Hill stands out in KU football scrimmage; QB duel a draw

By Robert Sinclair     Apr 22, 2001

Tyler Wirken/Journal-World Photo
Kansas quarterback Mario Kinsey, right, tries to avoid a touch-tackle by teammate Tony Strickland, left, as Brock Teddleton blocks. The play came in KU's spring drills-ending scrimmage on Saturday at Memorial Stadium.

It seems everyone has an opinion these days about who Kansas University’s starting quarterback should be sophomore Zach Dyer or red-shirt freshman Mario Kinsey.

Everyone, that is, except senior wide receiver Harrison Hill.

“I’m not sure,” Hill said following the Jayhawks’ final spring scrimmage Saturday night at Memorial Stadium. “I think they’re both so neck-and-neck. I think they both made a lot of progress throughout the spring. That’s what we wanted them to do.

“We’ll worry about in the fall who’s the starter, but they’re both pretty good.”

Hill isn’t half bad, either. After being blanked during KU’s two prior scrimmages, the 5-foot-11, 190-pound wideout had four receptions for 69 yards both scrimmage highs. He also provided one of the Jayhawks’ longest plays, snaring a short pass from Kinsey and scampering down the sideline for a 38-yard gain.

Hill was alone in the open field when he stepped out of bounds on the 25-yard line.

“I can’t believe I didn’t score,” he quipped. “I should have scored. It was bad. I didn’t even see the sideline. I thought I was OK the whole way, then I looked up at the big screen and I saw the ref waving it off. I thought it was a touchdown.”

Had Hill scored, Kinsey’s numbers would have soared. As it was, the freshman was 6-of-12 passing for 106 yards and a 39-yard touchdown. The score came on a touch pass that Kinsey lofted and sophomore tight end Adrian Jones sprawled out for on the 3-yard line and fell into the end zone.

Kinsey, though, was nonplused by his performance.

“No doubt Zach put a lead, an opening on me,” Kinsey said. “He had a great day, making reads, making things happen. I mean it’s discouraging knowing the last practice I had a practice like this.”

For his part, Dyer completed 6-of-11 passes for 76 yards, but tossed an interception senior cornerback Quincy Roe wrestled the ball away from senior wideout Termaine Fulton.

But the Dyer refused to accept his counterpart’s resignation from the QB campaign.

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“No, I don’t really think so,” Dyer countered Kinsey. “I think he’s just being nice, giving me credit. But I think I did a decent job. I think we both did a pretty good job, but I don’t feel like I separated myself quite a bit or anything.”

Although KU sophomore running back Reggie Duncan dominated the Jayhawks’ ground game needing just nine carries to cover 52 yards and adding a 1-yard TD plunge and four different receivers managed at least two grabs, KU coach Terry Allen was less than enthused overall.

“I thought we had a good spring,” Allen said. “Yeah, we’ve still got to get so much better. The quarterback position did some good things tonight, but they’ve got to get so much better for us to be effective offensively with the things we’re trying to do.”

On the other side of the ball, senior middle linebacker Marcus Rogers led the charge with a team-high seven total tackles, including a sack. Senior strongside linebacker Algie Atkinson added five stops including a pair of sacks as did red-shirt freshman defensive end Travis Watkins, who also had a sack.

“I think they played hard,” KU defensive coordinator Tom Hayes said. “I think the effort level was really good, the tackling was pretty crisp. The offense made a couple more plays and took advantage of some things that we did, but good for the offense. It’s a total team deal.

“We could probably correct a couple of those plays that didn’t look so good, but that’s why you practice. But, overall defensively, I thought they got after it pretty good.”

ScoringPhillip Case 46 field goal.Brian Tracy 44 field goal.Reggie Duncan 1 run (Case kick).Adrian Jones 39 pass from Mario Kinsey (Case kick).RushingReggie Duncan 9-52, Harold McClendon 4-24, Mario Kinsey 6-21, Derek Mills 4-19, Leo Bookman 6-7, Austine Nwabuisi 2-3, Jeff Snyder 1-2, Kyle Cernech 1-1, Daniel Coke 7-(minus 1), Jeff Reinert 1-(minus 5), Kevin Long 2-(minus 9), Zach Dyer 6-(minus 20).PassingMario Kinsey 6-12-106 yards, Zach Dyer 6-11-76 (one intercepted), Kevin Long 1-4-27, Kyle Cernech 1-1-4.ReceivingHarrison Hill 4-69, Termaine Fulton 2-31, Derek Mills 2-21, J.T. Thompson 2-11, Adrian Jones 1-39, Derek Vann 1-27, Mitchell Scott 1-11, Barry Goodyear 1-4.PuntingChris Tyrrell 1-42.0Leading TacklersMarcus Rogers 7, Travis Watkins 5, Algie Atkinson 5, Carl Ivey 3, Brandon Wier 3, Santana Lane 3, Matt Jordan 3, Jake Letourneau 3, Bobby Birhiray 3, Leo Etienne, Brandon Watkins 3, Greg Cole 3, Marquis Hayes 3.SacksAlgie Atkinson 2-15 yards, Marcus Rogers 1-10, Hayes 1-7, Greg Tyree 1-6, Travis Watkins 1-5.
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