Originally published October 7, 2006 at 10:00a.m., updated October 7, 2006 at 02:29p.m.

Final: ‘Hawks lose game in last minute 21-18

By Kristin Bock

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KU vs. Texas A&M

On the stat sheet, the Jayhawks weren't supposed to win. But with the way the game went, were they supposed to lose?

For all but one minute of the game, Kansas led on the scoreboard. A trick play on the first drive turned into KU's lone touchdown drive. From then on, Kansas settled for field goals. Time and again, KU's special teams put the 'Hawks into position to hold on to the win with three Tucker punts putting the Aggies inside their own 10 yard line, one of which resulted in two of KU's points from a safety.

Even though the Aggies won the battle in time of possession and total offense, they couldn't manage to take the lead until Lane found the endzone with 34 seconds remained on the clock. Texas A&M let their speedier running back Goodson and effective QB McGee drive the ball downfield before handing it off to Lane for the two-yard touchdown runs on the first and third scores.

At times the KU defense made the stops: forcing drop balls, rushing McGee to throw incomplete passes and even forcing a fumble in the first half. But when it came down to it, A&M made the 80-yard game-winning drive in a little less than three minutes - something Kansas couldn't do and especially not in 30 seconds.

While the Aggies made their comeback late in the game, the Jayhawks had their opportunities to run out the clock before the final blow. Unlike his previous two games, Barmann only finished with 127 yards on 13-31 attempts. No turnovers, yet only one touchdown all game in addition to three field goals wasn't enough to secure the win. Barmann himself had more yards of offense last week against Nebraska with 405 yards than the entire team had today with only 288. McGee finished with 240 yards.

Until the clock showed 34 seconds, it didn't seem like it was going to be A&M's day. KU had the opportunity to win - with one touchdown, three field goals, a safety and half as many first downs as the Aggies. But then again, the stat sheet never lies.

Final: KU 18, Texas A&M 21

Kansas managed to gain 19 yards before Barmann's desperation heave into a cluster of players down field was batted down on 3rd-and 10 with seven seconds left in the game. The incomplete pass secured the Aggies' late comeback to spoil KU's homecoming.

A completed two-point conversion from McGee to Joey Thomas gave the Aggies a three point lead. Following the touchback, the Jayhawks must drive 80 yards in 30 seconds for at least a field goal to keep the 'Hawks alive.

With 34 seconds left on the clock, the Aggies hand the ball over to Lane as he finds the endzone for his second touchdown of the day.

In drives of four and five yards, the Aggies make their way down field. On 3rd-and 5 with 1:21 remaining, McGee connects with L'Tydrick Riley for a 35 yard pick up for 1st-and goal on the KU six.

Tucker rebounds from his last punt of 16, with a kick of 56 yards that sailed into the endzone. A&M will start on their own 20 yard line with 2:50 on the clock.

Kansas picks up the defensive intensity following the poor field position with a sack and forced drop ball in the secondary. In a game of back-and-forth possession, KU will start on their own 35 with 3:46 in the fourth quarter.

As of late, the Jayhawks' drives have yet to amount to much other than a punt, and unlike before, Tucker mis-kicks a low snap. Texas A&M receives a bit of luck, with the ball spotted on the KU 34 yard line with 6 minutes left in the game and trailing 18-13.

KU seemingly had good field position at their own 48 yard line after a 13 yard Murph punt return, but Murph fumbled the ball on the ensuing play with pressure from Aggie defensive back Danny Gorrer. The Aggies quickly regained possession at their own 41 with just less than 10 minutes on the clock but couldn't capitalize and were forced to punt. A&M survived another high snap, sending the punt into the endzone.

Three minutes into the fourth quarter and KU still trails A&M on the stat sheet, but leads on the scoreboard. The Aggies have 297 offensive yards compared to KU's 247 and have controlled the ball four minutes longer than the 'Hawks.

McGee gets his second rushing touchdown of the season on a bootleg play to the right corner seconds into the fourth quarter. A&M went for the two-point conversion, but McGee is stopped by three Jayhawks on the 3 yard line. Kansas holds on to a 18-13 lead.

