The Jayhawks can’t dwell on the past. They can’t worry about their poor performance thus far in conference play. All they can do is take games week to week and try to improve as the season progresses.

In the Jayhawks 28-16 loss to Iowa State on Saturday, the defense, which had allowed its first three conference opponents to score 159 points, showed signs of improvement against a team that is averaging 24 points per game.

The Jayhawks led 9-7 at halftime and the Cyclones only score came on a punt return. The defense had held the Cyclones scoreless and to only 12 yards of total offense in the first quarter.

“It felt good [being up at half],” senior defensive end Jake Laptad said. “But third quarter we gave up three scores, and it was the only quarter where they actually scored on the defense. I mean, that third quarter was huge.”

It was the first time this season in conference play that the Jayhawks had led at halftime.

“We were pretty confident,” junior quarterback Quinn Mecham said. “Things were going our way and we were playing our game, and we just tried to keep it going after half”

The Jayhawks were unable to continue their defensive success after halftime, as the Cyclones scored on their opening drive to start the second half and eventually went on to score two more times in the third quarter.

“Going in at the half ahead was huge,” Laptad said. “But we just didn’t come out to play after that.”

The Cyclones put together three scoring drives in the third quarter that combined for 28 plays for 208 yards and used up 9:50 of the clock.

The Cyclones were again held scoreless in the fourth quarter.

Junior defensive tackle Richard Johnson Jr. tied for the team lead with seven tackles, including one sack. Laptad also recorded a sack.

Part of the Jayhawks defensive success can be attributed to the offense being able to control the ball so well in the first half. The Jayhawks defense was only on the field for 8:43 in the first half.

“We came in with the mindset that we could run the ball,” senior running back Angus Quigley said. “and we had some really good plays in the run game today and that was the game plan coming in.”

— Edited by Abby Davenport