Kansas defeats Minnesota 42-21

By Taylor Bern

Published on Wed., December 31st, 2008

Final score: Kansas 42, Minnesota 21

6:00 left in the fourth quarter

This just in: James Holt is a beast. The senior just recorded two sacks in a row and effectively ended Minnesota's would-be drive. All three linebackers have played great, and you can look forward to a story on the subject by me after the game.

For now, I've got to head down to the field to speak with players. Thanks for reading Kansasn.com and check back later tonight for stories and video highlights from today's Insight Bowl.

SCORING UPDATE: KANSAS 35, MINNESOTA 21

10:56 left in the fourth quarter

I thought Minnesota would just fade away after falling short at the one-yard line, but Adam Weber brought them back with a sweet drive. Of course, safety Phillip Strozier lent a helping on hand.

On fourth and five, Strozier was whistled for pass interference on a pass that wasn't very close.

Kansas offense stalled again, but in stepped Alonso Rojas as a hero. The punter booted a 63-yard rugby-style kick that was spotted at the one-inch line.

One of my favorite memories from this game will be kicker Jacob Branstetter running out to celebrate with Rojas on the field. It's not often that you see those guys act like normal football players.

Kansas 35, Minnesota 14

End of the third quarter

Reesing and Briscoe have had plenty of highlights today, so with two minutes left in the third quarter, the defense got in on the action.

Minnesota started at the 37-yard line and Kansas helped move it along with a couple penalties. However, when the Gophers got down to fourth and goal from the one, the Jayhawk defense steeped up and shoved Adam Weber backwards.

That entire series of downs was great for Kansas' defense. Minnesota had first and goal from the four-yard line, but couldn't find any gaps big enough to push through. Kendrick Harper, who was burned for big plays several times in the first half, even got in on the action, preventing a would-be touchdown on second down.

After they stopped the fourth down attempt, Mark Mangino scurried over to great his players with his arms stretched high. The play kept the margin at 21 and in my mind ensured a victory.

SCORING UPDATE: KANSAS 35, MINNESOTA 14

8:03 left in the third quarter

Minnesota's wide receiver pass was good, but Kansas' was better.

After Mike Rivera forced a fumble - something B.J. Rains said would happen on The Hot Route - Todd Reesing flipped a backwards pass to Kerry Meier, who then found Dezmon Briscoe at the five-yard line.

Briscoe juked a defender and scored his third touchdown. The catch was his 12th of the game, which breaks the Insight Bowl record for single game receptions. Briscoe could also break the single game receiving yards record of 212 yards. That's about the only intrigue left in this game.

Kansas 28, Minnesota 14

Halftime

Minnesota made the first quarter pretty interesting, but Kansas dominated the second quarter and every stat favors the Jayhawks.

Coach Tim Brewster's new run game worked well, with little-used fullback Jon Hoese barreling in for a couple of short scores. Problem is, now that they're behind, the Gophers can't afford to keep running the ball.

Dezmon Briscoe is doing whatever he wants in the Minnesota secondary and it's unlikely that he'll slow down too much. Thus, quarterback Adam Weber and wide receiver Eric Decker must eat up big chunks of yardage in a hurry.

Don't count on it, though. Kansas is on a roll, and Minnesota needs a miracle to slow down that offense.

SCORING UPDATE: KANSAS 28, MINNESOTA 14

1:07 left in the second quarter

At the end of yesterday's press conference, Todd Reesing quipped that he just wanted to get on the field and sling it around a little bit.

Fair to say he's done that in the first half. Despite getting hit hard by Deon Hightower in the second quarter, Reesing is lighting up Minnesota's overmatched secondary. The funslinger is 19-of-22 for 221 yards with four touchdown.

His favorite target has been Dezmon Briscoe, who has 10 catches and two scores. He needs only two more catches to break the Insight Bowl record, which ironically was set two years ago by Texas Tech's Joe Filani in the largest bowl comeback in history. The opponent? The same Golden Gophers.

That's not a good omen for maroon and gold.

SCORING UPDATE: KANSAS 21, MINNESOTA 14

8:15 left in the second quarter

Minnesota can't get out of its own way. On this drive, the Gophers racked up three major penalties that helped or bailed out the Jayhawks on their way to a six-yard Dezmon Briscoe touchdown.

The Gophers started with a personal foul, hitting the returner out of bounds late. Then, a third and 15 became third and 10 because of a sideline interference penalty. On the following play, the Gophers were whistled for pass interference - on a play that had no chance of gaining first down yardage.

Kansas scored a few plays later. Coach Tim Brewster has to get more discipline out of his team, or it's going to shoot itself out of this game.

SCORING UPDATE: KANSAS 14, MINNESOTA 14

End of the first quarter

Kansas regained some of the momentum with a nine-play, 80 yard drive down field. Reesing capped the drive with a four-yard lob to Kerry Meier.

Kicker Jacob Branstetter followed that by preventing a big return with his traditional linebacker-style tackle. It was an exciting, but unbearingly long first quarter. There were five media timeouts and with both teams excelling in the pass, it doesn't look like things will speed up anytime soon.