The Aggies mount their first promising drive of the second half behind running back Mike Goodson's two runs of 25-yards and a catch for another 11. Quarterback McGee added to the rushing yards, as A&M is on the KU 3 yard line to start the fourth quarter.

Following the Texas A&M kickoff, Kansas let Cornish lead the drive on the ground, helping move the ball to the A&M 11 yard line. From there, KU went with what's been working all day: special teams. After going 43 yards in eight plays, Webb kicked a 28-yard field goal giving KU a two possession lead at 18-7.

Cornish has upped his numbers to 116 yards on 17 carries, for his fifth game game this season with over 100 yards rushing.

Whether it's KU's special teams or A&M's, the Jayhawks can't go wrong. KU picked up two points on a safety when a high snap sailed over the punter's head and out-of-bounds on an Aggie punt attempt from their own endzone. Kansas increased its lead to 15-7 with 6:30 on the clock.

Special teams continues to be the key for KU. Kansas took a delay of game penalty to move the ball back five yards to the 40 yard line for Tucker's punt, which he again put inside the ten. The Aggies will take possession at their own five yard line with 8:01 in third quarter.

Kansas took 8 plays, 63 yards on the opening drive to the A&M 18 before setting for a 36-yard field goal by Webb. Running back Jon Cornish helped set up the scoring opportunity with his 49-yard rush. Cornish now has 79 yards rushing on 11 attempts for the Jayhawks that now hold a 13-7 lead three minutes into the second half.

Halftime: KU 10, Texas A&M 7

Much different from last week's performance at Nebraska, the Jayhawks jump out to an early 10-0 lead in the first quarter. Special teams and defense lead the Jayhawks in the first half with a blocked punt, turnover, and even a touchdown from a fake punt play.

On their first drive of the game, the Jayhawks went with a trick punt play that created a 48-yard run by McAnderson to the A&M seven. Barman, who threw for 63 yards on 7-13 passes, found Fields for the touchdown.

Mangino commented at break that special teams will be the key to the drive and they just might be. In the first half, Texas A&M totaled more than 100 yards of offense than KU's 116 yards. McGee himself has already racked up 133 yards passing on the day. The Aggies dominated the statistics in the first half, but again, KU's defense and special teams have helped maintain the 10-7 lead.

Kansas forced the first turnover of the game, stripping the ball from A&M's Martellus Bennet after catching a Stephen McGee pass. The Jayhawks let the clock run out, going into halftime with the slim 10-7 lead.

Tucker put his second punt of the day inside the A&M 10 yard line, this time getting another kind bounce before being fielded at the seven with less than two minutes remaining.

Texas A&M pushed the KU defense back to its own 26 yard line but held the Aggies to a 43-yard field goal attempt. Defensive lineman Wayne Wilder blocked a Neumann's kick, giving KU the ball on the 26 yard line with 4:52 before half.

KU suffers a costly penalty of 15 yards for a chop block. The penalty sends the Jayhawks back to 2nd-and 26 on their own 17 and can't recover the yardage for a first down. The Aggies field the Tucker punt on their own 38 yard line with 7 minutes left in the second quarter.

On the Aggies' first threatening drive, Texas A&M's powerfull running back Jovorskie Lane spins out of a tackle to pick up five yards on 1st-and goal from the seven. From there, Lane rushes the two yards into the endzone for his Big 12 leading 12th touchdown. With 8:23 left before halftime, A&M finds itself on the scoreboard trailing KU 10-7.

So far twice today the Jayhawks have pinned the Aggies inside their own 20 yard line forcing a punt, but KU only managed three points from a Webb field goal. Starting the second quarter, Texas A&M takes the ball on their own 26 yard line.

Although Kansas started with great field position 22 yards away from the endzone, the 'Hawks couldn't convert instead settling with a 33-yard Scott Webb field goal. KU now leads the game 10-0 with less than a minute left in the first quarter.

In its second attempt to punt, the Jayhawks opt to go for just that. Texas A&M lets the ball bounce, but tight end Derek Fine downed the punt at the Aggies' 3 yard line. For the second time in the first quarter, KU gets great field position from the punt. The most recent punt coming from A&M's endzone that Brian Murph returned to the 22-yard line.

