The college football season is officially underway for the Kansas football team and its fan base is excited as ever for the new season that is upon us. Newfound optimism in a way that maybe has never been felt before has hit the Jayhawks as they look to do something they haven’t done since 2011: start a football season 2-0.
However, getting the win for the Jayhawks last week was not all smooth sailing for Kansas football, as in the second half they had to stave off a furious comeback from the Sycamores after they led at halftime by a score of 10-3. Then, the Jayhawks extended it their lead even further to 16-3 as seasoned veteran tight end James Sosinski caught a 10-yard pass from Carter Stanley. Not only was it Sosinski’s first touchdown of the season, but the first touchdown in his third year at Kansas that also came in the same game as his first-ever reception at Kansas. This is when the Sycamores started to rally and give Jayhawk fans horrible flashbacks to last season’s stunning week one loss to the Nicholls State Colonels in overtime 26-23.
In the fourth quarter, the Sycamores were driving and took their first lead of the game thanks to a 26 yard Ryan Boyle pass to receiver Dante Jones on a 4th and 7 after an illegal formation pushed them back on the previous play. Jones was the biggest contributor for the Sycamores as he finished with 4 catches, 79 yards, and a touchdown with a whopping 19.8 yards per reception. The Jayhawks did a good job keeping the Sycamores’ t biggest playmaker Dante Hendrix in check, as he finished with 8 catches on only 57 which is 7.1 yards per reception. The Jayhawks kept their composure though, and not let that doubt get to them as they stormed back down the field. With with 2:20 remaining, Carter Stanley hooked up with fellow redshirt senior Daylon Charlot to give Kansas a 22-17 lead. After a successful two-point conversion pass from freshman wide receiver Andrew Parchment to tight end Jack Luavasa, the Jayhawks extended their lead to seven points.
In the past and even continuing into this year, Kansas football has featured position battles early in the season. However, the one that has been the most consistent and least clear has been the quarterback position. Each and every year the past few years it has come down to either a few days before kickoff or even decided right at kickoff.
This year was no different, as even though at the Big 12 media days Les Miles voiced both Carter Stanley and Thomas MacVittie would both have a crack at snaps, that wasn’t the case. Even on Saturday before the game, both MacVittie and Stanley were announced as the starting quarterbacks. Stanley, not MacVittie was ultimately the one to take the field and stay on it the whole game as he finished with 20 of his 29 passes for 241 yards and two touchdowns. Miles was asked about that after the game and if this would be an indication of things to come moving forward.
“You betcha” Miles said calmly as he listed reasons such as Stanley’s toughness and execution of the game-winning drive when things were not necessarily being communicated properly through his wristband and he had to make it happen.
Now, heading into next week it is still another very winnable game for the Jayhawks, but a game they have to lock in on and focus to make that happen. They are facing the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers who will be coming out blazing mad for a victory since as last Saturday they lost their first game of the season at the hands of Eastern Michigan.
It started with a 32-yard pass from Mike Glass to Quian Williams for an Eastern Michigan touchdown. The Chanticleers then came back with a 38-yard field goal with 40 seconds, but it wasn’t enough to change the outcome. They look to move forward from a disappointing 5-7 record from last season, also posting a 2-6 record in Sun Belt conference play.
Something that the Chanticleers like to do a lot and something the Jayhawks should be well prepared for heading into next Saturday is their commitment to the passing game. Coastal Carolina quarterback Fred Payton threw for a total of 304 yards and two touchdowns on 43 passing attempts completing 29 of them last week. Not to mention, he also completed a 43-yard pass as his longest pass of the game. He also threw a game-high four interceptions, which should have the Kansas secondary chomping at the bit as the Jayhawks got two interceptions of their own last week against Indiana State with Hasan Defense returning his for a 57-yard pick-six. A player to watch for the Chanticleers is CJ Marable, who last week had 7 receptions for 84-yards along with a touchdown. Marable also rushed 18 times for 49 yards. In the 2018 season, he played in all 12 games getting 15 receptions for 180 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 12 yards per attempt and 15 yards per game while he mainly rushed the ball with118 carries for 749 yards and six touchdowns averaging 6.1 yards per attempt and 59.9 yards per game.
Kickoff is set for Saturday at 6:00 PM once again inside David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium as the Kansas football team will look to continue their winning ways.
TV: ESPN+
Radio: 105.9 FM, 90.7 FM (Lawrence)
Line: Kansas -8
Prediction: Kansas 28 Coastal Carolina 10