Kansas football: Turnovers doom Jayhawks at Texas
By Stan Unruh
The Kansas football hoped to find the magic that helped them beat Texas a year ago. The Jayhawks could not overcome four first half turnovers.
David Beaty and the Kansas Jayhawks started with a missed onside kick in Austin Saturday. The Longhorns recovered and scored on their first offensive play on the way to a 42-27 loss. As a matter of fact, that opening 49-yard pass touchdown didn’t hurt the Jayhawks. Three first half turnovers did them in.
One Carter Stanley interception went for a touchdown. Another Kansas miscue gave the Longhorns the ball inside the KU 10-yard line. Late in the first half another interception took a touchdown off the board for the Jayhawks.
I don’t care that the Jayhawks opened the game without two starters on defense. That’s a part of the game. The Kansas defense actually played well. You can’t blame Clint Bowen for this loss.
Two plays summed up the game and reflect the season.
With 4:33 left in the third quarter, Longhorn quarterback Shane Buechele threw a pass into the bread basket of Big 12 preseason defensive player of the year Dorance Armstrong. There were no bodies between the Kansas defensive end and a touchdown. The obvious, incredible opportunity surprised Armstrong and he dropped the ball. Officials wasted time on a review. There was no fumble.
With 10:47 left in the fourth quarter, the Jayhawk offense had the ball back thanks to an interception by Hasan Defense. The Jayhawks had a fourth and two inside the Texas 30. A Kansas lineman Larry Hughes jumped offside.
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It is not easy to hide when you are 6-foot-7 and 310 pounds. The penalty on Hughes forced Kansas into a fourth down and seven. A penalty on Texas gave the Jayhawks new life with another fourth and 2. The Jayhawks looked confused and running back Taylor Martin lost yards on the play.
The Kansas football team outplayed the Longhorns most of the second half. However, when you keep giving up points on turnovers and make mental mistakes that kill drives you are not going to win. David Beaty and the Jayhawk coaches have more work to do with this football team.