Jayhawks Roll Over Southeastern Louisiana, 62-0
LAWRENCE, Kan. – Sophomore quarterback Todd Reesing threw for 257 yards and two scores, while the Kansas defense recorded its first shutout since 2000 as the University of Kansas trounced Southeastern Louisiana, 62-0 in front of 43,914 fans Saturday evening at Memorial Stadium.
The Jayhawks improved to 2-0 on the season, while the Lions fell to 0-2.
Kansas dominated in nearly every phase of the game Saturday, outgaining SLU 474-75 and scoring as many as 62 points for the first time since 2004. KU’s 62-point win tied for the fourth largest margin of victory in team history.
Reesing and senior wide receiver Marcus Henry led the Jayhawk offensive attack. The sophomore signal caller completed 13-of-23 passes for 257 yards and two scores, while Henry became the first Jayhawk since Harrison Hill to record back-to-back 100 yard receiving games, collecting five catches for 119 yards Saturday.
Junior fullback Brandon McAnderson led the Kansas rushing attack with 11 carries for 60 yards and two touchdowns in the first half. As a team, KU gained 209 yards on the ground and 280 through the air.
Senior defensive lineman James McClinton led the Kansas defense with five tackles and a sack as KU held the Lions to just 75 yards of total offense, marking the first time since 1992 that the Jayhawks held an opponent under 100 yards of offense.
The Lions were also held to -31 yards rushing, marking the second-fewest yards allowed on the ground by a Kansas team.
The Jayhawks’ special teams got the squad out to an early lead. After holding Southeastern Louisiana to a three-and-out for a third consecutive possession, KU recorded its first of two safeties when the Lions snapped the ball over punter Cody Samples’ head and through the back of the end zone.
Junior Marcus Herford gave the Jayhawks a 9-0 lead when he brought the ensuing kickoff back for a touchdown. It marked the junior’s first career kickoff return for a touchdown.
Early in the second quarter, McAnderson stretched the lead to 16-0 with a four-yard run up the middle.
Reesing struck again midway through the second quarter, hitting junior Aqib Talib on a post pattern for a 36-yard touchdown strike. Talib’s second career receiving touchdown was set up by Reesing’s 32-yard pass to tight end Derek Fine on the previous play as the Jayhawks marched 93 yards on five plays in one minute, 46 seconds.
After another Southeastern Louisiana punt, McAnderson scored his second touchdown of the night, this time from two yards out as Kansas put points on the board on its third consecutive possession for a 29-0 lead at the half.
KU put the game away with 19 points in the third quarter on another safety, touchdown passes from Reesing and Kerry Meier as well as a Scott Webb field goal.
The Jayhawks will play host to Toledo (0-2) at Memorial Stadium next Saturday at 6 p.m.
