September 02, 2006

Kansas/Northwestern State Game Notes

Sept. 2, 2006

<?xml:namespace prefix=”st1″ ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags”?>Kansas 49, Northwestern State 18<?xml:namespace prefix=”o” ns=”urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office”?>

Sept. 2, 2006 * Memorial Stadium * Lawrence, Kan.

Postgame Notes

Kansas‘ win over NorthwesternState

…Makes Kansas 1-0 all-time against NorthwesternState.

…Gives Kansas its third-straight win in season openers.

…Marks KU’s third-straight win in home openers.

…Is Kansas’ seventh-straight win in Memorial Stadium, dating back to the 2004 season.

…Improves Kansas’ record to 12-5 in non-conference games since 2002.

…Marks KU’s fifth-straight win against non-conference foes.

…Gives KU head coach Mark Mangino his 20^th career win and makes him 20-29 overall.

…Makes Kansas 537-531-58 all time.

Notes

–Tonight’s attendance of 44,025 is the largest for a Kansas home opener since 1994 – 48,100 vs. MichiganState in a 17-10 KU win.

–Tonight marked the third-straight season-opening win for Kansas. The last time Kansas won three straight season openers was 1995, 1996 and 1997. KU is 60-50-7 all time in season openers.

–KU’s 49 points were the most in a season opener since the Jayhawks scored 49 at OregonState on Sept. 5, 1992.

–Kansas’ 28 points in the first half tonight were the most for a half since scoring 28 in the second half against Houston in the Fort Worth Bowl last December.

–Tonight marked the first time Kansas has scored two special team touchdowns since Nov. 4, 1997 against IowaState – blocked two punts for TDs.

–Kansas won by 31 points tonight. The last time KU won an opener by more points in an opener was a 49-7 victory at OregonState on Sept. 5, 1992.

–Nine KU players made their first career starts tonight – sophomore Dexton Fields (WR), freshman Kerry Meier (QB), senior Jon Cornish (RB), senior Wayne Wilder (DT), sophomore Joe Mortensen (LB), sophomore Mike Rivera (LB), senior Eric Washington (LB), junior Blake Bueltel Jr. (CB), junior Sadiq Muhammed, Jr. (FS).

–Sophomore Marcus Herford’s first career kickoff return went for 88 yards and was the 10^th longest in KU history.

–In the first quarter, freshman Kerry Meier threw his first career TD pass to junior Marcus Henry, who caught his first career TD as a Jayhawk.

–Senior Brian Murph’s first two punt returns of his career for KU went for touchdowns. Murph returned a 70 yarder tonight in the first quarter and returned an 85 yarder in his only return against Houston in the Fort Worth Bowl.

–For the second-straight game, Murph scored a TD both on a punt return and receiving. He did the same against Houston in the 2005 Fort Worth Bowl.

–Senior Jon Cornish’s 69-yard touchdown run was the second longest of his career. He had a 72-yard TD run against Nebraska last season.

–Cornish’s 140 yards rushing were a career high and marked the fifth 100-yard rushing game of his career.

–Cornish also set a career-high with 156 all-purpose yards tonight.

–In the second quarter, sophomore Dexton Fields recorded the first blocked punt of his career. Junior Jeff Foster recovered the blocked punt for a touchdown. It was Foster’s second career TD.

–Sophomore LB Mike Rivera recorded 11 total tackles to mark his first career double digit tackling performance.

–Sophomore LB Joe Mortensen recorded a career-high six tackles, including four TFLs for nine yards. He also registered his first career sack.

–Senior DE Rodney Allen recorded a career-high two sacks for 16 yards, giving him three for his KU career.

–Junior safety Sadiq Muhammed recorded his first career interception in the second quarter.

–Senior Eric Washington recovered his first career fumble.

–Senior Adam Barmann moved into a tie for 10^th place on the KU career pass attempts list, currently at 379. He is tied with Bobby Douglass (1966-68).