Lubbock, Texas — A midseason change at offensive coordinator did little to spark the Kansas football team in its first game since head coach David Beaty fired Doug Meacham and named himself O.C. and quarterbacks coach.
The Jayhawks’ offense only produced one field goal by halftime, setting up a 21-point intermission deficit on the way to a 48-16 road loss.
Senior quarterback Peyton Bender, in particular, struggled, misfiring on six of his first seven passes. In his fifth start of the season, Bender completed 18 of 41 throws for 221 yards, with two touchdowns (one in the final seconds) and one interception.
Running back Pooka Williams helped KU’s rushing attack improve the overall offensive numbers somewhat when he could. The freshman ran for 70 yards on 16 carries, as the Jayhawks finished with 87 rushing yards, getting them to 308 yards of total offense.
Of course, those numbers didn’t exactly hold up against the Red Raiders’ 553 yards, led by a 408-yard passing day by freshman quarterback Alan Bowman, who returned to the lineup after missing time with a partially collapsed lung to throw three touchdowns.
Although Hasan Defense, with the help of a Corione Harris strip, recovered a fumble and intercepted a pass for KU’s defense in the first half and Joe Dineen recovered a fourth-quarter fumble, Tech’s offense mostly avoided costly miscues and scored on four of its first seven possessions in an easy home win.
Junior KU safety Mike Lee returned from an injury and made nine solo tackles and forced a fumble before a review late in the second quarter led to a targeting ruling and his ejection.
KU (2-5 overall, 0-4 Big 12) dropped its fourth game in a row. Texas Tech (5-2, 3-1) defeated Kansas for the 12th time in a row.
— Check back for much more on the game at KUsports.com.
FIRST QUARTER
10:32 — Clayton Hatfield 48 field goal. Fourteen-play drive for 45 yards, in 4:28. (Tech 3, KU 0.)
2:31 — Gabriel Rui 20 field goal. Four-play drive for minus-1 yards, in 1:28. (Tech 3, KU 3.)
SECOND QUARTER
14:52 — Tre King 18 run. Hatfield kick. Eight-play drive for 75 yards, in 2:39. (Tech 10, KU 3.)
4:26 — T.J. Vasher 13 pass from Alan Bowman. Hatfield kick. Ten-play drive for 80 yards, in 4:15. (Tech 17, KU 3.)
1:29 — Ta’Zhawn Henry 4 run. Hatfield kick. Four-play drive for 56 yards, in 0:57. (Tech 24, KU 3.)
THIRD QUARTER
8:47 — Hatfield 47 field goal. Twelve-play drive for 42 yards, in 4:47. (Tech 27, KU 3.)
0:00 — Steven Sims Jr. 30 pass from Peyton Bender. Bender pass failed. Twelve-play drive for 80 yards, in 5:20. (Tech 27, KU 9.)
FOURTH QUARTER
13:29 — Antoine Wesley 6 pass from Bowman. Hatfield kick. Four-play drive for 54 yards, in 1:31. (Tech 34, KU 9.)
9:38 — Seth Collins 11 pass from Bowman. Hatfield kick. Six-play drive for 80 yards, in 2:05. (Tech 41, KU 9.)
3:52 — Demarcus Felton 34 run. Hatfield kick. Six-play drive for 67 yards, in 2:44. (Tech 48, KU 9.)
0:11 — Stephon Robinson 18 pass from Bender. Rui kick. Seven-play drive for 88 yards, in 3:41. (Tech 48, KU 16.)
