Top 10 Kansas Football Performances of 2009: #9

The 9th ranked performance of the 2009 Kansas football season comes during the Border War as a familiar face would once again haunt the Missouri Tigers.

Kansas came into this game riding a 6 game losing streak and in the middle of a MAJOR coaching distraction with the investigation of Mark Mangino ongoing.  A week prior against Texas, the offense had shown signs of life, so there was hope coming into the contest that the struggles of the season could be put to bed.  Still, not many were prepared for the explosion that Kansas would have in the offensive game.

Against the Tigers, the Kansas offense would ultimately put together nearly 550 yards of total offense.  While our #9 performance doesn't necessarily make up a huge percentagee of that production, the player involved made catches when it mattered and helped put points on the board in a season where that sometimes proved challenging.

Countdown Recap

#10 Toben Opurum vs. Southern Miss.

Kerry Meier checked in at #1 in last years countdown and this year he appears at #9 for his first appearance.  Against Missouri, Meier was a hated opponent based on his play a year prior.  This year he would make some key catches to move the chains and contribute 2 touchdowns to the cause before it was all said and done.

Overall the stat line broke down to 10 catches, 54 yards and 2 touchdowns for Meier.  Not an overly impressive line from a yardage standpoint but for a Kansas offense that has struggled in the redzone, Meier made some critical catches and made them look routine.

Meier's first touchdown would come in the 2nd quarter as the Jayhawks faced a 1st and Goal from the 8 yard line.  Reesing would throw to the back corner of the endzone and Meier would show the concentration and body control that's made him such a reliable target over the past three seasons.

Meier's second score would come in the 3rd quarter this time on a critical 3rd and goal from the 2.  Kansas had failed in running the ball for the score twice and Meier's two yard reception put Kansas ahead 11 points in the middle og the 3rd.  Ultimately we all know how this one turned out but for the first time in several weeks the Kansas offense wasn't the culprit and for the most part played the way fans anticipated they would all season.

In the end it wasn't a Meier touchdown that was the difference in this one, but over the past two seasons Meier has been a player during the border war.  Whether it's making a catch to move the chains or catching a touchdown, Meier's play matters and his overall effectiveness in the 2009 edition was enough to put him at #9 on the list of top performances for the year.