When Greg Heaggans bobbled the opening kickoff on his own goal line, it looked like an inauspicious beginning was about to befall Kansas’ home opener. One hundred yards later, and Mark Mangino had his first lead as the Jayhawks’ head coach. By the third quarter, Heaggans had amassed a whopping 195 yards on kickoff returns, smashing the previous record set by Jayhawk legend John Hadl against Syracuse in 1959. By the end of the game, Mangino and the Jayhawks chalked up their first win of the season.
Mangino would only enjoy that first lead for four minutes as Southwest Missouri State intercepted an errant Bill Whittemore pass – four plays later and the game was tied at 7. That is how the first quarter would end, as both teams traded fruitless possessions.
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Under an overcast but dry sky, the Jayhawks and Bears traded mistakes and touchdown drives. Needing nearly two quarters to get their offense going, Kansas started with a quick six-play drive marching 53 yards in just over a minute.
SMS answered with a clock-chewing 80-yarder to tie the score at 14. This drive lasted more than 11 plays, taking more than five minutes off the clock. KU struck right back with an 80-yard drive of its own to take back the lead for the rest of the half.
The Jayhawks’ defense repeated one memorable play from last year’s SMS game: a fumble recovery for a touchdown. This year, Glen Robinson sacked Bear quarterback Ryan Porter, who dropped the ball on the Bears’ one-yard line. Leo Etienne scooped it up on his way across the goal line for six points.
Turnovers were a problem last year and this year for both teams. A KU fumble and interception resulted in 10 quick SMS third-quarter points and let the visitors back in the contest.
Just after that, another big Heaggans return set up Clark Green’s first collegiate touchdown to put KU up by 10. So if not for the kick-return heroics of Greg Haeggans, Kansas would be in danger of losing this game. KU’s last touchdown was also set up by a big return – this time off a punt.
As a team, Kansas still made simple mistakes, but fewer than they made in previous games. They are improving on every possession, it seems. Except for the opening kickoff, Kansas mounted no scoring drives until the last two of the half. By the fourth quarter, KU’s ball control had improved significantly – for the most part. The simple mistakes must stop if KU wants to win any games against Division 1-A foes this year.
Before the game, a giant flag in the shape of the continental United States was unflurled on the field during the National Anthem. The ceremony was in remembrance of the events of Sept. 11, 2001.
Watch the replay at 11 p.m. Saturday on Sunflower Datavision’s cable Channel 6.
For full coverage of Saturday night’s game, read Sunday’s Lawrence Journal-World, and see stats, photogalleries, audio interviews of the coach and more on KUSports.com.
Box score:
Hear the coach:
See the KU Band march down The Hill