KU brought out the trick plays on their first drive of the game when punter Kyle Tucker faked a punt and instead tossed the ball to tailback Brandon McAnderson who ran the ball down to the Texas A&M 10 yard line. On 3rd- and 7 quarterback Adam Barmann found Dexton Fields on the left side for the touchdown run. It took the Jayhawks nine plays and 83 yards to take the first lead of the game 7-0 with 9:14 in the first quarter.

Kickoff

On the opening drive of the game, the Jayhawks keep A&M to two first downs and force the Aggies to punt from their own 37 yard line.

Game preview

By the numbers

KU returns to Memorial Stadium today to play its first home Big 12 game of the season against Texas A&M at 11 a.m.

The Jayhawks are coming off a disappointing 39-32 overtime loss at Nebraska last week. KU recovered from two early interceptions and a 17-0 deficit to send the game into overtime before quarterback Adam Barmann's last scoring effort flew over the head of a diving Marcus Henry on 4th- and 9. The contest highlighted weaknesses in the Kansas secondary as NU QB Zac Taylor threw three touchdown passes of 75 yards or more.

"It's us putting our eyes where they shouldn't be on every one of them," said cornerback Aqib Talib. "Your eyes should stay on your receiver. When you break on the ball, your eyes should stay on your receiver. When you take certain drops, your eyes should be on the receiver.

"Sometimes we were dropping and looking in the backfield at the quarterback and forgetting where our receiver was. It turned into a big play."

Such mistakes are ones KU will need to fix if they hope to compete with the Aggies. Even though Aggie quarterback Stephen McGee ranks fifth in pass efficiency while only throwing one interception in 110 attempts, Texas A&M is the Big 12 Conference's best running team. To add to the Aggie's running threat, McGee averages over 50 yard rushing in addition to his 124 passing yards per contest. However, Texas A&M gets a majority of its offense from stocky running back Jovorskie Lane. The 5'11, 270 lb. sophomore leads the league in rushing touchdowns with 11.

"He's powerful, but he's got quick feet, and he changes direction pretty decent for a big guy," KU coach Mark Mangino said.

Lane's size may pose a different threat to the Jayhawks, but their run defense has proved it can handle whatever teams throw at them. And even while their secondary hasn't adjusted as quickly, there's no need to worry.

"It was already out of their mind," Talib said of the secondary mistakes. "I didn't really have to say anything. They were all right."

Now that the defense has sorted out its problems from last week, KU's offense will look familiar as it remains in the hands of senior quarterback Adam Barmann. Last night, head coach Mark Mangino said Barmann would start over the previously injured Kerry Meier who received medical clearance from doctors earlier in the week. In his two starts, Barmann has thrown for almost 700 yards including two touchdowns and three interceptions.

Today's game is the seventh time KU has matched up against A&M. The Jayhawks won the first meeting, but have since lost the last six with the most recent being a 45-33 loss in 2004.

Comments

nikesasquatch (anonymous) says...

Excellent call Mangino on the blitz on third down. This is exactly what A&M wanted with the screen pass. Maybe Mangino can finish the season with KU not winning another game.

October 7, 2006 at 2:28 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

nikesasquatch (anonymous) says...

If Mangino wants to play timid and not to lose then KU is going to continue to lose close games. Adam Barmann can almost throw the ball half as far as Cordell Stewart.

October 7, 2006 at 2:31 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

juslob (anonymous) says...

I am writing this while still angry after the game. What do you do about arm tackles and the total inability to put the ball in the end zone once you are in the red zone? We should have had this game put away mid way through the third quarter. I'm thinking if we win this game there is not much in the way between the 'Hawks and a 9-3 or 10-2 record. Now, well, we'll see what kind of resolve this team has.

October 7, 2006 at 2:31 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jayhawk20 (anonymous) says...

I couldn't agree more. Predictable play calling the whole game. I don't think KU ever threw on first down. Great play calling coach....Rediculous

October 7, 2006 at 2:36 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

nikesasquatch (anonymous) says...

I've really enjoyed watching Arkansas football because they always seem to be competitive and beat teams they have no business beating. If KU had half the mental toughness, desire, and ability to get the job done that the Razorbacks have then KU would be undefeated.

