Photo credit: KU Athletics
Kansas got back on track with a dominant 55-0 win against the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders.
The Jayhawks had a record-breaking rushing attack, finishing with 481 rushing yards, and an elite defensive performance, holding Middle Tennessee to only 136 yards. This is how it went down:
First Quarter:
The Jayhawks started the first quarter with a quick stop. The running attack was on full display with explosive runs by running back Dylan Edwards and quarterback Isaiah Marshall getting the Jayhawks in the red zone.
Threatening to score, Marshall attempted to connect with newly healthy wide receiver Cam Pickett before a personal foul on former Blue Raider wide receiver Nahzae Cox brought the Jayhawks back. Kansas would have to settle for a 43-yard field goal by kicker Martin Connington.
Second Quarter:
Another quick stop by the Jayhawks led to the first scoring drive of the game, encapsulated by Edwards’ first touchdown of the season on a 6-yard rush. The Blue Raiders would give a scare to the Jayhawks with a kick returned to right around mid-field, but nothing would come from it as the teams traded stops.
Wide receiver Keaton Kubecka, filling in for an injured wide receiver Tate Nagy, fielded a Middle Tennessee punt 35 yards to get momentum rolling. The return was followed by two 20+ yard connections by Marshall to Edwards and Picket, respectively. The drive was finished off by another score by Edwards, this time a 5-yard outside zone, to make the score 17-0.
However, Middle Tennessee responded with another return to the 45-yard line. But the Jayhawks’ defense would stay composed with a four-and-out stop. Kansas continued to march down the field with their rushing attack before reaching the red zone and taking shots to the end zone before taking a 35-yard field goal.
It would finish 20-0 at half, as Kansas dominated on both sides of the ball with 281 yards to Middle Tennessee’s 50.
Third Quarter:
Middle Tennessee would start off the half with an onside kick, but it would be recovered by the Jayhawks.
Kansas would take advantage of the short field with a screen pass to Pickett, where he broke multiple tackles to get it to the 12-yard line, where Edwards bulldozed his way to a 12-yard touchdown, his third of the night.
Each team would trade stops before Marshall would finally get the passing game going with a long completion to wide receiver Nik McMillian and finish off the drive with a beautiful 34-yard completion to wide receiver Nahzae Cox, as they connected on the deep ball for the first time after multiple targets.
The Blue Raiders would respond quickly with a 34-yard rush from running back Antonio Martin Jr., a K-State transfer; however, on the following play, defensive end Leroy Harris forced a fumble to get possession back.
Fourth Quarter:
The Jayhawks let the backups roll for the rest of the game. Running back Jalen Dupree saw his first action since Long Island due to health issues and finished the first drive of the fourth quarter with a five-yard walk-in touchdown.
The beatdown would continue as safety turned running back Khijohnn Cummings-Coleman would take some carries before a huge 47-yard pass from backup quarterback Chase Jenkins to freshman wide receiver Bryson Hayes set up a Jenkins rushing touchdown.
Kansas tacked on another score with a 35-yard rush by Jenkins, followed by a 24-yard touchdown run by Cummings-Coleman.
The game closed with another wildcard at running back; wide receiver Donald Collier took his first rush for 38 yards as they would close out the game.
The Jayhawks will go to 2-2 on the season and travel to Salt Lake City to face the #13 Utah next Saturday for a 9:15 p.m. kickoff.