Kansas- Missouri football notebook

By Ryan Wood     Nov 26, 2006

A bizarre officiating decision took back a 75-yard touchdown reception by Missouri’s Brad Ekwerekwu in the third quarter, when it was determined that offsetting penalties wiped out the play.

Referee Drew George and replay official John Laurie answered questions that were released in the press box after the game about what went down.

The touchdown was called back because of offsetting unnecessary-roughness penalties on KU’s Jerome Kemp and MU’s Jared Perry.

George said he misunderstood the original penalty, thinking it was No. 8 of Kansas.

He then signaled touchdown because he thought no MU player was flagged.

After that, the calling official informed George it was No. 8 on the black jersey (Perry) and not white.

An official’s review started because NCAA Rule 12 allows a review of scoring plays.

Once the replay official buzzed down, George was informed (not by Laurie) that Kemp should be flagged, too. With the offsetting penalties, there was no need to continue with a review that originally was buzzed.

“The perception may have been that replay caused the second foul,” Laurie said. “That was not the case.”

It appeared that Kemp pushed a player down well away from Ekwerekwu, and Perry retaliated by hitting Kemp. As a result, the touchdown, which would’ve put Missouri up 26-10, was erased. Kansas got the ball back two plays later and scored to make it 20-17.

Eventually, Mizzou pulled away anyway.

¢ Cornerback Anthony Webb started, but didn’t play after the first series. Senior Dominic Roux, moved from wide receiver about a month ago, played extensively opposite Aqib Talib.

“Anthony just had some struggles early on,” KU coach Mark Mangino said. “Roux really was hot, and we went with him most of the game.”

¢ KU altered its normal road uniform slightly for Saturday’s game. The Jayhawks wore red socks instead of blue, making KU a colorful bunch with white tops, gray pants and red socks.

¢ Defensive end Russell Brorsen played Saturday with a bulky cast on his left arm. He played extensively and had four tackles.

¢ Talib caught the first pass of his career, and it went for a 42-yard touchdown. Talib is used occasionally on offense, but he only had the ball thrown to him one other time.

“Aqib’s played well for us all year,” Mangino said. “He’s been a playmaker.”

Talib had six tackles and four pass break-ups on defense. KU as a team managed just six pass break-ups.

¢ Mike Rivera had the Jayhawks’ only sack, getting to Chase Daniel for a 15-yard loss in the second quarter. Rivera had 10 tackles, second only to Joe Mortensen’s 12.

Rivera finished the regular season with a team-high 90 tackles.

Mortensen and Kemp tied for second with 82 stops.

¢ Kansas had seven penalties for 70 yards, while Missouri had one flag for 15 yards.

¢ Marcus Herford was back returning kickoffs against Missouri, after two weeks of Jake Sharp taking the kicks. Herford had six returns for 158 yards.

¢ Linebacker Brandon Duncan, out since Sept. 23 with an ankle injury, was suited up Saturday for the first time in Big 12 play. He did not get in the game, however.

¢ KU’s three-game win streak against Missouri was snapped. According to Kansas, the Jayhawks still hold a 54-52-9 edge in the Border War series.

¢ Mangino is now 25-35 in his five seasons in charge of the Jayhawks.

¢ George was head referee in charge of the seven-man officiating crew.

¢ Announced attendance at Faurot Field was 55,614.

¢ Temperature was 60 degrees at kickoff under cloudy skies, with winds blowing out of the south-southwest at 14 mph. Game time was 3:08.

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