October 7, 2006 at 2:36 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

nikesasquatch (anonymous) says...

If Mangino wants to lose out then he needs to keep playing Barmann. Barmann is the master of losing close games. He might be the best quarterback in NCAA history in losing close games.

October 7, 2006 at 2:41 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Fritz (anonymous) says...

You know how Texas A&M calls their defense the Wrecking Crew? We should call our whole team the Collapsible Crew. I don't think we can find any more ways to lose the game. Although this being KU, I know we'll try. And I think we should get our own stat of "Near Interceptions", so that we can actually be on top of a stat in something.

Is it too early to give Mangino another contract extension?

Oh yeah, and to that newspaper columnist who demanded that we all show up and suppport this team? Support them for what? Sorry, but I've got too much going on and tickets are too expensive. I'm a 21st century sports watcher. Once KU goes out there and actually does something to justify my spending time and mega-dollars on, then I'll show up.

October 7, 2006 at 2:51 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kylecisnum1 (anonymous) says...

how bout mannin up in hte secondary and not leavin a 10 yard space between the a&m recievers and the corners. especially on 3rd and short!!! they practically gave them those third down conversions! and i think by now meiers elbow is healthy enough to where he can play. we should be 4-2 or possibly 5-1 rite now. barmann cant win!

October 7, 2006 at 3:02 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

seattlehawk_78 (anonymous) says...

Nikesasquatch, I can understand the knee-jerk reaction from losing a close game but I think you left out the water boy in your blame game. It is exactly KU's mental toughness that has kept them in these games and which will ultimately lead them to post season play.

October 7, 2006 at 3:04 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

tankshot (anonymous) says...

Post season play??? with a loss to toledo and now a sub-par A&M team... I don't think so.

October 7, 2006 at 3:30 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

nikesasquatch (anonymous) says...

Mangino and Self need to stop hanging out together. Self is a bad influence.

October 7, 2006 at 3:37 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

hawkandtigerfan (anonymous) says...

3 words . . .

Adam Barmann sucks

4 more . . .

Never play him again

October 7, 2006 at 3:38 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

kupops (anonymous) says...

cornish needs to pay with more passion and block. on a fake run and then flip back to baughman, cornish watched the linebacker run past him and tackel baughman. not good blocking, passion, pride in your performance or team.

October 7, 2006 at 4:10 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

truefan (anonymous) says...

I hate getting down on my own team. I can handle losing...I've been a Royals fan for years...what I can't handle is losing to teams that aren't as good as us. We are a better team than ATM and I feel like the rest of my day was stolen from me after watching our defense let ATM walk down the field when it mattered most. This team has too much talent that hasn't been tapped. The youth of the team is showing horribly and they have a lot of growing up to do before it's too late.

October 7, 2006 at 4:34 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

nikesasquatch (anonymous) says...

KU might learn some lessons from K-State how to hold onto a lead late. Why can't KU recruit a quarterback half as good as Freeman?

October 7, 2006 at 5:24 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Jhawk275 (anonymous) says...

Being close in games is just no longer an excuse for anyone on this team and for Mangino and his staff. That was an acceptable excuse 3 years ago during the rebuilding. This team is built by now and being close is nothing but a failure. They should be competing for the north, not hoping to make bowl games. We're beyond that now (at least I would've hoped). Going to a bowl game isn't an accomplishment in my opinion. All it says is that you had an above .500 record. No more excuses!! Go on that field and get the job done!!! I'm sick of this stuff. KU is currently a complete failure...coaching, QB, RB, and the D.

October 7, 2006 at 5:28 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

nikesasquatch (anonymous) says...

KU has a good running back. If KU had a decent quarterback they would win games. Meier and Barmann should not be starting for Emporia State, let alone KU.

October 7, 2006 at 6:10 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Nutflush21 (anonymous) says...

Finally some animosity is coming through from KU fans. Its about time we stop applauding our team for "their great effort." This is not little league anymore. Johnny's mom is not showing up with orange slices and capri suns at the end of the game and it's not "Okay" if we lose because we are KU and in the past we weren't suppose to win.

