Final, KU wins 58-10

A Gary Green interception was KU’s fourth of the day, and was the official final stab at Baylor from the KU defense. Angus Quigley slid in for a 22-yard touchdown with under 10 seconds to go, giving him his first career score and making the score 58-10.

KU’s offensive numbers looked decent at the end, but it was far from a consistent afternoon for the Jayhawks with the ball in their hands.

Todd Reesing finished by going 14-of-31 for 186 yards and two touchdowns.

The ground game was what really got KU going, with Jake Sharp pacing things to the tune of 110 yards on 18 carries and a touchdown.

Derek Fine had a team-high four receptions, going for 36 yards. Dezmon Briscoe had three grabs for 29 yards and a score. Dexton Fields also hauled in three passes.

KU’s defense made it a miserable day for Baylor sophomore QB Blake Szymanski, who completed 18 of 33 pass attempts, but was intercepted three times. Baylor’s lone touchdown came on a 97-yard kick return by track star David Gettis.

KU is now 6-0 for the first time since 1995, and is off to a 2-0 start in Big 12 play. The Jayhawks travel to play Colorado next Saturday in Boulder. Kick time will be announced tomorrow.

2:38, fourth quarter, KU leads 51-10

Baylor’s third quarterback of the day, Tyler Beatty, found about as much success as Blake Szymanski and Ryan Roberts did before him. After Baylor went three-and-out again, more subs saw some time on offense for the jayhawks.

Angus Quigley made his KU debut, taking three carries for 13 yards right off the bat. Then, after Kerry Meier snuck for a first down following a three-yard Quigley reception, he picked up four more yards on an athletic move to bounce outside.

After a holding call set KU back a bit on second down, Meier threw a n 11-yard pass over the middle to Quigley, who set up a third-and-five for KU.

On fourth-and-five, KU went for it, and a quarterback keeper by Meier set the Jayhawks up at the Baylor eight-yard line.

Meier finished the drive with a one-yard touchdown, serving as the finishing touch on a KU blowout.

9:24, fourth quarter, KU leads 44-10

Blake Szymanski’s rough day continued. After Brandon Whitaker again earned a first down, his third down pass down the right side went incomplete and was nearly picked by Justin Thornton, who snagged one in the first quarter.

On KU’s ensuing drive, Todd Reesing was replaced by Kerry Meier, and the rest of the Jayhawk offensive starters also got a rest.

On the day, Reesing was 14-of-31 for 186 yards and two TDs. Jake Sharp led KU with 18 carries and 110 yards before hanging up his helmet, too.

13:03, fourth quarter, KU leads 44-10

Jake Sharp started KU’s next drive by moving into the shadow of the 100-yard mark with a 13-yard dash, giving him 94 on the day. Two plays later, after a great one-handed grab by Derek Fine, Sharp went for 12 more yards, giving him 106 yards on 17 carries.

Dezmon Briscoe was thrown a ball while streaking down the sideline into the end zone, but after grasping it in mid-air, he lost it while tumbling to the ground. The drive resulted in a 35-yard field goal for Scott Webb.

1:43, third quarter, KU leads 41-10

It took Baylor next to no time at all to respond, with track star David Gettis flying down the right sideline on the kick return for a 97-yard score – the Bears’ first TD of the game.

2:04, third quarter, KU leads 41-3

Kyle Tucker came back in to punt after sitting since the first quarter, and he snuck one down to the Baylor five-yard line, setting the Bears up in the shadow of their own goalposts.

Baylor brought Blake Szymanski back in at quarterback, but the results were no better than before, as a three-and-out gave the ball back to KU with great field position.

From there, Jake Sharp continued his march towards 100 yards, with two healthy runs giving him 81 yards on 15 carries so far, with a four-yard touchdown to boot.

KU’s ability to pass consistently continued to be in question, and the Jayhawks were left to give Scott Webb a 34-yard field goal attempt, which he converted to put the Jayhawks up 41-3 as the third quarter draws towards a close.

5:24, third quarter, KU leads 38-3

KU’s momentum swelled even further, as Roberts continued to look uncomfortable in his first D-I action.

A sack by Jake Laptad on second-and-10 set up a tough third and long. Roberts hit Krys Buerck for a s16-yard goin over the middle to set up fourth-and-two, which Baylor had no choice but to try and convert. Laptad and James Holt spilled into the backfield to give KU possession at the Baylor 40, stopping Roberts for a short loss.

7:23, third quarter, KU leads 38-3

Roberts went three-and-out in his first drive as Baylor’s quarterback.

KU’s second drive of the half saw Todd Reesing go over the 100-yard mark passing for the day with a quick shot to Derek Fine on second-and-short. Then, after throwing to Marcus Henry and seeing the senior wideout drop his third pass of the game, Henry caught a slant over the middle and blew by his defender for a 54-yard score.

10:43, third quarter, KU leads 31-3

Baylor moved the ball for a first down on the second half’s opening drive thanks to a couple of nifty runs by Brandon Whitaker. But Sadiq Muhammed registered KU’s third interception of the day on a long third down throw down the right seam.

