KU Kicks Off Season With 30-19 Win Over FAU
Sept. 3, 2005
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LAWRENCE, Kan. – Behind its much-heralded defense and 107 yards by senior running back Clark Green, the University of Kansas football team defeated Florida Atlantic, 30-19, in its 2005 season opener in front of 40,930 at Memorial Stadium on Saturday night.
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The Jayhawks’ defense made their presence felt quickly, as senior linebacker Brandon Perkins pressured Florida Atlantic quarterback Danny Embick into an intentional grounding penalty in the end zone that resulted in an Owls’ safety and gave the Jayhawks a 2-0 lead at 10:20 of the first quarter.
Following an FAU punt, junior quarterback Adam Barmann marched the Kansas offense down the field on a 12-play, 71-yard drive that culminated in a six-yard rushing touchdown by Barmann to give the Jayhawks a 9-0 lead with 19 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
Florida Atlantic responded quickly, needing only nine seconds to get on the scoreboard. Embick connected on a deep strike with Owls’ wide receiver Thomas Parker for a 66-yard touchdown pass with ten seconds left in the first quarter to bring the score to 9-7.
On the opening drive of the second half, senior Brian Luke – who replaced Barmann at quarterback in the first half – led KU on an eight-play, 44-yard drive that resulted in a 43-yard field goal by Scott Webb to put the Jayhawks ahead 12-3. The kick set a new career-long for Webb.
After a series of punts by both teams, the Kansas defense stifled a FAU drive by forcing an Embick fumble at the Jayhawks’ 14-yard line that was recovered by senior cornerback Ronnie Amadi. The fumble recovery was Amadi’s first of his career.
Unfortunately, the resulting drive stalled and Kansas was forced to punt. On the next Owls’ play from scrimmage, Embrick found sophomore running back Dilvory Edgecomb streaking down the sideline for a 66-yard touchdown to put the Owls ahead 13-12 at 3:02 of the third quarter. KU stopped the Owls’ two-point conversion attempt.
Finding themselves behind for the first time in the game, the Jayhawks marched quickly back down the field on a five-play, 62-yard drive that was capped off by a 17-yard touchdown strike from Luke to sophomore wide receiver Jeff Foster. The reception was Foster’s first career catch and touchdown and put the Jayhawks ahead 19-13 with 32 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
In the fourth quarter, the Jayhawks forced the Owls to punt on their first possession and capitalized on the momentum by pounding the ball down to the Owls’ 15-yard line, allowing Scott Webb to kick a 32-yard field goal to put the Jayhawks ahead 22-13 at 10:24 of the fourth quarter.
The Jayhawks put the game away at 7:07 of the fourth quarter when junior running back Jon Cornish battered his way to the end zone for a 29-yard touchdown, capping off a four-play, 48-yard drive. The two-point conversion was successful, as Luke found senior wide receiver Mark Simmons to put the Jayhawks ahead 30-13. The Owls managed to add another tally on the final play of the game to close the score to 30-19, but failed on their two-point conversion attempt.
