Scott McClurg/Journal-World PhotoTrailing UNLV 17-16 at halftime, no thanks to two turnovers deep in Rebel territory, the KU football team stormed back with 202 yards, 12 first downs and 23 points in the third quarter before cruising to a 46-24 victory Saturday in Memorial Stadium.
“It’s a win, we’re excited about that,” KU coach Mark Mangino said. “We needed a win. The kids needed a win.”
The Jayhawks (1-1) trailed by just a point at intermission despite twice turning the ball over inside UNLV’s 20-yard line. KU kicker Johnny Beck hit three field goals in the first half, and Bill Whittmore hit Denver Latimore with a 1-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter.
Beck’s third field goal came with just 15 second left in the first half, and started a streak of 33 unanswered points by the Jayhawks.
Greg Heaggans returned the second-half kickoff 48-yards to KU’s 48-yard line, and tailback Clark Green then gave the Jayhawks a first down with a 23-yard carry to UNLV’s 29-yard line. Beck ended the drive — which was kept alive by a pass interference call on UNLV — with his fourth field goal of the game, a 29-yarder that gave the Jayhawks their first lead since a 7-3 advantage midway through the first quarter.
Scott McClurg/Journal-World PhotoAfter UNLV quarterback Kurt Nantkes threw an interception deep in KU territory on the Rebels’ next drive, Green rushed for 19 yards on first down, and Whittemore rushed for 12 yards on the next play. Seven plays later, Whittemore passed to Brandon Rideau on the right sideline, and Rideau broke two tackles on his way into the end zone, giving KU a nine-point lead.
“That’s what good football teams are supposed to do,” Mangino said of the long drive. “Good football teams make drives when you have to and they also stop teams when you have to.”
The KU defense forced a three-and-out, and Whittemore ended the next drive with a 39-yard strike to Mark Simmons in the end zone. KU attempted a two-point conversion, but failed.
On third down on the ensuing drive, KU linebacker Gabe Toomey intercepted a pass by Nantkes and returned it 29 yards for a touchdown and a 22-point lead.
With Green on the sideline, John Randle and Harold McClendon tag-teamed the Rebels defense on KU’s next drive, highlighted by Randle’s 31-yard run to the UNLV 11-yard line. Whittemore rushed for seven yards on first down, and Randle gained three yards on second down. Green gained no yards in his first play back, and Whittemore scored on up-the-middle run two plays later.
UNLV (1-1) had two touchdown runs by Larry Croom and a 21-yard field goal by Dillon Pieffer in the first half. Dyante Perkins added a two-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter.
Whittemore finished 22-of-31 passing for 270 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. He also rushed 15 times for 65 yards and a touchdown. His passing yards and passing touchdowns were career highs.
Green rushed 19 times for 117 yards, and Randle ran nine times for 77 yards. Rideau caught six passes for 61 yards, Charles Gordon caught four passes for 59 yards and Simmons had three receptions for 58 yards.
Along with Heaggans big return in the second half and Beck’s four field goals, KU excelled on special teams. Gordon returned his first punt 82 yards, setting up a touchdown, and had 106 yards on four returns, and Heaggans finished with 105 yards on three returns.
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“Let’s face it, our offense played very well tonight … but special teams put them in the position to make those plays,” Mangino said.
Croom finished with 128 yards on 15 carries for UNLV, 126 of those yards in the first half.
The Jayhawks finished with 546 yards of total offense, 276 on the ground, and had the ball nearly 11 minutes longer than the Rebels. KU also had 12 more first downs than UNLV, two fewer penalties and 33 fewer penalty yards.
