There's a Snake in KU's Boot

Source: KU Sports

The Kansas Jayhawks lead the country and conference in many categories this season. The team has the best 3rd down defense in the Big 12. On a weekly basis, it maintains its NCAA top-10 tackles for loss statistic. Dorance Armstrong registered his 5th straight game with a sack. These are things to hang your hat on. But including the 3 it lost Saturday, the Jayhawks continue to be the country's best at giving the ball away (25 in 6 games), and KU continues to kill its good efforts with costly miscues. Throughout the early afternoon, Kansas was within striking distance of the Oklahoma State Cowboys 5-2 (3-1), but costly turnovers inflated the defeat, 44-20, as David Beaty now falls to 1-18 as head coach.

After the first quarter, Oklahoma State had only outgained KU by 30 yards of total offense despite possessing the ball for 4:37 longer, with 6 first downs to KU's 5. Tied 7-7, following a Fish Smithson strip-sack and recovery and a 68-yard bomb to La'Quivionte Gonzalez from Montell Cozart (yes, it happened), Kansas was there to make a game of it.

Inaccurate check down pass to Steven Sims forced Sims to go back on the ball and lose momentum on 2nd and 4. Could have had first down yardage. Gained just 1. Jet sweep to Sims was snuffed out on third down.

Brandon Stewart near interception after DeIsaac Davis sack.

Personal foul on Jayson Rhoades.



Cole Moos punt not good. Took over from KU 34. KU able to hold to a field goal. Tied at 10.

Ku recaptures lead, 13-10.

Dorance Armstrong sack in 5 straight games.

Oklahoma State 23 rushes for 106 yards and 2 touchdowns in the first half. Outgained Kansas by 35 yards of total offense, 269 to 234. 11 to 10 first downs. 24 plays in opponent's territory for OSU; 9 for Kansas.

Montell Cozart finished the first half 13/19 for 148 yards, 1 touchdown and no interceptions. Also no sacks. Coming into the game, Oklahoma State was 18th in the country in sacks. Ke'Aun Kinner 6 carries for 67 yards.

Kansas took over possession after halftime. Holding penalty on kick return set Kansas back. Kinner led off with two strong runs to move the chains. Left side of line paved out a nice hole to run through. But on third play, Kinner's third carry of the half, it all went horribly wrong as the ball squirted out as he was met at the line of scrimmage. KU 26 yard line.

"There's only so much you can overcome". 3rd and 7 scramble by Mason Rudolph barely made the line to gain and kept the drive alive. Daniel Wise sack on first down, second down small gain by Justice Hill. 3rd and 10, when, correct me if I wrong, the playclock read zero, but the ball still wasn't snapped, Rudolph hit Chris Carson swiping across the middle for the score.

Trailing 24-13, Kansas needed to respond. First play, Cozart found an open Steven Sims, who came back on the hook route and rounded up the middle of the field to up to the 39 for a 14-yard gain. Taylor Martin made something out of nothing for 3 yards on the next first down play. Cozart improvised on second down, stepped up in the pocket and zipped on to Sims again, who wiggled his way down to the OSU 39. Cozart would hit on his next three passes to move the chains once again, 1st and 10 from the 17. On 3rd and 8, Cozart found Sims on a slant across the middle of the field to convert. On the next play from the 6, Taylor Martin used his 4.3 speed to bounce outside for the score.

On OSU's first play of the proceeding drive, Anthony Olobia shot through the Cowboy line and wrestled down Rudolph. 10 yard loss. 3rd and 19. Kansas held when Courtney Arnick made nice solo tackle, but the OSU punt took a favorable bounce into KU territory and landed around the 20.

On a 3rd down play, Cozart faced a heavy blitz and misread the nose-tackle who dropped back in coverage and made a nice play on the ball. The ball was returned down inside the 5. Ray Childs plunged in on the next play. Kansas had been down 24-20 with the ball seconds ago, but now trailed by 11 once again.

After converting yet another third down on an out to Bobby Hartzog, Cozart went deep to Quiv Gonzalez again, but saw the ball bounce off Quiv's shoulder-pad/helmet as he cleared away from OSU defenders, and into a Cowboy's hand. The ball was returned and lateraled twice, as OSU brought it back to the KU 15. The pass was slightly underthrown, so the touchdown wasn't a sure thing if Quiv caught it, but you talk about a momentum swing.

KU successfully held the Cowboys to three points, keeping the game within two scores. On the first play, Kinner went 54-yards, gashing OSU to the 21. Though once Kansas had first and goal from the 5.5, OSU held stiff.

Give credit to OSU, who played winning football and put their foot down on an exhausted Kansas defense the final two drives. Clint Bowen was not happy with the effort, which put the game out of reach, 37-20 and then 44-20, but overall, it was a strong performance once again by the Kansas defense. Star Cowboy receiver James Washington did extend his streak of consecutive games with a reception to 26, but it didn't come until just over 8 minutes left in the game--his only catch of the day.