For the second day in a row we got to check out some extended KU football practice action. This time it came in the form of a 100-play scrimmage that featured all four KU QBs taking a handful of drives against the first- second- and third-string defenses.
For the most part, the day went to the offense again, as QB Jake Heaps led back-to-back scoring drives to kick things off and spread the ball around in an efficient manner.
The first TD came on a 49-yard pass to Jimmay Mundine and the second in the form of a 62-yard TD run from James Sims.
Heaps also later added a 27-yard TD pass to Brandon Bourbon on a third-and-three play.
Heaps finished the day 12-for-16 for 182 yards and two touchdowns.
Second-string QB Michael Cummings struggled at times — particularly when he worked with the first team offense against the first team defense late — and finished the day 6-for-13 for 53 yards.
Third-string QB Montell Cozart had a nice showing in his three drives, completing 6 of 9 passes for 100 yards, including a 54-yard touchdown to Andrew Turzili.
As far as rushing goes, James Sims finished with 9 carries for 82 yards, Brandon Bourbon added three carries for 35 yards, Taylor Cox carried 9 times for 51 yards and Darrian Miller chipped in with 10 carries for 17 yards.
In the receiving game, Christian Matthews led the way with 6 catches for 77 yards, Justin McCay added two catches for 17 yards and Charles Brooks added three catches for 29 yards. Fourteen different Jayhawks caught passes during Saturday’s scrimmage.
Defensively, juco transfer Brandon Hollomon had a nice day at cornerback, recording three pass break-ups, two of them on deep balls. Michael Reynolds played the run extremely well, stuffing three different KU ball carriers in the backfield for losses.
Ty McKinney picked up a pair of sacks. Ben Goodman also had three sacks and looked very good off the edge, sometimes even against starting left tackle Aslam Sterling, who had an up-and-down day. Keon Stowers also added a sack. And defensive end Andrew Bolton picked up a sack and an interception (off of a tipped pass by Jordan Darling) on the same drive.
Here’s a quick look back at the 15 drives, which were capped off by a 37-yard field goal from Matthew Wyman that prompted the team to rush the field and celebrate as if it were the game-winner.
Drive 1: Jake Heaps at QB: 4 plays, 70 yards, 49-yard touchdown pass to Jimmay Mundine
Drive 2: Jake Heaps at QB: 3 plays, 70 yards, 62-yard James Sims touchdown run
Drive 3: Jake Heaps at QB: Resulted in 55-yard missed FG try by Trevor Pardula (wide right)
Drive 4: Michael Cummings at QB vs. 1st-team D: Stalled after one first down.
Drive 5: Michael Cummings at QB vs. 1st-team D: Stalled at the other 22-yard line.
Drive 6: Jake Heaps at QB: Resulted in 43-yard missed FG by Matthew Wyman (wide right)
Drive 7: Jake Heaps at QB: 9 plays, 70 yards, 27-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Bourbon.
Drive 8: Montell Cozart at QB: Cozart goes 4-for-5 through the air and leads team to a 28-yard Wyman field goal.
Drives 9-11: Jordan Darling at QB: Darling-led Jayhawks gained one first down and the final drive resulted in an Andrew Bolton interception on a tipped ball.
Drives 12-14: Michael Cummings with the 1st-team offense against the 1st-team defense: Two three-and-outs and a missed field goal by Pardula, short and wide right.
Drive 15: Montell Cozart at QB: Resulted in a 54-yard TD pass to Andrew Turzili, many of those yards came after the catch.
Drive 16: Montell Cozart at QB: Produced one first down and stalled at the 40-yard line.
Drives 17-18: Jordan Darling at QB: Three-and-out on the first two and did not cross midfield on the third.
