College Station, Texas ? Kansas University quarterback Todd Reesing was sacked for a six-yard loss on the game’s first play from scrimmage. Two different Texas A&M defenders sacked him on the second play of the game, this time for an 11-yard loss.
At that point, it was difficult not to believe that, for the first time this season, the Jayhawks were facing a team that would win the battle of the trenches.
In the end, just the opposite was true.
It wasn’t necessary to read a Dennis Franchione insiders newsletter to determine where to trace Kansas’ 19-11 Saturday night victory against Texas A&M at Kyle Field.
“They won the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball,” Franchione said after his team’s record dropped to 6-3 overall and 3-2 in the Big 12. “That really was the deciding factor of the game.”
The Aggies came into the game with the fifth-ranked rushing offense in the nation, averaging 260.1 yards per game. The Kansas defense limited the Aggies to 74 yards rushing on 27 carries, an average of 2.7 yards per attempt.
“I never would have thought we would have rushed less than 100 yards,” Franchione said. “You have to give credit to their defense. They defended us really well. They got off blocks and made plays, and we didn’t. You have to give Kansas their due. That’s as well as we have been defended all year.”
Aggies junior quarterback Stephen McGee rushed for 167 yards the previous week in a victory in Lincoln, Neb. Against Kansas, McGee gained net 11 yards.
“They aren’t the most athletic defense, but they are by far the best defense we’ve faced,” McGee said.
The dominance, as Franchione said, occurred up front on both sides of the ball.
Kansas gained 227 yards on the ground. Senior fullback Brandon McAnderson alone rushed for 183 yards and two touchdowns.
“Our O-line played excellent,” McAnderson was quick to say afterward.