On a cold, blustery Wednesday afternoon at Memorial Stadium, the Kansas University football team went through its final Wednesday practice of the 2014 season.

Just two practices remain before Saturday’s game at Kansas State, which will bring to a close another KU football season filled with a couple of close calls and more disappointment.

There was nothing disappointing about the start of Wednesday’s practice, which featured a World Cup-esque penalty-kick shootout-style punting drill involving some of the most unlikely candidates.

Ben Heeney and Nick Harwell were the captains for their respective squads in the best-of-five contest and Heeney was allowed only to pick offensive starters and Harwell only defensive starters. From there, the two sides took turns fielding punts from the mechanical punter to see which side could pick up the most grabs.

First up were Tony Pierson for Team Heeney and Dexter McDonald for Team Harwell. Pierson, as he’s done several times throughout his playing days, dropped back and smoothly corralled the ball as it fell into his arms. McDonald, despite hearing from teammates how the pressure was on, followed suit and both teams were on the board.

Next up Jimmay Mundine for Team Heeney and Courtney Arnick for Team Harwell. Mundine also made his grab look smooth and Arnick, though under it in time, bobbled his try and watched it fall to the ground. 2-1, Heeney.

Now’s when the fun really began. Next up: offensive lineman Junior Visinia for Team Heeney and defensive lineman Tedarian Johnson for Team Harwell. As the ball soared through the air and tracked into Visinia’s area, the big freshman stuck his two hands out and speared the ball like a pig at a luau. No points for style here. A catch is a catch, and Junior’s grab got the team fired up.

Needing to match Visinia to keep things tied, Johnson ran way too far in on his while it was in the air and watched it soar 15 yards behind him when it came down. 3-1, Team Heeney.

With Team Harwell needing to win the next two just to draw even, offensive lineman Larry Mazyck squared off for Team Heeney against D-lineman Keon Stowers for Team Harwell. Mazyck looked smooth as all get-out as he made his way to the ball but may have been a little too smooth on the catch and it fell to the ground, keeping Team Harwell alive. Stowers, however, could not capitalize, as his “ole'” attempt at the floating punt came up empty. Team Heeney put this one away, 3-1, with one kick left on the board.

Naturally, the KU offense exploded with joy over the victory and then went into the meat of practice.

Here’s what caught my eye from the rest of the time I was out there:

• New father DeAndre Mann was a full participant and ran plenty of reps with the first string. Mann’s absence has hurt the Jayhawks a little lately in that it’s left the bulk of the running duties in the hands of true freshman Corey Avery. Avery has done well, but that’s quite a load to handle and Mann’s size, maturity and style certainly would’ve helped the KU running game. Maybe Saturday will be the day he gets a little momentum back to take into the 2015 season.

• Former KU linebacker Brandon Perkins (2002-05) showed up to practice to surprise interim coach Clint Bowen and the attempt worked. Bowen lit up when he saw Perkins and immediately had memories of a five-sack game for Perkins against Louisiana Tech in 2005. When Bowen asked Perkins what he was doing in town, the former KU linebacker said, “I came back for you, coach.” Perkins ranks fourth on KU’s all-time sacks list with 20.

• Call it a hunch, but look for T.J. Semke to make an impact in Saturday’s game. Listed behind Stowers as a second-string nose tackle along with Andrew Bolton, Semke looked to have a little extra nastiness to him during Wednesday’s practice and seems like the kind of guy who would do well in a game like Saturday’s.

• Finally, KU will practice on Thanksgiving but will go in the morning so the players can spend the afternoon of the holiday with their friends and families. Several guys from out of state will either spend the day with their teammates who have families nearby or with members of the KU coaching staff.