SCORING UPDATE: MINNESOTA 14, KANSAS 7

4:48 left in the first quarter

Entering today's game, Jon Hoese didn't have a single carry. In fact, the bowl media guide lists him as a safety.

Something tells me that people will get it right after this game.

A converted safety, Hoese is a reserve fullback whose last run gave him three carries for four yards and two touchdowns. Brewster said that he planned to use a bruising running game, and the 6-foot-2, 221 pound Hoese is making that a reality.

Kansas 7, Minnesota 7

5:13 left in the first quarter

Minnesota coach Tim Brewster is taking a lot of early risks, and so far everything is working out.

The reverse pass netted 75 yards and his new running game is working to perfection. Minnesota just converted a fourth and one on the three yard line, and its sure to follow it with a score soon.

SCORING UPDATE: KANSAS 7, MINNESOTA 7

13:18 left in the first quarter

Less than two minutes into the game and we've got a shootout on our hands.

Minnesota's first three plays: Kickoff out-of-bounds, surrender a 60-yard touchdown pass, fumble the kickoff return and only make it to the 13-yard line.

That's as terrible a start as a team could have, but a reverse pass erased it all. Little-used wide receiver David Pittman, a highly-touted JUCO quarterback, took Adam Weber's pitch and soared a pass to Eric Decker, who abused cornerback Kendrick Harper.

On our pregame episode of The Hot Route, I said that Minnesota should attack Harper immediately. Obviously, coach Tim Brewster had a similar plan. Fullback Jon Hoese finished the drive with a one-yard dive to tie the game.

Hold on to your seats, cause these teams are going to light up the scoreboard.

SCORING UPDATE: KANSAS 7, MINNESOTA 0

14:49 left in the first quarter

Well, that didn't take long.

On the first play from scrimmage, Todd Reesing scrambled to his left, avoided a sack and lofted a pass to Dezmon Briscoe. From there the sophomore waltzed into the end zone for a 60-yard score. Things don't look good for the underdogs.

5 p.m.

Prediction time.

We're just a few minutes away from kickoff, so here's how we see it shaking out.

B.J. Rains believes Kansas will come out on top 45-21. I had a similar score of 42-20, but after seeing Minnesota run out of the tunnel prematurely, I foresee some more fight from the gophers. Not enough to really matter, but I'll change my prediction to a 38-24 Kansas victory.

4:45 p.m.

We heard that this game set the record for number of Insight Bowl tickets sold. Looking at the incredibly sparse crowd, I find that hard to believe.

It's a beautiful day and I have no idea this place isn't filling up with just 23 minutes till kickoff. Perhaps Arizona tailgating is just too much fun to get away from.

Either way, we're working through the bands right now, which is the second to last hurdle before kickoff. It's followed only by the national anthem, which should be exciting today with a flyover. The Phoenix airport is close by and we've had 747s flying overhead all day, so I'm curious to see if they clear the air or just stay really, really low.

4:25 p.m.

For the first time all season, there's some referee intrigue in today's game.

The officials are out of the SEC, and today's umpire is Wilbur Hackett, Jr. I doubt the name means anything to you, but see if this video jogs your memory.

The amazing things is that the head of SEC officials came out in defense of the guy. Defense, smefense. That guy lined up South Carolina quarterback Stephen Garcia and dropped him like a bad habit.

A hit like that could break little Todd "Sparky" Reesing in half. Speaking of Sparky, it would be appropriate for the mighty mite to earn player of the game honors in the stadium that houses Sparky the mascot. Just something to think about.

4:05 p.m.

It's a gorgeous day in Tempe, Ariz., and it's almost a shame that I'll be stuck in the press box. We are here, of course, for the 2008 Insight Bowl between Kansas and Minnesota.

The Kansan was the first to get down here to Arizona and we've had all the coverage you need for this bowl game. Now, that's all behind us and finally kickoff is within sight.

Both of these teams enter at 7-5, but there are few non-maroon clad people who think that Minnesota has much chance in this one.

Coach Tim Brewster is going to try and change his entire offense, turning it into a two-back set instead of a spread. Not a bad idea, except that the Gopher offensive line couldn't push through Kleenex, so the odds of opening up good running lanes are slim.

Minnesota wide receiver Eric Decker looked pretty good in warmups, and his health could decide whether the Gophers have any chance to stay in this game.

On Kansas' side, I'm glad to see that it decided to go with the white-on-white uniforms that worked so well against Missouri. Hopefully this means we'll never again be subjected to white jerseys and gray pants. A man can dream.

On the injury front, Jake Sharp is fully dressed and looks fine in his early warm-ups. I don't see John Larson on the field, but to be fair, this press box is really far up and I don't have any binoculars. I'll have more on that story as we progress.

Get excited Kansas fans. We're just minutes away from kickoff and a chance at a second straight bowl victory. Shoot me an email at tbern@kansan.com if you have any questions or comments throughout today's bowl game.

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