Kansas opened their football season with a resounding win over Lindenwood on Thursday night. After a slow start, the Jayhawks had little trouble with the Lions and rolled to a 48-3 victory.
Kansas Jayhawks take the early lead
The game started how most people probably expected it to. The Jayhawk defense forced a three-and-out and the offense marched right down the field. After a fourth down conversion in Lindenwood territory, running back Devin Neal‘s third touch of the drive found paydirt, leading to a 7-0 lead.
Touchdown, Devin Neal – getting his 2024 season started right for #kufball pic.twitter.com/dsK7SXVS2w
— 580 Sports Talk (@580SportsTalk) August 30, 2024
The defense continued to stop the Lions, but the offense turned the ball over on both of its next two possessions. Luckily, the tides turned very quickly.
The Jayhawks pull away
Starting in Kansas territory, the Lions gained just four yards and were forced to punt the football away once again. A 53-yard run by Neal set up the Jayhawks for their second score, again by Neal.
On the ensuing Lindenwood possession, a third down pass was intercepted and returned for a touchdown by Mello Dotson.
Mello Dotson with a pick six and the Jayhawks go up 20-0 after a missed XP. #kufball pic.twitter.com/4lyEuquhf9
— JayhawkSlant (@JayhawkSlant) August 30, 2024
The next Lions possession was another three-and-out; and when the Jayhawks had the ball again, quarterback Jalon Daniels found Luke Grimm three plays later for a 58-yard touchdown.
In just 3:04 of game time, the Jayhawks turned their 7-0 lead into a 27-0 lead (missed PAT after the interception return). The fourth score of the quarter, this time by Daniel Hishaw, gave the Jayhawks a 34-0 lead at halftime.
Bringing in the backups
With a long season ahead, Lance Leipold chose to sit the starters for the second half. However, even the backups found success against the Lions.
Quarterback Cole Ballard led the second unit offense right down the field to start the third quarter, and Sevion Morrison punched it in to cap off an 11-play, 85-yard drive.
Kansas later did the same thing for a Sevion Morrison touchdown, but with Jaden Hamm (17) in instead of Ahoafi-Noa. pic.twitter.com/NLByuVgrkN
— Kevin Flaherty (@KFlahertyKCSN) August 30, 2024
Lindenwood managed to put together a solid drive, but was once again forced to punt in Kansas territory.
Ballard once again led an 11-play drive, this time going 90 yards for the score. Ballard found Doug Emilien on fourth and goal to extend the lead to 48-0 early in the fourth quarter.
Kansas twice ran a version of this rub route (a short dig paired with a flat or quick out route) on fourth down, once to Luke Grimm for a first down, then again later to Doug Emilien for a touchdown. pic.twitter.com/0Gf09eiEYF
— Kevin Flaherty (@KFlahertyKCSN) August 30, 2024
Lindenwood finally turned a drive into points, as they went 75 yards in 14 plays, capping off the drive with a 34-yard field goal. A couple first downs for the Jayhawks was enough to wind the clock down and end the game.
Kansas football game overview
Since the starters only played the first half for the Jayhawks, the box score is much more tame than it could have been.
In his first game back from injury, Daniels went 9-15 for 148 yards and a touchdown (including an interception on a miscommunication with his receiver). Neal had just eight carries, but turned them into 112 yards and a pair of touchdowns. His running mate, Daniel Hishaw, converted his nine carries into 66 yards and a score. Meanwhile, Grimm was the star of the receiver group, collecting six catches for 111 yards and the long touchdown.
Defensively, Mello Dotson and Cornell Wheeler led the team in tackles with five. Dotson returned an interception for a touchdown, while Wheeler also had a pair of passes defensed. OJ Burroughs had multiple big plays, including three passes defensed and a tackle for loss. Kansas only had two sacks on the night, but they were constantly in the backfield and making life hard for opposing quarterback Nate Glantz. The Jayhawks will travel to Champaign next week to take on Illinois.
