'Horns Roll 'Hawks, 51-20

AUSTIN, Texas – Despite 245 all-purpose yards from junior Dezmon Briscoe, the Kansas football team could not keep up with the high-powered Texas offense as the No. 3 Longhorns defeated the Jayhawks 51-20 here Saturday evening.

Kansas drops to 5-6 on the season, including 1-6 in Big 12 play. Texas improved to 11-0 on the season and 7-0 in conference play. The Longhorns’ win secures them for the Big 12 South title. UT will face Nebraska for the Big 12 Championship game on Dec. 6 in Arlington, Texas.
 
A sellout crowd of 101,357 at Texas Memorial Stadium witnessed Kansas having early chances but coming up short on the points. The Jayhawks drove inside the Longhorns’ 10-yard line twice in the second quarter yet only came away with two Jacob Branstetter field goals. The Jayhawks had four drives in the first half advance into UT territory. On the flip side, Texas scored 27 points in the first two periods.
 
For the game, Texas rolled up 532 yards total offense, while Kansas had 303 yards.
 
In the first quarter Kansas senior Jeff Wheeler forced a fumble of UT quarterback Colt McCoy, which KU senior Justin Thornton recovered. The Jayhawks then drove down to the Texas nine-yard line highlighted by a Todd Reesing to Dezmon Briscoe 33-yard pass play. Branstetter nailed a 27-yard field goal to make the score 7-3 early in the second quarter.
 
Playing in his hometown of Austin, Texas, Reesing ended the game 25 for 39 for 256 yards. Briscoe had five catches for 101 yards, while senior Kerry Meier had a team-high nine receptions 46 yards. Briscoe returned three kickoffs 144 yards, including a 98-yarder for a touchdown in the third quarter to make the score 44-20.
 
With the score at 14-3, KU senior Darrell Stuckey returned a UT kickoff 36 yards and Kansas drove down to the Texas eight-yard line before Branstetter made a 26-yard field goal to make the score 14-6 in favor of Texas.
 
UT would add a touchdown and two field goals, while Kansas could not move the ball as the Longhorns took a 27-6 lead into intermission.
 
Kansas scored on its first possession of the second half going 88 yards in seven plays highlighted by a 39-yard Reesing-to-Briscoe connection. Senior Jake Sharp scored his fourth touchdown of the season on a two-yard run to make the score 27-13.
 
Texas answered on a two-play scoring drive that ignited a 17-0 run to put the game out of reach.
 
With the score 44-13, Briscoe returned a Texas kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown. The play was fifth longest in KU history and the first kickoff return for a score since the 2007 season.
 
McCoy led the Longhorns’ offensive charge by completing 32 passes on 41 attempts for 396 yards and four touchdowns. UT wide receiver James Kirkendoll had eight catches for 86 yards and two touchdowns, while senior Jordan Shipley had 10 receptions for 108 yards and one score.
 
Both of Wheeler’s tackles for the game were for loss, including his forced fumble. KU defensive back Chris Harris had a team-high 10 tackles, marking his second straight and third game this season with double-figure stops.
 
Kansas will next play Border Showdown foe Missouri on Nov. 28 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. The game will kick off at 2:30 p.m. and be televised on ABC.