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Open Game Thread :: Game #12 :: Kansas 6-5 (3-4) vs. #13 Missouri 9-2 (5-2)

Kansas Jayhawks at Missouri Tigers, Nov 29, 2008 11:30 AM CST


Here we go.

This is the game that we have been waiting for since last year's not-so-fun finish.

Of course, even an upset win, and it certainly would be an upset, does little to diminish last season's monumental win by the Tigers. So, it isn't like this is a revenge game. Just a good, ol' fashioned rivalry game. Any time Missouri and Kansas get together, there is hatred and reveng and anger and desire and all of that fun stuff involved. That goes without saying.

And we will have to take advantage of those qualitative categories to win, because let's be honest; the quantitative numbers don't stack up. Not by a longshot. We are still a good team, and we still possess plenty of damn good football players that were around last year that made the game what it was, Armageddon at Arrowhead.

Todd Reesing. Kerry Meier. James Holt. Dezmon Briscoe. The list goes on and on. But we clearly aren't the same team as last year, as is painfully obvious, and while we can get into reasons later, Missouri is just about as good as last year. Not as good, no, but closer to last season's team than we are to ours.

So, given last year's loss, this year's chances don't look so hot. I will certainly be watching and cheering actively, it is the Border War afterall, but don't expect a profound showing from our football team.

Not to be negative and piss on the parade, but I just don't see it adding up. And still, just because I can't pull myself to actually pick the Tigers to beat our Jayhawks, I'll still take Hot Toddy and Company to pull off the upset. And, just for the record, it wouldn't be a tremendous upset. I would probably give us, oh, about a 38% chance of winning today. not incredibly long odds by any stretch of the imagination, but not exactly confidence-inspiring numbers either.

Kansas 35 Missouri 34

Rock it. Chalk it. Talk it.

Oh, and I'll be here for the duration of the game, so check on in.

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Me too

But I’ll be just checking in periodically.

Insanity is just a state of mind.

by KTJ on Nov 29, 2008 11:40 AM CST up reply actions  

HUGE!

Two drops by Mizzou gives them a third-and-long, and Chase throws it straight to Stuckey.

We have to score a TD here, starting the drive at the 20.

by rockchalk on Nov 29, 2008 11:44 AM CST reply actions  

Ah, well.

At least we got three. Still, in the grand scheme of things, we really needed 7 there.

by rockchalk on Nov 29, 2008 11:48 AM CST reply actions  

A couple of huge third down conversions.

We need a TD here, we have thoroughly outplayed the Tigers and it would just about be all ruined with only a 6-0, one-possession lead.

Our offensive philosophy seems to be to get us into third-and-shorts by running Jake Sharp and throwing screens on first and second down, then throwing simple, five-yard-or-so patterns to convert. Hopefully we take a chance at some point, because eventually they will catch on, obviously.

Still, not a bad strategy, particularly because it should minimize turnovers.

by rockchalk on Nov 29, 2008 12:05 PM CST reply actions  

Well, that sucks.

The one thing we really couldn’t afford was a turnover there.

Just throw the ball away, Todd. Honestly. The Missouri player simply baited Todd into throwing that ball. Damn.

OK, defense. Time to step up for the third time and stop them. With the way we are playing, we really need to jump out to a big lead early. And it doesn’t like it’s going to happen.

by rockchalk on Nov 29, 2008 12:10 PM CST reply actions  

Terrible, terrible defense to let Chase Daniel run

for a hundred million yards.

But the third absolutely tremendous play by Stuckey on D, all on third down, saves us yet again.

by rockchalk on Nov 29, 2008 12:13 PM CST reply actions  

I like KU's game plan!

Aside ftom the turnover they are executing perfectly.

by ccmachine on Nov 29, 2008 12:16 PM CST reply actions  

Agreed

I like the short passing, it seems to be frustrating Mizzou. I bet they go deep soon after lulling them to sleep. I like the turnovers.

Insanity is just a state of mind.

by KTJ on Nov 29, 2008 12:18 PM CST up reply actions  

Love the playcall.

Get the ball in the hands of your best players, and that is far-and-away Dezmon Briscoe.

No one got close enough to touch him, but he’s good for a broken tackle-or-two as well.

Awesome start, save the endzone INT and the million-yard run by Chase Daniel. Keep up the good defense, though, and we have a pretty solid shot.

by rockchalk on Nov 29, 2008 12:22 PM CST reply actions  

Good initial D.

