Powered by big plays, Missouri pummelled Kansas, 36-12, in Big 12 football action Saturday afternoon at Faurot Field in Columbia, Mo. Then Missouri’s fan took over and pulled down the goal posts in celebration.
But there was no celebrating on KU’s side of the field, as the Jayhawks went into the locker room wondering what’s going to happen next week as KU meets Kansas State at home possibly without starting Quarterback Bill Whittemore at the helm.
Whittemore went out with a knee injury with about three minutes left in the third quarter, following a strong showing. He rolled up 242 yards in passing on 19 of 37 attempts.
“He may have a serious injury,” KU head coach Mark Mangino said after the game.
With just under 7 minutes left in the third quarter with KU trailing 21-6, Whittemore had hit Byron Gasaway for a 21-yard pass touchdown, capping a 74-yard, seven-play drive, making it 21-12. KU went for two, but that failed on an incomplete pass.
Missouri, which led throughout the game, stretched its lead in the second half on two big plays. One was a 15-yard pass play from quarterback Brad Smith to wide receiver Darius Outlaw. The extra point was good. That followed another huge Missouri play a 75-yard run by Smith. The Tigers missed that extra point.
Missouri’s defensive tackle Keith Wright brought down KU Quarterback Jonas Weatherbie for a saftey with under 6 minutes to play, putting two more points on the board for the Tigers.
Earlier in the third quater, Missouri’s tailback T.J. Leon plunged in for a touchdown on a five-yard carry. The extra point was good.
The key in the first half was KU’s frustration with its kicking game, missing two field goals and a point after attempt. Halftime stats showed the KU has rolled up 270 yards of offense to just 158 for the Tigers.
In the first half, Whittemore had completed 17 of 33 passes for 197 yards. Missouri’s Smith had nine passes and four completions, for 81 yards.
Missouri’s Leon scored on a seven-yard run with 1:55 left in the first half, capping a 10-play, 73-yard drive. The extra point was good.
The Jayhawks scored with 10:01 left in the first half on a 14-yard pass from Whittemore to wide receiver Mark Simmons, following an 80-yard, 11-play drive. The point-after failed after a bad snap to KU kicker Johnny Beck.
The Tigers got on the scoreboard first on a 62-yard pass reception by Justin Gage, which capped a four-play, 77-yard drive.
KU threatened earlier during the first quarter, going 68 yards on 15 plays to the MU 25. Beck tried a 40-yard kick, which fell way short after a bad snap.
Beck also tried a 43-yard field goal, with 5:09 left in the second quarter, but it was blocked.
