Jayhawks fall to 0-3 with loss at Rutgers

Kansas tight end Kent Taylor (81) comes down with the ball on his helmet after being taken off his feet by Rutgers defensive back Kiy Hester (2) during the first quarter on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2015 at High Point Solutions Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey.

The Kansas football team trailed throughout a 27-14 loss at Rutgers Saturday, a defeat that marked the program’s 34th setback in a row away from Memorial Stadium.

The Scarlet Knights (2-2) utilized the running back tandem of Josh Hicks (21 carries, 113 yards, two touchdowns) and Robert Martin (17 carries, 102 yards) to control the game, while quarterback Chris Laviano (18-for-25 passing, 201 yards, two touchdowns) kept the offense moving.

RU finished with 513 yards of offense to KU’s 342, as the Jayhawks (0-3) couldn’t match the kind of ground success their competitors enjoyed.

Junior Kansas running back Ke’aun Kinner, who had rushed for 100-plus yards in each of his first two games, was limited to 23 yards on 15 runs at High Point Solutions Stadium. Kinner, however, did come up with both of KU’s touchdowns in goal-line situations.

Though No. 1 Kansas quarterback Montell Cozart didn’t start the game due to an illness, he came in for Deondre Ford in the first half after the temporary starter sprained his thumb.

Cozart looked better than one would expect out of a QB recovering from the flu and completed 13 of his 18 throws for 193 yards in the loss.

Tre’ Parmalee finished with 64 yards on five catches, while Tyler Patrick had a team-best 70 receiving yards on three receptions.

The Jayhawks open Big 12 play next Saturday at Iowa State.

— See what people were saying about the game during KUsports.com’s live coverage.

HOW THEY SCORED

First Quarter

1:49 — Carlton Agudosi 14 pass from Chris Laviano. Kyle Federico kick. After a first quarter that featured both offenses moving the ball and punting a couple of times, the Scarlet Knights finally broke through with an 11-play, 91-yard drive that took 4:48. A Kansas facemask penalty helped kick-start the drive and Laviano hurt the Jayhawks with both his arm and his legs. (Rutgers 7, KU 0).

Second Quarter

9:24 — Matt Flanagan 7 pass from Laviano. Kick failed. Kansas turned away one potential Rutgers scoring drive with an interception in the end zone, but two plays later KU QB Deondre Ford threw an interception right back to set up the Scarlet Knights deep in KU territory. The drive covered 31 yards in three plays and 1:05 . (Rutgers 13, KU 0).

6:47 — Ke’aun Kinner 2 run. Nick Bartolotta kick. A 41-yard run from running back De’Andre Mann early in the drive set the Jayhawks up deep in Rutgers territory. Kinner took over from there, carrying the ball three times for six yards and drawing a pass interference penalty in the end zone to set up the score. (Rutgers 13, KU 7)

4:16 — Josh Hicks 1 run. Federico kick. With Rutgers facing a third-and-long in its own end, the Jayhawks’ Ben Goodman was flagged for a horse collar penalty that gave the Scarlet Knights a first down and new life. Four plays later Hicks, who also had a 31-yard run earlier on the drive, plowed in from a yard out to put Rutgers back up by two scores. (Rutgers 20, KU 7).

Third Quarter

9:24 — Josh Hicks 4 run. Federico kick. Rutgers opened the second half with a dominant 12-play, 84-yard scoring drive that put the Scarlet Knights in firm control and spanned 5:32. Most of the damage on this drive was done on the ground, but Kansas aided the Rutgers cause with a couple of penalties to keep the chains moving. (Rutgers 27, KU 7).

2:05 — Kinner 1 run. Bartolotta kick. Freshman cornerback Tyrone Miller Jr., gave the Jayhawks’ hope by forcing and recovering a fumble on a Rutgers drive that followed a Kansas drive that ended on a failed fourth-down attempt. Montell Cozart hit wide receiver Tyler Patrick with a deep pass on a double move and that set the Jayhawks up at the 1-yard line, from where it took four cracks to get into the end zone. The drive covered 52 yards in nine plays and 3:33. (Rutgers 27, KU 14).