It is never predictable with the Jayhawks this season. So why would it be during the first half of the Sunflower Showdown?
Kansas couldn’t have gotten off to a better start, a fumble on the opening Kansas State kick return, and after five plays and 25 yards, longtime Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels muscled himself into the endzone, and the Jayhawks took just 2:06 to put up the first score.
Yet when the Wildcats needed a calming drive, they found it with ease. A smooth seven-play, 82-yard touchdown drive, which ended in an Avery Johnson run, tied the game after 2:56 had been chewed off the clock.
Disaster then struck as Kansas’ ensuing punt was blocked and taken to the house by the Wildcats, and in the flip of a switch, the Jayhawks were down 14-7.
Kansas was able to recover some momentum with a long drive that had pushed itself to the Wildcats’ 42-yard line, yet a botched fourth-down fumble from Daniels ended all the momentum with 4:28 to play in the first half.
Both teams traded punts, but it was the Wildcats who would strike next as Johnson heaved a 27-yard passing touchdown that gave Kansas State a 21-7 lead, which essentially wrapped up the first quarter.
The Jayhawks continued to stumble and were forced to punt, putting the pressure on their defense to create a stop, but the Kansas defense proudly answered the call, and Daniels and co. woke up from their slumber to notch a monster 18-play 85-yard touchdown drive, which chewed up 8:34 seconds of the clock. That would be the end of the meaningful action of the first half and Kansas is set to open the second half with possession.
First Half Stats
Kansas State has mustered 176 yards of total offense with the Jayhawks closely trailing with 150.
Kansas holds a more balanced attack with 79 yards on the ground and 71 through the air. Meanwhile, Kansas State has kept the priority with the passing attack, which has gained 120 yards, and 56 on the ground.
The Wildcats have gone 2-4 on third downs; meanwhile, Kansas has answered the concerning questions over their third-down rates with a 5-9 clip.
The Jayhawks have mustered just 3.3 yards per play compared to K-State’s 7.3, which paints a stuttering offense from Kansas so far.
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