One week after holding Tulsa to 374 yards and 13 points, the virtual Kansas University defense reverted to its 2003 form, giving up 570 yards in a 44-26 loss to the virtual University of Toledo.
The game started looking bleak for the Jayhawks early, as the Rockets took a 7-0 lead on their second possession. Lance Moore returned Chris Tyrrell’s punt 41 yards to KU’s 22-yard line and caught a 17-yard pass from Bruce Gradkowski three plays later. Trinity Dawson punched the ball in from two yards out on the next play, giving Toledo the lead.
The Rockets had a chance to add to their lead on their next drive, but Jason Robbins’ 37-yard field goal attempt was short. Gradkowski ripped the KU secondary on the drive, starting 4-of-5 passing for 61 yards before finishing with back-to-back incompletions before Robbins’ kick.
Kansas (1-1) couldn’t take advantage of Robbins’ mistake, punting on the ensuing drive.
Another good punt return by Moore gave Toledo the ball on KU’s side of the field. After two incompletions by Gradkowski, the junior quarterback found Steve Odom in the end zone for a 43-yard pass and a 14-0 lead with six minutes left in the first quarter. Odom outfought KU strong safety Rodney Harris for the ball.
Jason Flowers picked off Jayhawk quarterback Adam Barmann on KU’s next drive, but the Rockets went three-and-out.
Barmann finally picked up his first completions of the game on the next drive, twice connecting with Brandon Rideau for first downs. Clark Green finished the 12-play, 74-yard drive with a two-yard scoring run, bringing KU within a touchdown.
KU forced another Toledo punt, but then Keon Jackson picked off a pass by Barmann as the first quarter expired.
Jackson returned the interception to KU’s 31-yard line, but the Rockets went three-and-out.
Green carried the Jayhawks on his back on the next drive, gaining almost all of KU’s 70 yards. The junior running back scored on another two-yard run, tying the game with 10:31 left in the first half.
Both teams struggled to put together scoring drives during the middle of the period, with Toledo coming closest on Robbins’ 36-yard field goal attempt that was short and wide right.
The Rockets again picked off Barmann on the ensuing drive as Nigel Morris grabbed a swing pass thrown over Green’s head. Toledo drove into the KU red zone, but Banks Floodman intercepted a Gradkowski pass in the end zone.
Two possessions later, KU had a chance to take the lead by Johnny Beck missed a 43-yard field goal kick.
Gradkowski showed his quick-strike ability on Toledo’s next drive, moving the Rockets 74 yards in six plays in less than a minute. A 34-yard scoring pass to Moore, who had beaten Charles Gordon down the left sideline, finished the possession and gave Toledo a 21-14 lead going into halftime.
The second half started with three straight punts before Toledo extended its lead to 28-14 on a 17-yard pass to Moore. The senior standout caught the ball in the front of the end zone in the middle of a mass of Jayhawks.
KU was moving the ball downfield on its next drive, but Flowers forced a Mark Simmons fumble KU’s receiver had caught the ball.
Jackson recovered the ball, and Toledo took a 31-14 lead eight plays later on a 21-yard field goal by Robbins.
Toledo’s junior kicker extended his team’s lead to 20 points, 34-14, three and a half minutes later with a 22-yard field goal.
The Jayhawks scored twice in the fourth quarter – a one-yard run by Green and a 67-yard interception return by Gordon – but missed both extra-point attempts. (Editor’s note: Johnny Beck kicked KU’s extra points because the game does not allow for a different kicker for field goals and extra points).
Green’s touchdown was set up by a sack and forced fumble by Nick Reid.
Those touchdowns were rendered moot later in the period thanks to a 29-yard field goal by Robbins and a Dawson three-yard run.
Green and Dawson shared player-of-the-game honors. Green finished with 180 yards and three touchdowns on 39 carries, and Dawson rushed 38 times for 160 yards and two scores.
Gradkowski also had a big game, completing 27 of 68 passes for 426 yards and three touchdowns. Moore and Odom were his main targets. Moore caught eight passes for 139 yards and two scores, and Odom had six catches for 136 yards and a touchdown.
Barmann struggled mightily, completing just 15 of 57 passes for 241 yards and no touchdowns while being picked off three times. Simmons (five catches, 66 yards) and Rideau (five catches, 102 yards) were KU’s leading receivers.
Notes:
Get the stats: KU-Toledo virtual box score