McMillan legitimate scoring threat
LARAMIE, WYO. ? David McMillan is turning out to be one of Kansas University’s most consistent scoring threats.
Not exactly what you expect from a defensive end.
“It’s cool,” said McMillan, who scored his second touchdown in three games Saturday in KU’s 42-35 victory at Wyoming. “It’s lovely. I love it. I need more.”
McMillan, a 6-foot-3, 240-pound junior, caught a deflected pass in the season opener against Northwestern and returned the interception 31 yards for a touchdown.
Last week, UNLV somehow found a way to keep the Texan out of the end zone.
Wyoming wasn’t as fortunate.
With the game tied at 7 in the first quarter, McMillan was in the right place at the right time again when sophomore Brandon Perkins sacked quarterback Casey Bramlet, forcing a fumble.
Did McMillan have any thoughts of falling on the ball?
“Glove it and run it,” McMillan said of his philosophy on loose balls.
Kansas defensive end David McMillan, left, scoops up the ball after Brandon Perkins forced a fumble by sacking Casey Bramlet in the first quarter. McMillan returned the ball 53 yards for a TD in the Jayhawks' 42-35 victory over Wyoming Saturday in Laramie, Wyo.
McMillan’s 53-yard scamper turned out to be one of many big plays in a seven-point victory.
“When they sacked Casey and returned it for a touchdown, you end up having nightmares about those kind of plays,” said Wyoming coach Joe Glenn, whose team has allowed 14 sacks in three games.
Perkins’ sack was KU’s first of the season.
“It was open from the backside,” said Perkins, a reserve who saw extended playing time along with junior Greg Tyree because of an undisclosed injury to sophomore starter Banks Floodman. “I just went like we worked on in practice.”
Sophomore end Monroe Weekley added two more sacks in the second quarter. Both came on third-down plays, and both ended drives near midfield.
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“That was our main focus, to go in there and get some sacks and put some pressure on the quarterback and disrupt their passing game,” McMillan said. “I think we did that successfully.”
Bramlet still passed for 328 yards and four touchdowns, rallying the Cowboys from a 21-point deficit in the fourth quarter.
KU’s quick-strike offense left the Jayhawks on the field for 32 minutes at high altitude.
Sophomore linebacker Nick Reid said that wasn’t a factor in Wyoming’s rally.
“We’re in good condition,” he said.
“It’s no big deal. That’s what we want the offense to do, get out there and score.”
KU’s defense has allowed more than 400 total yards in all three games, including 507 against Wyoming.
“We have got a ways to go,” KU coach Mark Mangino said. “But I’m very pleased with our play and getting a win on the road.”