Through the Phog
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Kansas football should have won Sunflower Showdown

By Stan Unruh

LAWRENCE, KS - SEPTEMBER 02: A pylon sits on the field before the game between the Kansas Jayhawks and the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks on September 2, 2017 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Brian Davidson/Getty Images)
LAWRENCE, KS - SEPTEMBER 02: A pylon sits on the field before the game between the Kansas Jayhawks and the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks on September 2, 2017 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Brian Davidson/Getty Images) /
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The Kansas football team didn’t win the Sunflower showdown. The Jayhawks beat Kansas State everywhere except on the scoreboard.

David Beaty and most Kansas football fans won’t accept moral victories. As a matter of fact, those feel good final scores are not worth much. On the other hand, Jayhawk fans should take something positive from Saturday’s 30-20 loss in Sunflower Showdown.

After shutout losses in their previous two games, I had no clue what the Jayhawks might do against the purple ‘Cats.  Fortunately, center Mesa Ribordy played and anchored the Jayhawk offensive line. His return helped the Jayhawks beat KSU in many statistical categories except the final score.

Kansas football had five more first downs than the ‘Cats. The Jayhawks whipped them with 418 yards of total offense to 340 yards. This is a very different Jayhawk team than the one embarrassed in prime time in Fort Worth. Doug Meacham’s offense averaged 6.3 yards per play and ran twenty more plays Saturday. The Jayhawk defense also played a great game.

The Kansas running game did not match KSU.  As a matter of fact, Kahlil Herbert is healthy and ran for 37 yards on twelve carriers.  Quarterback Carter Stanley led the Jayhawks with 55-yards. The ‘Cats Alex Barnes led all ball carriers with 139 yards on 23 carries.

One stat that especially impressed me was penalties. The Kansas football team is improving in this area. Officials penalized the Jayhawks just four times Saturday for 42 yards. KSU declined a holding penalty against the Jayhawks early in the game. The ‘Cats were penalized 6 times.

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Jayhawk senior kicker Gabe Rui hit both field goal tries including his longest of the season from 42-yards in the first quarter. His consistency is a real plus for the David Beaty this season. KSU’s kicker McCrane didn’t do any better Saturday.

KSU’s kickoff return for a touchdown hurt badly. In addition, Stanley’s fumble on the first play of the second have that led to a touchdown and a big fourth quarter punt return were the difference. Other than that, the Jayhawks outplayed Bill Snyder’s team.

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