Im sick and tired of watching our football team find ways to lose games. Our inability to score touchdowns and get key first downs is flat out ridiculous. I honestly can't believe that I show up every Saturday to watch this crap.

Mangino: Adam Barmann is freaking horrible. stop playing him. He throws wounded ducks all over the field and its painfully obvious he cant win close games.

October 7, 2006 at 6:20 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

hawkandtigerfan (anonymous) says...

Meier is fine and will be fine. Barmann is the one who sucks. Let's not forget the offense played much better with Meier in the game. Sure he had some big mistakes, but he, and he alone was the one who found a way to keep us in those other games.

Barmann on the other hand got lucky last week and failed miserably the whole game (like always) for us this week. Just like I said "3 words - Adam Barmann sucks"

October 7, 2006 at 6:21 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Colgrove (anonymous) says...

The playcalling falls on the offensive coordinator, not Mangino. Somebody needs to step up and fire him. The media doesn't seem to notice that whenever we get a lead, the O.C. mixes in total of about 4 plays. The defensive collapse is inexcusable, but it doesn't help when they've been on the field for most of the 2nd half. My beef with the defense is that we NEVER play man defense, letting their offense get 8 yard pass plays whenver they want, and dropping Paul Como back in coverage. If you're going to drop somebody back, at least put something in there with at least some coverage skills.

October 7, 2006 at 6:29 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jayloco (anonymous) says...

Wow, I thought my post was going to be negative, but damn, you all take the cake! I echo a lot of your sentiments, but to say that the D is a complete failure, man I have a hard time saying that. Rivera is all over the place. Talib is a good cover corner. I see a lot of promise. Remember folks, this team is extremely young. How many of you had the Hawks going 9-3 or even 8-4. Public sentiment at the beginning of the year was that 6-6 or 7-5 would be the record this year. I have 3 questions to pose:
1. For those who went to the game or listened to the game, would you agree that our O and D lines were completely overmatched vs. Texas A&M? Given that, why was Barmann not in the shotgun or rolled out at all in the 2nd half by Mangino?

2. Why was the play calling so predictable? Seems like Barmann had a lot of success in 20+ yard routes vs. Nebraska, but today, we played extremely conservative. Either Mangino did not have confidence that we could support a pocket for Barmann, or they just plain dropped the ball on playcalling.

3. Why did Mangino not use his timeouts at the end of Texas A&M's game-winning drive? You had about 1 minute left on 2nd and goal and to me, it did not make sense to not use one of your 2 timeouts, especially with the new rules regarding the clock.

Yes, this team is frustrating and the 3 losses have been completely disappointing. My question for those that say Barmann sucks is were you saying that after his performance last week in Nebraska? Maybe he does suck, but it seems like you all are giving a free pass to the O line, offensive coordinator and Mangino. I don't really feel like any of those 3 gave Barmann the chance to succeed.

I can't ask fellow fans to not jump off the bandwagon. Hell, I thought about it too. However, just remember that when the season started, hardly ANYONE had this team 9-3 and competing for the big xii North. We have a lot of Sophomores on the defense and there has been solid play for the most part at all 3 games I have been to. (Missed S. FL. game) I am as frustrated as you all are, but you have to admit the games have been exciting to watch.

Given the loss today, I think this team's resolve will be tested. They have a good chance of winning their final 3 home games in my opinion. I think they can go to Baylor and win. I think 7-5 is where we will end up. I guess I am siding on the fact that this team WILL bounce back from a crushing loss today.

October 7, 2006 at 6:30 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

amyleigh1221 (anonymous) says...

all i have to say is...

fire the offesnsive coordinator...

that was the worst play calling EVER!!

so predictable i could have read the plays

also...why do we just trip people instead of tackle? why dont we just stick our arms out and see if they will fall? are you kidding me!?!? oh boy...just grab onto them and dont let go!!

again...if that offensive coordinator doesnt prove he belongs here...fire him. fire him fast

October 7, 2006 at 6:55 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

rockchalkblock (anonymous) says...

