Reesing rushes to a career best
Sept. 5, 2009
LAWRENCE, Kan. –
Kansas football home opener, against Northern Colorado, proved another career night for senior quarterback Todd Reesing.
Reesing used his rushing skills to score two touchdowns in the first half to help the 25th-ranked Jayhawks take the lead early in the game.
“Yah, I did a little bit of running around,” the Austin, Texas, native said. “It was fun though. I was out there making plays. I did what I had to do to get the ball down the field.”
As a Jayhawk, Reesing has never scored two rushing touchdowns in one game. His new total for rushing touchdowns is 11.
Reesing started the game off with a bang, by scoring in the first possession. He engineered a 10-play drive culminating with his first score on a six-yard rush.
The second TD came at the beginning of the second quarter. He scored on a 13-yard run, answering the rock chalk chant with a touchdown.
“Northern Colorado came in here and I think they were determined not to let us put up big yards in the passing game,” head coach Mark Mangino said. “We can run ball. If you’re going to do that then we’ll run the football and we’ll do it with our tailback and our quarterback. I am pleased with the running game. They did what they had to do with the circumstances.”
Reesing also did it in front of a record breaking crowd at Kivisto Field at Memorial Stadium. A total of 52,530 fans were in attendance, breaking the Kansas single-game record.
“Our kids play hard all the time and they play with great enthusiasm,” Mangino said. “I think Kansas fans have noticed that.”
Don’t think Reesing rushing ended with his touchdowns. He rushed a total of 79 yards to help the Jayhawks to the win.
However, he did have a lot of help from his teammates.
“The receivers blocked really well and the offensive line did a great job on the run game,” Reesing said. “Anytime you can get 300 yards on the ground when you are considered a pass first offense is a pretty good day in the running game.”
Reesing also did his job throwing the ball. He threw a total of 208 passing yards that included two touchdown passes.
In the end Kansas defeated Northern Colorado 49-3 to give Reesing a 21-6 record as the KU starter.
– by Katie Cook, Media Relations Student Assistant
