Kansas Pulls Off Wild Win Over Tech

One week after going to Austin and giving the Longhorns all they could handle, the Kansas Jayhawks came up huge with their first Big 12 win of the season.

Carter Stanley actually threw an interception on the first play of the game. The defense forced a quick punt, but KU took over deep in their own territory and couldn't get much going. During the course of their punt, senior safety Bryce Torneden was ejected for targeting, leaving Kansas, already missing Dru Prox, sans another important defensive player. Tech moved the ball easily, and scored their first touchdown on 4th down.

Kansas got the ball the to the Tech 39 on the next possession, but because football coaches are stupid, they punted, leading to a Tech field goal to go up 10-0.

The Jayhawks would find their footing in the second quarter after falling behind 17-0. KU put a long drive together, ending in a Carter Stanley sneak for a TD. Tech punted on the ensuing possession, and the Jayhawks capitalized with a 48 yard TD to Robinson to make it 17-14 at the half.

The second half started about as well as the first did. Tech needed just four plays to make it 24-14. The Raiders would tack on a field goal before Kansas got their next score on the board, a 65 yard touchdown to Robinson. Unfortunately, special teams issues continue to plague the team, as the PAT was blocked, leaving it 27-20.

All hell broke loose in the 4th quarter when, on 3rd and 21, Stanley found Andrew Parchment for 70 yards and another score to tie the game, only to see Tech respond with a go-ahead TD in just four plays. After trading punts, the Kansas offense calmly worked its way down the field to tie it on a 32 yard run by Velton Gardner.

After a huge 3rd and 1 stop, KU got the ball back at their own 21 with four minutes left. Stanley led the team down the field to the 23, where Liam Jones had field goal attempt blocked...BUT...the Tech player who recovered then fumbled, and KU recovered for another shot at redemption. Jones was true from 32 and Kansas beat the the Red Raiders, 37-34.

A quick editorial: This is different. This is real. Kansas didn't come up with a fluke win over a team with a lame duck coach having a bad night. They almost beat Texas in Austin last week and now they've beaten a Texas Tech team that has been very respectable outside of the Oklahoma loss. Tech beat OSU and hung tight with Baylor and ISU. Kansas isn't a doormat anymore, but they aren't good yet either. That will take time. But with Miles and Dearmon at the helm, they are not to be taken lightly.

Kansas isn't an auto-win for the Big 12 anymore. This team can play.