Kansas University coaches and players have been heaping praise on junior quarterback Zach Dyer throughout the spring.

Skeptics who doubted Dyer should have been among the estimated crowd of 3,600 that braved a chilly Friday night at Memorial Stadium to take in the Jayhawks’ spring football game.

Kansas running back Reggie Duncan (11) tries to escape linebacker Brandon Watkins. Duncan gained a game-high 84 yards on 15 carries during the Jayhawks' spring football game Friday night at Memorial Stadium.

“Zach’s a completely different quarterback this year than he was last year,” senior wide receiver Harrison Hill said after Dyer completed nine of 17 passes for 163 yards and two touchdowns in the 42-3 victory by the first-string Blues over the backup Whites. “Last year was his first year being a starter. He’s more mature back there. He’s more confident back there. He’s more comfortable. I think his arm looks better. He’s on the money with most of his throws. I’m excited about him.”

Dyer completed 43 of 89 passes for 460 yards last fall while splitting time with former Jayhawk Mario Kinsey. Dyer finished his sophomore season with more interceptions (four) than touchdowns (three).

He did all his damage Friday night in the first half.

“Zach did some really good things, made some good throws,” coach Mark Mangino said. “He had a couple throws he’d probably like to take back, but that’s why we practice. That’s why it’s spring football.”

The Blue team’s first possession, a nine-play drive, ended when Johnny Beck missed a 33-yard field goal.

The Blue’s next drive was more efficient. On the first play, Dyer hit Marcellus Jones with a 60-yard touchdown pass. Jones beat safety Tony Stubbs, a converted running back, on the sideline and outran everyone else to the end zone.

Jones, who made two catches for 11 yards last season, finished with four catches for 88 yards.

“He’s worked a lot harder,” Dyer said of the senior receiver. “Every chance he gets he’s trying to make plays.”

The Blue made it 14-0 on the next play from scrimmage when junior cornerback Carl Ivey intercepted Jonas Weatherbie’s first-down pass and returned it 31 yards for a touchdown.

In the second quarter, Dyer led the Blue on a 16-play, 74-yard scoring drive, which included a 15-yard pass to Jones and a pair of 12-yarders to Hill.

Stubbs broke up a pass to Hill in the end zone before freshman Clark Green ran the ball in from two yards out for a 21-0 lead.

“I could have put a little more under it and we would have had a touchdown,” Dyer said of the ill-fated pass to Hill, “but overall I think I did pretty well.”

Kansas seniors Greg Cole, left, and Harrison Hill model the Jayhawks' new uniforms in this KU photo. The uniforms were unveiled during halftime of the spring game Friday night. Story on page 3C.

Another White turnover a fumble by Weatherbie that was recovered by senior defensive end Brandon Lacy led to the Blue’s next score.

On the first play after the turnover, Dyer found sophomore Brandon Rideau in the end zone for a 30-yard TD and a 28-0 lead.

The White ended the shutout with help from senior Byron Gasaway’s 30-yard kickoff return, which set up a 45-yard field goal by Beck with 3:12 left in the second half.

Kansas played two regulation, 15-minute quarters in the first half before playing the second half with a running clock.

In the third quarter, junior Bill Whittemore made it 35-3 with an eight-yard TD pass to Hill.

Offensive lineman Justin Sands, left, holds off Jacob Spence (62) as quarterback Zach Dyer makes a throw. Dyer was 9-of-17 passing for 163 yards during the spring game Friday night.

Hill, who missed last season because of a shoulder injury, finished with five catches for 53 yards.

“I feel good,” he said. “My shoulder’s completely recovered. I was a little rusty at the beginning of the spring, but I’m feeling good.”

Junior running back Harold McClendon capped the scoring with a 19-yard run in the fourth quarter. McClendon rushed seven times for 53 yards.

The battle between junior Reggie Duncan and freshman Clark Green for the starting job at tailback doesn’t appear to be any closer to being settled. Duncan rushed for 84 yards on 15 carries, while Green ran for 75 yards on 20 carries.

Neither back seemed too worried about who will start in the Aug. 31 opener at Iowa State.

“I’m sick and tired of losing,” Duncan said. “We just want to win. We’re both going to get our carries, so as long as we’re winning it doesn’t matter.”