John Randle broke through UNLV’s defense and was headed down the sideline with nothing but green turf in front of him.

Trouble was, Kansas University’s freshman running back didn’t have the ball.

“He’s got to remember to take the ball with him,” KU football coach Mark Mangino said Saturday night after the Jayhawks defeated the Rebels, 46-24, at Memorial Stadium. “We’re working on that.”

The Wichita Southeast freshman impressed coaches during preseason practices and rushed for 77 yards on nine carries Saturday in his second college game.

On his first big run against UNLV, he was about to break into the open field when he fumbled. The ball bounced back to him, but the hesitation gave the Rebels time to close in after an 11-yard gain.

“I told him they’re faster, and they’re tougher than the Wichita City League,” Mangino quipped.

KU’s turnovers are no laughing matter. Randle had one of five turnovers in the Jayhawks’ season-opening loss to Northwestern Aug. 30, and KU had two more against UNLV.

“I’m very pleased with our offense, except the turnovers,” Mangino said Sunday after watching Saturday’s game film. “Ball security will be a primary focus for our staff come Monday.”

Mangino was confident Randle would get the hang of major-college football, and hang onto the ball.

Kansas University senior quarterback Bill Whittemore, right, is tackled by UNLV's Jamaal Brimmer. Whittemore was 22-of-31 passing for 270 yards and three touchdowns in the Jayhawks' 46-24 victory Saturday night at Memorial Stadium.

“He’s explosive,” Mangino said. “He has a chance to be a special player at KU.”

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Too eager: KU’s special teams had a stellar night with more than 200 return yards. Junior kicker Johnny Beck made all four of his extra-point attempts and all four of his field-goal attempts.

KU’s kickoff coverage unit also kept UNLV pinned deep in its own territory, but the Jayhawks were penalized for being offsides on two kicks.

“We told them all week, ‘Don’t be the last guy down,'” Mangino said of the coverage unit. “‘Be the guy that makes the play.'”

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Third-down deficiency: KU’s defense allowed 421 yards but forced two turnovers and made stops at key times.

Mangino, however, was unhappy that UNLV converted 7-of-14 third-down plays. KU’s opponents are 15-of-33 on third-down plays through two games.

“I don’t want to paint a bleak picture because the defense made plays when they had to,” Mangino said. “But we need consistency in stopping the run and third-down plays. We’ll get it done.”

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Nose woes: Sophomore linebacker Gabe Toomey missed a series in the first quarter with a shoulder injury but later returned to the game.

Toomey and Mangino both said Saturday night that the injury wasn’t serious.

More problematic for Toomey was a cut he suffered on his nose during the first week of preseason practices. The cut hasn’t healed, and he needed stitches after the game.

“It’s a daily thing,” Toomey said. “It happens. I expect it now.”

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Keeping it in perspective: Winning his third game as KU’s coach wasn’t cause for a big celebration at Mangino’s house, though he had relatives in town from Pennsylvania.

“I was in bed by 11:30,” he said.

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Up next: Kansas plays Wyoming Saturday at Laramie, Wyo.

The Jayhawks looked like two different teams in their season-opening loss to the Wildcats and Saturday’s lopsided victory against the Rebels.

Mangino saw one common factor, though.

“When you look at the two games we’ve played, our kids play with heart,” Mangino said. “As long as we’ve got that, we’ve always got chance no matter who we’re playing.”

— Sports writer David Mitchell can be reached at 832-6357.