Final wrap up: Kansas loses to Nebraska

The Jayhawks drop fifth consecutive game on Senior Day

Senior receiver Kerry Meier fumbles the ball on the Nebraska four yard line that could have put Kansas up 17-10. Meier led the Jayhawks on Senior Day with 127 yards in a 31-17 loss to the Cornhuskers Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium.

Photo by Weston White

Senior receiver Kerry Meier fumbles the ball on the Nebraska four yard line that could have put Kansas up 17-10. Meier led the Jayhawks on Senior Day with 127 yards in a 31-17 loss to the Cornhuskers Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium.

By Jayson Jenks

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Quarter by Quarter Analysis:

First Quarter: It sure didn’t start well for Kansas as Nebraska marched rather easily down the field for a touchdown on the game’s opening drive. But the Jayhawks buckled down throughout the first quarter. The problem, though, was that Kansas’ offense continued to struggle, going three-and-out on its only three possessions.

Second Quarter: Exactly what Kansas needed. Todd Reesing and the offense started to move the ball against Nebraska’s defense. The Jayhawks continued to allow the Cornhuskers’ to pick up big plays on offense, but they didn’t break. Heading into halftime with the score tied at 10-10, momentum certainly shifted to Kansas’ side.

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Kansas Football vs. Nebraska

Kansas took on Nebraska on Saturday, Nov. 14 in its final home game of the 2009 season. Despite a comeback effort in the fourth quarter, the Jayhawks lost their fifth-straight game on senior day at Memorial Stadium. With the loss, the Jayhawks fell to 5-5 overall, and 1-5 in Big 12 play.

Third Quarter: The Jayhawks opened the quarter with a long, effective drive, but Kerry Meier had the ball knocked loose near the goal line. Nebraska recovered the ball on its own four yard line, and kicked a field goal on the ensuing drive. Still, Kansas only trailed by three points at the end of the quarter. That’s a good sign.

Fourth Quarter: Kansas’ defense couldn’t buckle down and get a stop in the final five minutes and the offense couldn’t score another touchdown to tie the game. That pretty much has summed up Kansas’ season to this point.

Trends:

  1. The defense bent, allowing big plays to Nebraska’s oft-stale offense. But the Jayhawks rallied around a simple concept: the bend-but-don’t-break defensive philosophy.
  2. Both teams consumed much of the clock. Even on drives when they didn’t score, the Cornhuskers and the Jayhawks took plenty of time off the board. That’s normally the sign of a defensive struggle.
  3. Kansas’ defense is improved but the unit still isn’t good enough to take over a game. In need of a stop with five minutes left in the game, Nebraska managed to run out the clock for a 31-17 victory.

It was over when…

On third and 10 from Nebraska’s 37 yard line, Helu Jr. took a pitch outside and cut it down the sideline for 30 yards, effectively sealing the victory for Nebraska.

Key Stat:

  1. That’s the number of rushing yards by Nebraska. The Jayhawks simply couldn’t stop the Cornhuskers’ run attack, and it cost them down the stretch.

Player of the game:

Roy Helu Jr. Helu Jr.’s numbers speak volumes for his performance: He rushed for 156 yards on 28 carries and added three touchdowns. But he also allowed Nebraska to clinch the game in the final five minutes with big runs to keep the ball in the Cornhuskers’ hands.

How they scored:

First Quarter:

NU: 12:05, Roy Helu Jr. falls on Zac Lee’s fumble for 1-yard touchdown run. Alex Henery kick. Nebraska 7, Kansas 0.

Second Quarter:

NU: 10:47, Henery 25-yard field goal. Nebraska 10, Kansas 0.

KU: 4:58, Todd Reesing scrambles and dives across the end zone as he gets hit for 5-yard touchdown run. Jacob Branstetter kick. Nebraska 10, Kansas 7.

KU: 0:00, Branstetter 33-yard field goal. Nebraska 10, Kansas 10.

Third Quarter:

NU: 3:42, Henery 34-yard field goal. Nebraska 13, Kansas 10.

Fourth Quarter:

Nu: 11:53, Henery 38-yard field goal. Nebraska 16, Kansas 10.

KU: 7:34, Dezmon Briscoe catches pass from Todd Reesing and runs into the end zone untouched for a 21-yard touchdown. Branstetter kick. Kansas 17, Nebraska 16.

NU: 6:19, Helu Jr. bursts through Kansas’ defense for 20-yard touchdown run. Converts two-point conversion. Nebraska 24, Kansas 17

NU: 0:29, Helu Jr. scores a 14-yard touchdown run. Henery kick. Nebraska 31, Kansas 17.

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