LJWorld.com

On a sunny Saturday afternoon, the local football team loaded with fascinating books that so easily could be misread by their covers pushed its story a little closer to the fiction section of the library.

Was that really Todd Reesing, who in his postgame suit and tie looks more as if he should carry a briefcase than a football to work, completing 30 of 41 passes for 354 yards and six touchdowns? Anyone still in denial about the legitimacy of his Heisman Trophy candidacy, born way back in his first start, needs to watch Doug Flutie the next time he appears on ESPN Classic Sports.

Was that really Mark Mangino, the coach whose record was 10 games below .500 coming into this make-or-break season, talking about what went right in a 76-39 victory against Nebraska that pushed the Kansas record to 9-0? The blue collar that Mangino wears to work masks his Ivy League-worthy brain.

The local train, fullback Brandon McAnderson, stayed on track for a huge season with 119 rushing yards and four touchdowns, plus a 36-yard reception.

Dezmon Briscoe, a true freshman, caught three touchdown passes, and Marcus Henry caught 101 yards worth of passes, one for a touchdown.

McAnderson, quick to point out that none of it would have been possible without the performance of the big, athletic offensive line, acknowledged he was part player, part spectator.

Asked to name which of his own plays stood out, McAnderson diverted the attention.

"My main thing was I was looking at Todd," McAnderson said. "He was in the zone, the sports zone. He was definitely in it today, and the hands were ready to catch, and they did some amazing things."

Reesing's quick mind and feet put him in the game. His remarkable accuracy puts him in the Heisman race. He was Reggie Miller on a particularly hot shooting day, Tiger Woods draining putts, long and short, Greg Maddux in his prime, hitting spot after spot.

Reesing was plenty ready for the season to start. He completed 20 of 29 and threw four touchdown passes without being intercepted in the season opener. It's clear he has improved since then.

"He's getting a lot better," Henry said. "He's getting better reads on the field and throwing it to the right receivers. Playing with him in practice, seeing what he's capable of, I think he's capable of doing more than he's doing now."

The good times are just beginning.

Reesing's last 139 passes have something in common: They weren't intercepted. Three of his four interceptions came against Kansas State.

Reesing set school records Saturday for touchdown passes in a season (23) and game.

Nebraska's much-maligned defense was no match for Reesing, his receivers, his blockers and the running backs. Seven of KU's 11 drives ate less than two minutes of clock. As usual, the best work was done from behind. Kansas has trailed seven times all season. The Jayhawks scored on the next possession six of those seven times.

"I've thought about it," Reesing said of the offense's counter-punching ability. "It shows when we're behind, everyone gets real focused in, sharpens up their assignments, and plays real well."

They play pretty well from ahead, too.