But everyone prevented him from getting to the sideline, so he just cutback.

Gay.

by rockchalk on Nov 29, 2008 12:28 PM CST reply actions  

Mismatch.

Chase Coffman on Daymond Patterson. I love DP, or Daylight, or whatever, but the kid is only like 5’9". Coffman is taller than 5’9".

Oh well.

The real killer is that we blitzed all three LBs, and no one got close enough to touch Chase. I like the blitz call, but our players actually have to break through and get to the QB.

Yikes.

by rockchalk on Nov 29, 2008 12:31 PM CST reply actions  

We need a TD, really bad right here.

We need to keep the lead.

And there is the big strike downfield.

Gees, Dezmon Briscoe is awesome.

by rockchalk on Nov 29, 2008 12:36 PM CST reply actions  

Seriously.

We even had a double-team, or what should have been a double-team, but Adrian Mayes didn’t get over there in time.

OK, in some ways pinning them deep is even better than a FG. Assuming, of course, we can stop them and get the ball right back. Otherwise, our entire momentum is lost and we are not in good shape.

by rockchalk on Nov 29, 2008 12:39 PM CST up reply actions  

JAKE LAPTAD!!!

Huge safety right there.

The only way that is any better is if Chase Daniel would have come up with a helmet full of sod… ;)

by rockchalk on Nov 29, 2008 12:42 PM CST reply actions  

Woohoo!

Insanity is just a state of mind.

by KTJ on Nov 29, 2008 12:45 PM CST reply actions  

OK, now we need a TD.

I really want to be winning by more than a single possession, please.

by rockchalk on Nov 29, 2008 12:46 PM CST reply actions  

Wide open.

Huge play by Hot Toddy.

He could have run for the first, but of course he also had Dexton wide open.

Talk about broken coverage.

OK, D, now we need a big stop to keep it a 12-point lead at half. It’s no fun if they score again before half.

by rockchalk on Nov 29, 2008 12:54 PM CST reply actions  

9-point lead is still two possessions.

Which is huge.

We get the ball first, we need to take the ball and drive down and score. We are way outplaying Mizzou so far, but the lead could evaporate like that if we break down on defense.

by rockchalk on Nov 29, 2008 1:03 PM CST reply actions  

Daniel looks lost…great defense so far by KU.

by Tech92 on Nov 29, 2008 1:18 PM CST reply actions  

Agreed.

I’m particularly impressed with our pass rush. It hasn’t been awesome, no, but it is better than I expected it to be, and it has been just good enough to keep Daniel on his toes making mistakes.

If we can score on our first possession, and go up by 16, then Daniel might have to start forcing the issue. Only good things can happen when Daniel is forcing the ball.

by rockchalk on Nov 29, 2008 1:20 PM CST up reply actions  

Awesome, awesome, awesome first drive.

There were certainly some bad plays here-and-there, but obviously I’ll take the overall result.

Dezmon Briscoe is a freak of nature. And he’s only a sophomore, too. Damn, he’s going to be good next season. Can’t wait.

by rockchalk on Nov 29, 2008 1:37 PM CST reply actions  

Stupid, stupid, stupid.

On the third-and-long Onyegbule was held, and they convert. Then, the next play, they score with Maclin, who is incredible, by the way.

Even if they do get the two point conversion, though, it’s still an 8-point lead. We just need to score on our next possession and all’s good.

by rockchalk on Nov 29, 2008 1:43 PM CST reply actions  

I'll take that play call.

Stupid, stupid play call. If it was to Coffman, that’s one thing, with his propensity for circus catches, but not to Alexander. I would have thrown a bubble screen to Maclin or a fade type thing to Coffman or a simple 5-man route. But not that.

OK, 10-point advantage. Let’s get back to the Meier-in-the-flat game, as opposed to the Jake Sharp game, and take some time off the clock.

by rockchalk on Nov 29, 2008 1:47 PM CST reply actions  

Geez.

What a play by Baston. Wow.

OK, D, we really need a stop now. A TD here and they have all of the momentum, and it ain’t lookin’ pretty.

by rockchalk on Nov 29, 2008 1:50 PM CST reply actions  

Geez.

There we go again.

Entirely different ball game.

Stupid DT INT.

Blown coverage. OK, here we go Todd. We really, really need a score now. They get the ball back only down three, and they win the game.

by rockchalk on Nov 29, 2008 1:51 PM CST reply actions  

OK, it would have been nice to do something on one of those two drives.

