KU sacks Jax State
Jayhawks roll up 641 total yards in rout of Gamecocks
After taking an early lead Saturday night, Kansas University’s football team didn’t score for more than 33 minutes.
It hardly mattered.
KU’s 641 total yards was the third-highest total in school history, and the Jayhawks scored more than 40 points for their third straight game in a 41-6 victory over Division I-AA Jacksonville State at Memorial Stadium.
“Obviously, we came out of the blocks pretty well tonight,” said KU coach Mark Mangino, whose team scored on all four of its first-quarter possessions and led, 28-0. “We jumped up so fast that in the second quarter we were a little too excited. Our kids need to mature enough to handle adversity and success.”
Last week at Wyoming, KU built a 21-point fourth-quarter lead and had to hang on for a 42-35 victory. The Jayhawks (3-1) were never in any such danger against the Gamecocks (1-2).
Quarterback Bill Whittemore dominated Jacksonville State in the first 15 minutes. The senior scored on a two-yard run on KU’s opening drive, then tossed a 65-yard bomb to Mark Simmons on the Jayhawks’ next possession.
“He looked awesome,” said Simmons, who has caught a TD pass in all four games. “We have a great quarterback here. I can’t wait to see what he does next week.”
Whittemore tuned up for Saturday’s Big 12 Conference opener against Missouri with a career-best 319 passing yards.
He tossed a 54-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Rideau to make it 21-0, and later made it 28-0 with a 15-yard touchdown run of his own.
Kansas University quarterback Bill Whittemore, right, drags Jacksonville State's Jonathan Dryer and Russell Green into the end zone for a touchdown as Brandon Rideau trails the play. KU beat the Gamecocks, 41-6, Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
“We came out and did what we wanted to do,” Whittemore said. “We didn’t want to let a team like Jacksonville State hang around.”
But the Gamecocks did for three quarters.
Jax State yanked starting quarterback Anthony Mayo late in the first quarter, and Maurice Mullins — who had started JSU’s first two games — led the Gamecocks on a quick scoring drive. Mullins hit Neika Willis on a 57-yard touchdown pass.
JSU missed the extra point.
“We’re always hoping for a shutout,” said linebacker Gabe Toomey, who led KU with a dozen tackles. “But we’ll take the W. Six points isn’t bad.”
Hear Mark: Postgame audio
Get the stats: Box score
WIBW video: KU wins third straight
Mullins had 128 yards passing in the second quarter, but gained just 20 more after halftime.
Kansas was in control all the way, but struggled to put the game out of reach. Whittemore completed seven of nine passes for 185 yards in the first quarter, but cooled off in the second quarter after suffering an undisclosed injury. He finished the half 11-of-17 for 234 yards.
A fumble by tailback Clark Green ended one Jayhawk scoring threat at the JSU 27, and Johnny Beck missed a 43-yard field goal at the end of the half.
KU’s second drive of the third quarter stalled at the JSU nine-yard line, and Beck missed a 49-yard field goal later in the quarter.
“We had some chances,” said Ku receiver Charles Gordon, who had five catches for 80 yards. “We have got to work on that, putting teams away.”
Green got an earful from Mangino after his fumble, but the sophomore bounced back and finished with 108 yards rushing and four receptions for 39 yards.
“I didn’t have my head down,” Green said. “He knows, and I know, that I shouldn’t be fumbling. He got on me, and that makes you think harder and makes you play harder.”
KU's Brandon Perkins, top, and JSU's Dexter Sistrunk go after a fumble.
The tailback’s 13-yard touchdown run finally ended a scoring drought of 33:01 on the third play of the fourth quarter.
With a comfortable lead, Mangino replaced the banged-up Whittemore with sophomore Brian Luke. The backup led Kansas on another scoring drive, capped by Gary Heaggans’ 14-yard TD reception.
Kansas finished with 396 yards passing, the fourth-highest total in school history. Rideau led the receiving corps with five catches for 106 yards. Simmons added three catches for 89 yards.
“We busted assignments regularly, whether it was missing the quarterback or missing receivers,” JSU coach Jack Crowe said.
The Jayhawks moved the ball on the ground as well. KU finished with 245 yards rushing, including 78 by freshman backup John Randle.
“That’s what makes our offense go,” Mangino said. “We try to get the ball in the hands of as many offensive players as we possibly can. That philosophy of balance and spreading the ball around is working well for us.”
The Jayhawks expect to have Whittemore back under center Saturday when they play host to rival Missouri. KU also will be riding its first three-game winning streak since 1997.
“I’m a football coach. I’m never comfortable,” Mangino said. “It’s just my nature. I’m confident in our ball club. I’m confident in our kids. But comfortable, no. No matter what your record is, you have Big 12 games coming. You have to get better.”