“We had six takeaways, and that’s what we want to be as a football team”. In order to keep this one close, the Jayhawks can not let that happen again.
Advertisement
The Kansas offense set an inept tone in the first quarter, losing fumbles on three of its first four drives after opening with a three-and-out and its first of seven punts. The Jayhawks were held to 84 yards in the first period, while the Tigers gained 160, but the deficit could have been worse as Memphis’ average drive start in the first 15 minutes was its own 41-yard line. If they dig themselves an early hole against this Memphis team, it’ll be a long game. “I was thinking: ‘Don’t let me get caught'”.
After an ugly loss to Ohio, Kansas hits the road for the first time this season Saturday afternoon when it takes on a Memphis team that is coming off a very early bye week.
First, on the move on third-and-long, Cozart simply lost his grip on the football, and when he did Michael Edwards happily picked it up.
Jonathan Wilson intercepted a pass on the next play and returned it 61 yards for a touchdown, giving Memphis a 33-7 halftime lead. “We didn’t start fast on either side of the ball”.
However, Cozart said the Jayhawks’ fundamentals kept breaking down as they tried to make plays to ignite some semblance of a rally.
“I’ve never been in a game where we even came close to having that many turnovers”, Kansas coach David Beaty said. “But that was definitely the biggest thing out there, and it showed”.
Kansas’ only touchdown came on a third-and-1 play when Khalil Herbert broke the first wave of Memphis defenders bunched at the line of scrimmage and went 66 yards for a second-quarter touchdown.
“It surprised me; he threw it right to me”, Wilson said. “And we wound up not being able to utilize it the way that we needed to”.
Advertisement
Two fumbles in a row by Kansas led to two field goals by Elliot, 41 and 42 yards, to stretch the lead to 13-0. “We’ve gotta put out the fire, no matter what position we’re in”. The defensive effort was bolstered by senior linebacker Marcquis Roberts’ five stops and two tackles for loss, as well as sophomore defensive end Dorance Armstrong’s two-sack, three-tackle-for-loss performance. Both Roberts and defensive back Marnez Ogletree led the team with five solo tackles and one pass breakup apiece.
