didn't get on the board until the outcome had been decided with Donavon Kemp taking a catch 75 yards for a score. KU outgained UTEP 576 yards to 208.
Player of the Game: Kansas RB Jake Sharp ran 16 times for 104 yards and two scores, and he caught six passes for 29 yard and a score.
UTEP: Passing: Trevor Vittatoe, 14-35, 187 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Donald Buckram, 9-31, Receiving: Donavon Kemp, 3-85, 1 TD
Kansas: Passing: Todd Reesing, 25-41, 260 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Rushing: Jake Sharp, 16-104, 2 TD, Receiving: Dezmon Briscoe, 8-154
What It All Means: Kansas was humming on all cylinders in an easy road win over UTEP. Jake Sharp provided some pop to the ground game, while Todd Reesing and the passing attack kept the Miners off-balance. Everything else worked, too, with the defense holding UTEP to four rushing yards and allowed 75 of the 208 Miner yards on the one big touchdown play late in the game. The special teams also got into the act with Daymond Patterson averaging 11.5 yards per try with some big returns, including a 49-yarder.

Sept. 5
Kansas 49 ... Northern Colorado 3
Todd Reesing ripped through the Northern Colorado defense rushing for touchdown runs from one and 13 yards out before throwing for two scores. Jake Sharp caught a ten-yard touchdown pass and ran for a one-yard score, and Toben Opurum ran for two fourth quarter scores running them in from ten and 26 yards away. NCU only managed a 29-yard field goal in the third quarter and was outgained 547 yards to 246.
Player of the Game: Kansas QB Todd Ressing completed 13-of-20 passes for 208 yards and two touchdowns, and he ran 13 times for 79 yards and two scores.
Northern Colorado: Passing: Bryan Waggener, 19-30, 165 yds
Rushing: Andre Harris, 6-22, Receiving: Alex Thomson, 5-66
Kansas: Passing: Todd Reesing, 13-20, 208 yds, 2 TD
Rushing: Jake Sharp, 21-123, 1 TD, Receiving: Kerry Meier, 5-115
What It All Means: It was a true warm-up game but the Jayhawks were in midseason form. Todd Reesing was sharp and showed off his mobility to go along with his passing arm, while the defense never let Northern Colorado into the game. Jake Sharp further cemented himself as the team's top back with a strong game, while Toben Opurum looked quick and good in mop-up time. Now comes a step up in play against UTEP, but it's not a big jump. It'll be important to get the backups as much work as possible, and they'll get their chance against the mediocre Miners.