KU went three-and-out, though. Todd Reesing fired an incomplete pass on second down, and while trying to make something out of nothing on third-and-long, he was forced out of bounds along the KU sideline.

Baylor had seen enough of Szymanski, replacing him on the ensuing drive with junior backup Ryan Roberts.

Halftime, KU leads 31-3

Todd Reesing didn’t have the greatest first half, going 8-of-18 for 86 yards and a TD, but he helped the offense take advantage of each Baylor miscue.

Brandon McAnderson and Jake Sharp combined for 98 rushing yards in the game’s first 30 minutes, and each scored a touchdown.

Reesing hit four targets – Dexton Fields, Dezmon Briscoe, Kerry Meier and Derek Fine – with each having two grabs apiece.

Blake Szymanski had 12 completions in the first half for Baylor, but his two interceptions thrown proved to be pivotal, as KU is easily in control at the half.

:43, second quarter, KU leads 31-3

KU’s Chris Harris picked off Blake Szymanski on Baylor’s first play of the ensuing drive, and a low block call against Szymanski on the return put the ball at the Baylor 17.

Reesing hit Derek Fine for a short pass to the Baylor 15, and on third down, KU looked to pull out a trick play, as a toss to Brandon McAnderson looked like it would be a halfback pass. Instead he scooted down the sideline for 15 yards and his seventh touchdown run of the season.

1:30, second quarter, KU leads 24-3

Baylor went wide on a running play to start its drive at the six-yard line. Jay Finley was stuffed for a two-yard loss on first down, and following two incompletions, the Jayhawks were to receive a punt with less than three minutes to go in the half.

Mark Mangino sent Anthony Webb out to field the punt, which he did safely at the Baylor 30-yard line.

Todd Reesing swung outside for a four-yard gain on first down, and on second down he found Derek Fine over the middle for a first down to the 16-yard line.

Reesing’s second pass of the drive netted another first down, as he lofted one high for Dexton Fields to the four-yard line.

It set up a huge late first half score, as Jake Sharp went four yards up the middle untouched for his fifth touchdown of the season. Scott Webb’s extra point put KU up 24-3.

4:13, second quarter, KU leads 17-3

KU again went to what was working – the ground game.

On a broken play to start the drive, Todd Reesing went up the right side for a nine-yard gain.

After couple of tough Jake Sharp scampers, Brandon McAnderson took an option pitch left for a 13-yard gain to the Baylor 33.

The drive fizzled there, though, after a couple of incomplete passes from Reesing to Sharp and then a Nick Moore sack off the weak side on third down.

Meier’s second punt went much smoother than his first, as a 38-yard coffin corner attempt stuck Baylor at its own six.

8:03, second quarter, KU leads 17-3

Baylor again found large chunks of yardage while pinned in its own territory.

First, Brandon Whitaker took a broken running play for a nine-yard gain. It was followed by a 23-yard strike from Szymanski to Akers. A six-yard Whitaker gain after that put the ball at the KU 36.

Aqib Talib wrapped up Krys Buerck on a slant over the middle and kept him a yard shy of the first down. It turned out to be huge, as KU held Szymanski to no gain on a third-and-one quarterback keeper, forcing a fourth-and-one at the 32.

The fourth down give to Whitaker was close after he bounced outside and was stopped right at the mark. The spot made it look short, with 8:03 left in the first half.

The measurement confirmed it, giving the ball to KU at its own 33.

11:06, second quarter, KU leads 17-3

Jake Sharp finally gave the KU offense a kick in the rear, taking his first two carries for gains of nine and 13 yards.

Reesing then went to the air, finding Dexton Fields for a gain of 15 yards, putting the Jayhawks into Baylor territory for the second time on the afternoon. Reesing’s next pass went for 15 yards, as well, as he struck Dezmon Briscoe over the middle, putting the ball at the Baylor 29.

Sharp got the ball twice in a row yet again, taking the ball to the 24 on his first carry, and to the 13 on his next tote, giving KU first and 10 at the Baylor 13. Sharp took it to the 10, from there, giving him five carries on the drive so far for 43 yards.

The offensive line gave Reesing outstanding protection on second down from the 10, and after holding the ball for a few moments, he rifled a pass to the back of the end zone, finding a wide open Dezmon Briscoe for his fourth TD catch of the season.

End of first quarter, KU leads 10-3

KU’s defense bailed the offense and Kerry Meier out on the second Baylor snap, as Justin Thornton awaited a floated pass at the goal line, picked it off and ran it back to his own 19-yard line.

:27, first quarter, KU leads 10-3

After a 32-minute weather delay, Scott Webb kicked off to the Bears, who returned the kick to their own 32-yard line. Following an eight-yard run by Brandon Whitaker, the Bears were given a free pass to better field position, when Mike Rivera was called for a personal foul penalty after roughing Blake Szymanski.

