Kansas University’s offense sputtered much of the game, but the Jayhawks put together scoring drives in the fourth quarter and pulled out a 28-21 victory over Baylor on homecoming Saturday at Memorial Stadium.
“It’s a win, and we’re going to take it because they’re hard to come by,” KU head coach Mark Mangino said. “A year ago, we wouldn’t have won today.”
The Jayhawks (5-2 overall, 2-1 Big 12) were tied, 14-14, with the Bears (3-4, 1-2) after three quarters, but scored twice in the final period. KU’s touchdowns came on a 40-yard pass from Bill Whittemore to Mark Simmons and a 12-yard run by John Randle.
Whittemore’s touchdown to Simmons was his 15th of the season, tying him for first on KU’s single-season list. He finished the game 19-of-30 passing for 252 yards and two touchdowns, and rushed 17 times for 34 yards.
As KU’s offense was putting together 114 yards in the fourth quarter, the Jayhawks’ defense stepped up also, holding Baylor to just 97 yards.
“Our defense, overall, I’m very pleased with,” Mangino said. “I’m very pleased with the way that we forced the passer to step up in the pocket.”
Despite having just 270 yards through three quarters, the Jayhawks started the game strong. Clark Green ran for a 17-yard touchdown on the game’s opening drive, finishing a nine-play, 61-yard drive highlighted by two 13-yard scampers by quarterback Bill Whittemore, and a tipped 14-yard pass from Whittemore to Mark Simmons on third-and-six.
Baylor tied the game on KU’s next possession when Michael Boyd blocked Curtis Ansel’s punt. The punt came after Kevin Kane’s snap skimmed the ground, and James Todd recovered in the end zone.
  Hear Mark: Baylor postgame comments 6Sports video: Jayhawks win homecoming game with late touchdown See the photos: KU v. Baylor Get the stats: KU-Baylor box score |
After trading possessions twice, KU appeared to quickly move into Baylor territory with a 54-yard pass from Whittemore to Charles Gordon on second down, but KU was flagged for holding and Ansel punted two plays later.
The Bears took a lead on the next drive on a 23-yard screen pass from Aaron Karas to Rashad Armstrong, who ran down the left sideline nearly untouched for the score.
Whittemore took over on the ensuing drive, completing 4 of 5 passes for 87 yards, including an 18-yard scoring pass to a wide open Gordon in the end zone.
After a scoreless third quarter, KU took the lead on its first possession of the final period. Whittemore made two third downs, including the touchdown pass to Simmons.
After KU’s defense stopped Baylor dead in its tracks, thanks to a sack by Tim Allen on third-and-10, KU took a 28-14 lead on Randle’s 12-yard run.
Baylor drew within a touchdown on its next drive on a 15-yard pass from Karas to Marques Roberts and forced the Jayhawks to punt on their next possession, but Banks Floodman picked off a pass from Karas, ending Baylor’s chances. The interception was the first of Floodman’s career.
“Clutch players make those kind of plays when the game is on the line, and he did,” Mangino said of Floodman’s interception.
Randle, playing much of the second half, finished with 55 yards on seven carries. Green rushed 11 times for 41 yards and caught four passes for 30 yards.
Simmons caught six passes for 89 yards, and Gordon had 52 yards on four catches.
Armstrong finished with 14 carries for 80 yards for the Bears, and Karas finished 15-of-24 passing for 175 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.
