Compiled by Chuck Woodling
John Laurie, principal at Shawnee Mission West High in Overland Park, was the referee in charge of the seven-man Big 12 Conference-affiliated officiating crew.
Kansas was Missouri’s homecoming foe for the first time in 40 years. Kansas won that game, 23-7, knocking Missouri from the unbeaten ranks in the regular-season finale. KU later had to forfeit the win, however, for using an ineligible player.
Missouri calls it the Indian War Drum. Kansas calls it the Marching Band Drum. By whatever name, the symbolic trophy goes to the KU-MU winner each year. Kansas keeps it because the Jayhawks won, 21-0, last year.
KU coach Terry Allen brought 64 players, six fewer than the conference maximum, to Columbia. Wide receiver J.T. Thompson was the only true freshman on the travel squad.
Allen varied the Jayhawks’ travel routine slightly. Instead of working out Friday evening at the game site, the KU buses didn’t depart Lawrence until after dinner, arriving in Columbia around 9 p.m.
Tim Bowers’ 32-yard interception return for a TD midway through the second quarter was the second TD of the senior linebacker’s career, but his first pass theft. Bowers scored on a blocked punt against Colorado two years ago.
KU’s Joe Garcia was short on a career-long 56-yard field goal attempt just before halftime. The Jayhawks would have been closer to the goal posts if wide receiver Byron Gasaway hadn’t been called for offensive pass interference two downs earlier.
Free safety Carl Nesmith intercepted a Darius Outlaw pass with :09 showing before halftime.
Missouri managed only 135 yards of offense in the first half, and nearly half of it came on Darius Outlaw’s 60-yard TD pass to Eric Spencer. KU had 214 yards while running 48 plays to MU’s 25. KU defensive back Carl Ivey, burned on that TD pass, atoned late in the third quarter when the red-shirt freshman made his first career interception, then picked off another pass on the game’s last play.
Kansas wasted a golden opportunity midway through the third quarter. The Jayhawks had a first down on the MU 13, but bogged down at the Tigers’ five. Moments later, Joe Garcia lined up for a 23-yard field goal attempt, but holder Brandon Wier bobbled the snap and was tackled.
KU’s last conference road victory was a 34-31 win at Iowa State in 1996. It was KU’s first win in Columbia since 1994.
Kansas won in spite of being flagged a season-high 11 times for 92 yards. Only one of the penalties was against the defense.
On third down, the Jayhawks converted 10 of 19 times. Missouri was 3-for-13 in that category.
KU lineman De’Nard Whitfield was credited with three tackles for losses, including two sacks. Lineman Ervin Holloman also had a sack.
Missouri linebacker Sean Doyle, son of former KU linebacker Mickey Doyle, led the Tigers in tackles with 13. Linebacker Marcus Rogers paced KU with nine.
Jason Gulley’s 41-yard reception in the third quarter was the first by a KU tight end in the last three games and a career-long for the 6-foot-3, 270-pound senior.
KU’s four pass interceptions two by Ivey, one each by Bowers and Nesmith were the most in one game since 1992 against Oklahoma State.
Sophomore Nick Smith made his first career start, opening at center in place of senior Bob Schmidt (ankle). Junior college transfer Roger Ross, who returned a punt 62 yards for a touchdown, made his first career start at wide receiver when the Jayhawks opened in a one-back set.
After 109 meetings, the KU-MU series is knotted at 50-50-9.
11:15 Joe Garcia 38 FG. Kansas took game’s opening possession and went 57 yards in eight plays, despite three false-start penalties, one of which was declined. Big plays were 15-yard pass from Dylen Smith to Roger Ross, 14-yard run by Harrison Hill, 27-yard pass from a scrambling Smith to David Winbush and Smith’s 10-yard run on third-and-15 to get back into field-goal range. (Kansas 3, Missouri 0).
14:35 Duke Revard fumble recovery in end zone. After teams traded punts throughout most of first quarter, Kansas faced third-and-eight from its own 21 when Smith, flushed from the pocket, was hit by Pat Duffy, fumbled and the Tigers’ Justin Smith recovered on the three-yard line. On first play, Zain Gilmore fumbled, and KU’s Tim Bowers recovered on the two. But on first play from two, Moran Norris was hit by Cedric Harden for third fumble in three plays, and Revard fell on ball in end zone. Brad Hammerich kick. (Missouri 7, Kansas 3).
7:45 Ross 8 pass from Dylen Smith. Two series after MU gimme score, Kansas took over on Missouri 49, thanks to stifling defense and solid punt return. Jayhawks took eight plays in 2 minutes, 9 seconds to score. Big plays were pass-interference penalty on MU on third-and-14 from Kansas 47, 15-yard run by Winbush and 18-yard pass from Smith to Hill. On TD, Smith rolled out of collapsing pocket and found Ross all alone on left side of end zone. Garcia kick. (Kansas 10, Missouri 7).
7:26 Tim Bowers 32 interception return. On first MU play after Kansas TD, Darius Outlaw dropped back and threw over the middle, and Bowers made a nice, stretching interception, went unmolested to about the 15, waited for block and scored untouched. Garcia kick. (Kansas 17, Missouri 7).
5:17 Eric Spencer 60 pass from Outlaw. Missouri took possession after Kansas TD on own 20 and went 80 yards in just five plays. On second play, Spencer caught a 15-yard pass. On fifth play, Spencer got behind Kansas’ Carl Ivey and Outlaw lofted perfect pass for Spencer to run under and he scored untouched. Hammerich kick. (Kansas 17, Missouri 14).
11:12 Dylen Smith 3 run. After holding MU to three-and-out series on first possession of second half, Kansas took over on own 42 and went 58 yards in five plays. Winbush accounted for all big plays a 14-yard run on first play and a 34-yard reception on second. On TD, Smith ran delay draw, made nice juke move at line of scrimmage and scored unmolested. Garcia kick. (Kansas 24, Missouri 14).
5:31 Ross 62 punt return. Missouri faced third straight three-and-out possession of second half, and Ross fielded punt at Kansas’ 38. He immediately rolled right to dodge one would-be tackler, picked up a huge block by Hill around the 45, picked up another big block by Bowers around midfield, cut across the field to the left around MU’s 35, and raced the rest of way untouched. Garcia kick. (Kansas 31, Missouri 14).
1:37 Hammerich 31 FG. KU and MU traded turnovers again to set up Tigers’ score. Ivey picked off Outlaw, but Marcus Caldwell picked off Smith three plays later to give Missouri first-and-10 from the KU 13. Tigers lost a yard in three plays before settling for field goal. (Kansas 31, Missouri 17).
11:46 Winbush 12 run. On first possession after MU field goal, Kansas went 76 yards in 12 plays. Big plays were runs of 35 and 13 yards by Smith and eight-yard run by Winbush to convert third down. On TD, Winbush took handoff, went left off-guard, jumped a would-be ankle tackler and sped into end zone. Garcia kick. (Kansas 38, Missouri 17).
