According to Kansas University football coach Terry Allen the Jayhawks’ setback Saturday against UCLA wasn’t a complete loss.
“We did not quit,” Allen noted following the Bruins’ 41-17 victory at Memorial Stadium. “Those kids played out there and kept playing. When you’re a defensive player in that third quarter, I might have quit. But they didn’t.”
That might be it for the good news, though.
Allen confirmed Sunday that senior wide receiver Harrison Hill did suffer a broken bone in his shoulder and will be out for at least four to eight weeks. Hill was injured the first time he touched the ball Saturday, being slammed to the turf in front of the KU bench following a 15-yard punt return at the 13:41 mark of the first quarter.
Other than Hill, the Jayhawks escaped serious injuries.
“We’ve got some guys banged up,” Allen said, “but they should be able to play Saturday.”
The question is whether the Jayhawks’ offense will be able to play Saturday against Wyoming.
Through two games, Kansas is averaging 287.5 yards 94.0 yards rushing and 193.5 yards passing. In the first quarter against the Bruins, the Jayhawks managed a minuscule 12 yards total offense on 15 plays compared to 94 yards on 22 plays for UCLA.
“We were so inept offensively we put all the pressure on our defense,” Allen said. “We get a great turnover, we get opportunities, we have a chance to possibly go up on them big and we turn the ball back over.
“It’s just very frustrating, very disappointing and very hard to take.”
KU took a 3-0 lead on freshman kicker Johnny Beck’s 52-yard field goal with 10:18 to play in the first quarter. The Jayhawks then regained possession when UCLA quarterback Cory Paus was stripped by KU senior linebacker Algie Atkinson and senior defensive tackle Nate Dwyer pounced on the loose ball.
The Bruins went on to score 27 unanswered points to put the game out of reach.
UCLA senior tailback DeShaun Foster seemingly had his way with the Jayhawks, finishing with 29 carries for 179 yards. The Bruins’ Heisman hopeful had 220 of his squad’s 468 total yards.
“He had a good game, I’ll give him that,” Atkinson said. “He’s a good player. It’s hard to tackle him.”
KU’s ground game continued to be grounded, though, as three running backs combined for 45 yards on 14 carries freshman Austine Nwabuisi had one carry for 24 yards, sophomore Reggie Duncan has 11 for 18 and sophomore Dan Coke had two for six.
Despite the struggles, Allen has vowed to stick to his guns.
“We’re not going to go and abandon the no-huddle or anything like that,” Allen said. “But we have to do some things to give ourselves a chance to move the football. We really have to sit down and make some hard looks at things because what we were doing out there today was not giving us a chance.”
And the winners are: Allen said Sunday that senior wide receiver Roger Ross was tapped the offensive player of the game, junior end Charlie Dennis was honored on defense and Beck was given the nod for special teams.
The scout-team players of the week were freshman quarterback Brian Luke, and freshman defensive back Ben Griffin. Atkinson’s sack and forced fumble was the play of the game, and senior linebacker Marcus Rogers had the hit of game.
Upon further review: KU’s defensive coaches have adjusted the tackling totals after reviewing film from the game. The new numbers are 14 total stops for Rogers, seven apiece for Jamarei Bryant and Ervin Holloman, six each for Charlie Dennis and Marquis Hayes, five for Glenn Robinson, four for Algie Atkinson, three each for Banks Floodman and Brandon Wier, and two apiece for Tony Strickland and David McMillan.
Upcoming: KU is off today before returning to practice Tuesday.
