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| Source: KU Sports |
Kansas led the Rice Owls 24-13 with a little over 11 minutes left in the 3rd quarter. Had you told me that Rice would finish the game with just 25 points scored, I would have all but assumed KU was heading into the Week 3 matchup with TCU, 2-0. As the football gods would have it, that just wouldn't, shouldn't, and couldn't possibly be the case. Kansas was held scoreless by a very suspect Owl defense, and Chris Boswell nailed a 45 yard field goal (twice) as time expired, handing KU a 25-24 loss. The Hawks fell to 1-1 on the young season, and while it is "just one" loss, it's also probably one of the few games that Kansas could have won this season. Kansas might get "just one" win this year. This one sucked.
I think what most makes me feel like I have just been stripped in front my high-school crush and/or disemboweled is the fact that Kansas was near 10 point favorites against a 4-8 team last year that had not won a road game in 11 straight tries. This Rice team is almost as bad as Kansas is on the road, if not worse! Kansas let them creep back into the ballgame, and dumb plays down the stretch could not be erased.
They (coaches, players, and fans alike) say that College Football is not a sprint, but rather a marathon. No one game should be valued more than another. Insert cliche here. Well, I somewhat understand that logic, a win is a win is a win, right? They all count towards the 6 needed for bowl eligibility. Sure. The problem I have with that canon is that Kansas does not have too many more games left on the schedule that are "winnable". Rice was not just another game. Rice was a must-win. Kansas had the game all but won, but lost!
Instead of sitting (relatively) pretty at 2-0, Kansas is going to have to pick up another win somewhere, somehow in order to make up for this major letdown. Will it be in Norman, Oklahoma? Nice try. Manhattan, Kansas? Fat chance. Heck, Lawrence, Kansas?
I am not sure if anybody will agree with me on this, but if I were coaching the Jayhawks on Saturday, I would have pulled out ALL of the stops in order to win the game on Saturday. Most analysts are picking Kansas to win 2 games max. Charlie, win the two games! Win games now, worry about "showing too much of the playbook" later.
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| Source: KU Sports |
The point is, Kansas doesn't stretch the field for the better part of Saturday, and then with 4:47 left in the game and a 2 point lead, Kansas throws a jump ball down the field to Chris Omigie. Omigie was out-battled for the football by Rice's Bryce Callahan, intercepting the ball at the Rice 47.
Dayne Crist was far from good, but on two passes in the game, he was awful. Crist threw two costly interceptions on Saturday. 1, on an ill-advised batted reverse pass on the first play from scrimmage, the other on an ill-advised and terribly underthrown touch pass on the last play from scrimmage. Rice scored 3 points on each turnover. The first, giving Rice a 3-0 lead; the last, giving Rice a 25-24 win.
I just can't wrap my tiny head around this. Crist did not take many chances during the game. He decides to take one on the very first play of the game for KU. Then he proceeds to take a chance on the last play of the game for KU that ultimately cost them a win.
In that situation, wouldn't it behoove of Crist to error on the side of cautiousness, than on the side of risk. If Crist was a little too cautious, and overthrew Omigie and hit the waterboy near the track, so be it. Live to play another down. Why, why, why, why, why do you underthrow your receiver? Value the football! Take care of it! It's gold!
Just like the announcer says, that was not a poised play! Crist is a 5th year senior!
There were manifold opportunities for Kansas to end the football game. On offense. On defense. On special teams. This play, unfortunately, was the proverbial and final nail in the coffin. Honestly, when Crist threw the interception, from my sit at Memorial Stadium, I knew that Kansas was cooked. Chris Boswell had one of the best legs I have seen in person.
But even at this juncture, Kansas still had a shot. Kansas forced a 4th and 4, what should of been Rice's swan song, but Taylor McHargue evaded the blitz and completed a pass to Vance McDonald. McDonald made 2 Jayhawks miss, and dove for the first down. 3 plays later, McHargue scrambled for 12 yards on a 3rd and 7, setting up that 45 yard chip shot for Boswell.
Animated Drive Chart brought to you by Gameday Depot.
Here are some other notes that I took from the loss:
KU was only 3-10 on third downs. And amassed just 35 yards in the
fourth quarter.
Kansas had a better than 5 yard average all game
long on the ground, but only ran the ball 9 times for 17 yards in the fourth
quarter (averaging less than 2 yards per carry). Dayne Crist averaged 5.1 yards
per completion.
Plays went 76-64 in favor of Rice. Kansas had only 5 second half
drives. Rice really dictated the game in the second half after
Kansas scored on the opening possession.
2 missed field goals. Rice outdid him. Doherty really couldn’t hit water if he fell
out of a boat, but Weis lines him up from 53 yards out with an 11 point lead.
Nick Prolago did a great job on kickoffs (had a
tackle to his credit too), but Rice one-upped him too. 5 touchbacks to his 1. Why can't we find kickers?
D.J. Beshears fumbled a kickoff, trying to get 1,
maybe 2 extra yards?? He just doesn't look like he wants to be on the football field. Really a kick in the side.
Greg Brown had an amazing interception. I've never questioned his hands or athleticism, just his coverage.
Jimmay Mundine should be seeing more time in the red-zone and over the middle of the field.
9 play, 75 yard drive to start the third quarter. 8
yard Taylor Cox touchdown. That is how you do it.
Kansas later allowed a 7 play, 93 yard drive by Rice. That is not how you do it.
Predicted: Kansas 38, Rice 24
Actual: Kansas 24, Rice 25
On the Season: 1-1 (Kansas -25; Opponents -3)
Next week: Kansas 24, TCU 38
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