Kansas falls to K-State, goes winless in 2015

Kansas' Marcquis Roberts, right, and Fish Smithson are unable to keep Kansas State junior quarterback Joe Hubener (8) out of the end zone during the annual Sunflower Showdown game Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

Kansas University’s 2015 football season, the first under head coach David Beaty, finished Saturday at Memorial Stadium without a Jayhawks victory.

Kansas State easily defeated KU, 45-14, marking the second time in the 115-year history of the program that Kansas went winless — the first time since 1954.

The day couldn’t have started in much more disastrous fashion for the Jayhawks (0-12 overall, 0-9 Big 12). Punter Matthew Wyman, unable to get a kick away, was leveled by Sam Sizelove. As a result, on K-State’s first play from scrimmage, fullback Winston Dimel ran 12 yards for a touchdown.

Although KU responded with a six-play TD drive, capped by a 27-yard throw from Ryan Willis to Tre’ Parmalee, Dimel had his second rushing TD of the game midway through the first quarter on the ensuing K-State possession.

Next, the Jayhawks ended a three-and-out series by watching K-State score again — this time on special teams. Sam Sizelove blocked Wyman’s punt and Morgan Burns recovered it in the end zone for a 21-7 Wildcats lead with 6:30 to lay in the first quarter.

From there, KU’s offense, like it so often did this season, failed to keep pace. K-State (5-6, 2-6) led 28-7 after a quarter and 35-7 at halftime.

Wildcats QB Joe Hubener rushed for 88 yards and two touchdowns, and threw for 133 yards, completing 10 of his 17 passes.

Willis, who threw his second TD pass of the game in the final minutes, with the game out of reach, completed 19 of his 35 throws, with an interception, for 215 yards.

Senior receiver Tre’ Parmalee caught four passes for 50 yards.

KU opens the 2016 season at Memorial Stadium, against Rhode Island, on Sept. 3, next fall.

HOW THEY SCORED

First Quarter

13:09 — Winston Dimel 12 run. Jack Cantele kick. After Kansas went three-and-out on its first series, punter Matthew Wyman fumbled the punt snap and was slammed to the ground before he could get the punt off. The Wildcats responded with a TD run on their first play from scrimmage. (KSU 7, KU 0).

11:15 — Tre’ Parmalee 27 pass from Ryan Willis. Matthew Wyman kick. Kansas responded to the early mishap with a six-play, 79-yard drive that featured three completions from Willis and a 26-yard by Taylor Cox that moved Kansas into K-State territory. (KSU 7, KU 7).

7:48 — Dimel 1 run. Cantele kick. On its second possession of the day, KSU marched 73 yards in seven plays and 3:20, with six of the seven plays being designed runs. The lone pass was a 44-yard pass from Hubener to Dimel, who was pulled down at the one before finishing off the drive on the very next play. (KSU 14, KU 7).

6:30 — Morgan Burns 0 punt return. Matthew McCrane kick. After KU’s third possession began with a first down on the first play, the Wildcats dug in and forced a Kansas punt. For the second time in the quarter, though, KU struggled mightily on special teams and the punt was blocked by Sam Sizelove and scooped up in the end zone by Burns. (KSU 21, KU 7).

1:30 — Glenn Gronkowski 8 run. McCrane kick. Wyman finally got a punt off cleanly but it only traveled 309 yards and set up K-State at the Kansas 37 yard line. Three plays later, the Wildcats were back in the end zone on a fullback run that blew the game open. Hubener rumbled 29 yards on the second play of the drive to set up the TD. (KSU 28, KU 7).

Second Quarter

11:29 — Joe Hubener 2 run. McCrane kick. The Wildcats blew the game open despite a strong goal-line stand by the Kansas defense. After Dimel set KSU up with a first-and-goal at the 1 yard line, KSU went backwards on three runs before Hubener capped off the 12-play drive with an easy run around the right side. The drive covered 54 yards and 6:19. (KSU 35, KU 7).

Third Quarter

8:18 — McCrane 33 field goal. The Wildcats continued their scoring barrage on the opening drive of the second half, marching 59 yards in 13 plays and 6:42 to add to their lead. Nearly all of KSU’s initial second-half scoring drive came via the run. (KSU 38, KU 7).

Fourth Quarter

13:20 — Hubener 22 run. McCrane kick. K-State’s longest drive of the day was capped by a parting-of-the-red-sea moment by the Kansas defense, which vacated the middle of the field and left all kinds of running room for the KSU QB. The drive covered 91 yards in 11 plays and 6:06. (KSU 45, KU 7).

3:28 — Bobby Hartzog Jr. 26 pass from Willis. Wyman kick. The Jayhawks capped off Saturday’s scoring with a 16-play, 93-yard drive that took 6:23 and featured several Willis completions. Hartzog’s TD catch came on a deep route down the left sideline and the sophomore lunged for the ball just as he broke free from the K-State defender near the goal line. (KSU 45, KU 14).

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