Ames, Iowa ? Three quarterbacks weren’t enough for Kansas University’s football team Saturday.
The Jayhawks used both Brian Luke and Jason Swanson after starter Adam Barmann left with an apparent right shoulder injury, but neither could get much going in a 13-7 loss to the Iowa State Cyclones at Jack Trice Stadium.
Barmann left midway through the second quarter a play after coming up from a four-yard run with his arm hanging limp at his side.
Luke replaced Barmann and completed his first pass for two yards to Mark Simmons. On his next two plays, however, Luke fumbled. The first went out of bounds for an 11-yard loss, and the second was returned 30 yards by Brent Curvey for a 10-0 ISU lead.
The play was eeriely reminiscent of a Swanson fumble that was returned for a touchdown last week against Oklahoma, and it was Curvey’s second fumble return for a touchdown in two games.
The Cyclones had scored earlier on a 22-yard field goal by Bret Culbertson.
Luke finished out the second quarter and was 2-of-4 passing for five yards on his four drives behind center.
After Kansas received the second-half kickoff, Swanson came out to lead the offense. The Jayhawks couldn’t get any momentum, though, punting on its three of its first five drives. The other two possessions ended with a failed fourth-down-conversion attempt and an interception by Nick Moser on a halfback pass by Clark Green.
Iowa State extended its lead to 13-0 with a 34-yard field goal by Culbertson with 2:27 left in the third quarter. The scoring drive was extended when KU cornerback Ronnie Amadi was flagged for pass interference on what appeared to be a defensive stop on fourth down by the Jayhawks.
Kansas forced a three-and-out after Moser’s interception, and Swanson finally led the Jayhawks into the end zone on the ensuing drive. Big passes to Lyonel Anderson and Brandon Rideau moved KU downfield, and Swanson hit Simmons for a 20-yard scoring pass with 3:04 left in the game. Scott Webb’s extra-point kick brought KU within six points.
The Jayhawks forced a punt five plays into the Cyclones’ next drive, but David McMillan was flagged for an illegal block, pushing KU back to it’s own 19-yard line. Swanson was picked off by Ellis Hobbs two plays later, giving Iowa State the ball and the opportunity to run out the clock.
Swanson finished 7-of-14 passing for 70 yards, and Barmann was 5-of-12 passing for 55 yards. Both threw an interception. Swanson also rushed for a career-high 45 yards, and Barmann had 24 yards on the ground.
Green carried 11 times for 37 yards for KU. Simmons led the Jayhawks with six catches and 61 receiving yards, and Charles Gordon had three catches for 18 yards. Gordon also picked off a pass in the first quarter.
Stevie Hicks had 110 yards on 30 carries for Iowa State, and Jason Scales had 20 yards on 12 rushes.
Bret Meyer was 9-of-19 passing for 51 yards and rushed eight times for 12 yards.
James Wright caught three passes for 19 yards, and Jon Davis had 16 receiving yards on three catches.
Notes:
¢ Charles Gordon played numerous downs on offense, but left in the third quarter with an apparent leg injury.
All stats are unofficial.