But whatever. No, seriously, whatever.

We need another big stop from our D right now.

by rockchalk on Nov 29, 2008 2:08 PM CST reply actions  

Stuckey is Superman.

Honestly, the kid is absolutely incredible.

Three turnovers single-handedly today. Oh. My. Goodness.

Thank goodness he’s coming back next year.

by rockchalk on Nov 29, 2008 2:21 PM CST reply actions  

Wow.

They had a guy wide open streaking across the middle of the field, for an easy TD, but Chase didn’t see him and instead decided to run way to the right then throw it away. Not a bad play, of course, but he missed a receiver that would have scored, and that very well could have ended the game.

Our offense hasn’t done anything, really, after our first second half drive.

by rockchalk on Nov 29, 2008 2:28 PM CST reply actions  

OK, let's go D.

Huge play by Marcus Hereford, awesome that he was able to step up, in his last regular season game, and make a humongous catch on a huge third-and-11.

And then, Kerry Meier was wide open for a TD.

OK, D, the onus is on you. You’ve played incredible all game, for the most part at least, but we need a stop right now. Otherwise, it doesn’t mean too much.

Come on, baby,

by rockchalk on Nov 29, 2008 2:42 PM CST reply actions  

OK, good.

At least they scored quick enough. Once they got down to the 10 or whatever, I was hoping Moo scored when they did. It was inevitable they were going to score, and we might as well get as much time as possible.

We have plenty of time, trust me. It’s just all about whether Hot Toddy can lead us to victory against the hated black-and-gold in the Border War.

I really hate Missouri. Hopefully we can win.

Come on Todd!

by rockchalk on Nov 29, 2008 2:50 PM CST reply actions  

That's a catch.

Again, we have plenty of time. Plenty of time.

56 seconds left.

Plenty of time. I promise.

It’s all about downs and stuff. Come on, Todd.

by rockchalk on Nov 29, 2008 2:55 PM CST reply actions  

Crap.

Todd has to hit the wide-open Briscoe there. That would have given us a first.

Still have plenty of time, that ain’t the issue. We just really need 7 yards right here.

In any case, we prove we belong with Mizzou, still, and they haven’t leaped too far ahead.

by rockchalk on Nov 29, 2008 3:01 PM CST reply actions  

YES!!!!1!!1onee11!!!!

Oh. My. Goodness.

Awesome, awesome, awesome.

Tremendous play by Reesing, tremendous play by Meier.

OK, D, let’s go. We’ve got to shut them down now. IT certainly is far from over.

It is snowing HARD, now.

by rockchalk on Nov 29, 2008 3:04 PM CST reply actions  

Branstetter is the best tackling kicker in all of college football.

Oh. My. Goodness.

Wow, Branstetter could have just saved a TD.

by rockchalk on Nov 29, 2008 3:04 PM CST reply actions  

WE WIN!!!!!111one!!!!

WE WIN!!!WE WIN!!!WE WIN!!!WE WIN!!!WE WIN!!!WE WIN!!!WE WIN!!!WE WIN!!!WE WIN!!!WE WIN!!!WE WIN!!!WE WIN!!!WE WIN!!!WE WIN!!!WE WIN!!!

by rockchalk on Nov 29, 2008 3:07 PM CST reply actions  

If only we could have beat stupid Nebraska.

In a game we should have won, we choked against a Neb team that played their best game of the season. Obviously, if we win, we are now going to the Big 12 Championship Game.

Oh, well. Absolutely incredible, tremendous, fantastic game. Awesome play by both sides, but we did play better and deserved to win. For sure. Again, while Missouri is at a better place right now in football, it isn’t nearly as big as some Tigers would have you believe. We almost beat them last year, had a better overall year last year and just beat them this season. Sure, they’re the better team, but we were much better today.

We are still heading in the right direction. We got to 7-5, not the way anyone really thought it would end up, but we still got there. Huge upset win.

WE WIN!

by rockchalk on Nov 29, 2008 3:11 PM CST reply actions  

The best part is:

We made Mizzou share it with Nebraska. Sweet.

Insanity is just a state of mind.

by KTJ on Nov 29, 2008 3:20 PM CST up reply actions  

Amazing Finish

And a great win for the Jayhawks. Congrats guys.

by ccmachine on Nov 29, 2008 3:52 PM CST reply actions  

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