Whitaker took the ball for another first down to midfield after the flag, by twisting his way out of a pair of KU tackles for a big gain.

But after a timeout, Blake Szymanski threw an unsuccessful short route to David Gettis, he misfired deep down the right sideline after being flushed out by Jeff Wheeler. A punt gave the ball back to KU at its own nine-yard line.

KU’s offense continued to struggle to find rhythm, going three-and-out once again.

On fourth down, Mark Mangino sent Kerry Meier in to punt. His KU debut at that spot was not a great one, as the kick went out of bounds after 15 yards, giving Baylor the ball at the KU 25.

4:08, first quarter, KU leads 10-3

Marcus Herford took no time to break the tie. Shooting right through a lane opened up by his blockers, the junior returnman, who had a key dropped pass late last year against Baylor, exacted some revenge with an 88-yard kickoff return, where no one could possibly catch him once he crossed midfield.

Right after Scott Webb’s extra point sailed through, a thunder boom woke up the crowd, but accompanying lightning forced both teams off the field for a weather delay.

4:20, first quarter, game tied 3-3

Baylor’s offense found some steam, as Blake Szymanski picked up a first down on a three-yard scramble following a completion to Justin Akers. He later found Akers again, as the Bears moved inside the KU 30-yard line.

Baylor caught a great bounce on second-and-three from the KU 23, as Szymanski threw a quick out for Krys Buerck. Aqib Talib jumped the route and poked the ball up into the air, but Buerck was able to catch the deflection before falling out of bounds, giving the Bears a first down inside the KU 20.

On third-and-eight Blake Szymanski’s pass for the front of the end zone may have been a pick-six for freshman Chris Harris. But the Jayhawks settled for a broken-up pass, and a 25-yard field goal for Baylor’s Caleb Allen.

8:24, first quarter, KU leads 3-0

The Jayhawks looked headed for a second straight three-and-out, facing a third-and-seven from its own nine-yard line. But Todd Reesing sprung outside on a bootleg and scooted for 16 yards and the game’s inaugural first down.

The drive stalled from there, though. Dexton Fields had a ball go off his fingers on first down, and after a short McAnderson run, Reesing overshot Dezmon Briscoe on the right sideline.

KU caught its first break of the day, however, when Kyle Tucker’s low, lining punt slid under the hands of returnman Joe Bennett. Sliding on the slick turf, Derek Fine recovered it at the Baylor 36.

Following a one-yard run by Reesing, KU brought in backup quarterback Kerry Meier to play slot wide receiver. He caught a five-yard pass over hte middle, and then another for 15 yards setting KU up in the red zone at the Baylor 15.

Reesing threw a ball into the corner of the end zone for Briscoe, but the pass sailed wide, and the freshman hauled it in out of bounds. McAnderson then picked up five yards on the ground, but Marcus Henry had his second drop of the game at the first down marker on third down, leaving Scott Webb to nail a 27-yard field goal for the game’s first points.

13:08, first quarter, score tied 0-0

Marcus Herford returned the game’s opening kick 28 yards to the KU 29, setting KU up with a light drizzle still falling.

KU’s opening drive was unimpressive, however. On first down, Todd Reesing saw the pocket collapse around him for a two-yard loss. On second down he was nearly picked on a short throw, and the third play of the drive saw a short pass fly through Marcus Henry’s hands.

A Kyle Tucker punt settled at the Baylor 45, setting the Bears up with favorable field position.

Blake Szymanski on first down threw a short pass into the flat for Brandon Whitaker, who shifted for a four-yard gain. After that, the pass defense stood stiff, knocking away a pass over the middle on second down, followed by a Mike Rivera swat of a pass at the line of scrimmage on third down.

Pregame

KU will be forced a little bit longer to deploy revenge on Baylor for last year’s 36-35 loss in Waco. The start of the game is delayed due to lightning in the area on top of sheets of rain falling to the Memorial Stadium turf.

But once the game does get underway, the conditions certainly seem to favor the Jayhawks. KU has the Big 12’s fourth-ranked rushing attack, averaging 215.4 yards per game on the ground. Baylor ranks eleventh, coming in with just 86.8 yards averaged per game through its first six contests.

Splitting the load for KU is sophomore Jake Sharp and senior Brandon McAnderson, a Lawrence High product. McAnderson is KU’s leading rusher so far this season, totaling 408 yards and six scores. Sharp has 384 yards and four touchdowns. The most telling stat, though, is that each is averaging over six yards per carry.

Baylor has had a tougher time in the old school offense department Brandon Whitaker leads the Bears with 186 yards this season on the ground, but he’s averaging just 3.6 yards per tote. Then again, running the ball is not really Baylor’s forte. Sophomore quarterback Blake Szymanski has attempted 284 passes in six games, but only boasts a completion percentage of 53.5. He has thrown 15 touchdowns, opposed by nine picks.

The kickoff, originally scheduled for 11:30 a.m., has been pushed back to 1:00 p.m. at the earliest.