Todays loss was unacceptible, I admit I booed and I was PISSED at the end of the game, but to all you naysayers I agree with some of your statments but I don't think you can put this loss on the D they played thier butts off and no one should beable to take that away from them. The people who lost this game for us where the couhes i.e. Mangino not calling a time out when you knew Lane was goin to score and wasting 30 sec. and poor play calling at the end of the game. But the truth is this is a learning year for this KU football team.. all I'm saying is keep your faith in these young Jayhawks.. just as you did in the 2005-06 basketball season (whom won the Big XII championship) Keep the Faith!

October 7, 2006 at 7:49 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

pro_pilot (anonymous) says...

I agree the OC sucks, We have got to bite the bullet, and find who wants to play. Adam Barman will never be the man to see KU perfom to expectations. If Mier is not ready? Give Ressling a try. whats to lose? I ask you?

October 7, 2006 at 9 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

tis4tim (anonymous) says...

Faith doesn't win ballgames. Execution does.

Honestly, Barmann's throws have the ugliest spin and worst trajectories I've ever witnessed. Has anyone shown him where to find the laces on a football? Seriously, is he missing a finger or two on his throwing hand? His tosses aren't lame ducks. They're more like blind, cataplectic water fowl.

Until we get his throws into the drunken, schizoid puffin range, we won't win another game.

October 7, 2006 at 9:47 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

hawkandtigerfan (anonymous) says...

Our punter has better accuracy with his foot than Barmann does with his arm

October 7, 2006 at 10:13 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

arkhawk (anonymous) says...

I agree that the play selection was terrible especially on the drive prior to the last A&M score. If the proper plays had been called and excuted, the defense would not have been required to take the field. If they can not get one yard on third down in a critical situation then there is no sense of urgency to get this program to an acceptable level. There is serious need to practice the basics - wrapping up when tackling and everyone blocking on offense. Where is the sense of urgency and passion that makes a championship team.

October 8, 2006 at 12:38 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

DSommersby (anonymous) says...

The Hawks really struggled to do anything on 3rd down to continue and maintain drives all game. We had been great on 3rd down in the South Florida game and moved the ball great at Nebraska.

I think (double check the stats) we were something like 3-15 on 3rd down and maybe 1-1 on a 4th down play, so total of 4-16 on 3rd down plays where A&M went 8-17 on 3rd down conversions. They also had 33 minutes plus to our 26 minutes plus in time of possesion. It felt even more lopsided than that watching. Our offense could not convert enough to get the defense off the field and some rest. Take away the fake punt and we only had 127 yards passing.

Still...We were 1 play away from probably icing it but could not come thru. It's really frustrating and sucks letting that get away but the team needs to hang in there and come back and dominate Ok. State. No messing around.

October 8, 2006 at 1:19 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Danimal (anonymous) says...

I'm tired of hearing all of this, "yeah but we came really close to winning" talk. I think we should fire Mangino and the OC. They had the ability to make KU a decent squad, but I don't think they have what it takes to turn the corner and be one of the top 25 teams in college football. Someone tell Mangino about timeouts, apparently he doesn't know what they are. I say this because in every loss instead of preserving some time to try and get the win in regulation he just lets it run out. Apparently he didn't realize the game wasn't tied today. This was an inexcusable performance and the only member of the KU squad or staff that really performed well today was Cornish. If you have one RB that counts for half of your total offense clearly there are glaring problems elsewhere. And don't try to say he doesn't do a decent job on blocking, if Barmann didn't need 8-10 seconds in the pocket to make a mediocre pass it wouldn't be a problem.

October 8, 2006 at 3:17 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

hawkandtigerfan (anonymous) says...

i've been just as negative or more negative than anybody on here, but lets not forget Rome wasn't built in a day. I agree, we've had a few games we should've won and playcalling hasn't been the best. But I honestly do not think anybody can say Mangino hasn't been steadily building this program. We all know the team WILL make a bowl game. That's a step forward from the last few years to see if we would. Baby steps, granted we could make less mistakes on the field, I still feel great about the future even though the present situation really stinks. Don't put Mangino in the hotseat. He doesn't deserve it. We had one of the worst football teams in the country just 4 years ago. . . .

October 8, 2006 at 11:46 a.m. ( | suggest removal )