Kansas Leads Kansas State, 31-0, at Halftime

Nov. 1, 2008

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Behind what is already a career high 152 rushing yards on 15 carries and three touchdowns by junior running back Jake Sharp, Kansas leads Kansas State, 31-0, at halftime on a sunny Saturday at Kivisto Field at Memorial Stadium.

Sharp surpasses his previous game career high of 127 rushing yards set against Toledo during the 2007 season.

In addition to Sharp’s performance, the Kansas defense was solid forcing four K-State turnovers. Kansas amassed 314 yards total offense to K-State’s 126.

Kansas took the opening drive 81 yards in 11 plays to take an early lead on a four-yard rush by Sharp up the middle. It marked the first opening drive touchdown of the season for the Jayhawks in 2008. KU junior quarterback Todd Reesing was 4-for-6 on the drive for 45 yards as KU converted all three of its third down tries. Reesing ended the half 11-for-15 in the air for 116 yards and rushed for 40 yards on five carries with one touchdown.

Up 7-0, Kansas senior defensive end Russell Brorsen intercepted a Josh Freeman pass and returned it 13 yards to the KU 48 yards line. Sharp then capped the four-play drive with a 20-yard touchdown run to make the score 14-0 with 6:03 left in the first quarter.

Following a Kansas State punt, KU made the score 21-0 on Sharp’s third touchdown of the game on a 47-yard jaunt to cap a three-play 56-yard drive. Sharp rushed for 118 yards on nine carries with three touchdowns in the opening quarter.

Kansas made the score 24-0 on a 33-yard field goal by freshman Jacob Branstetter early in the second quarter. The field goal capped a nine-play drive that covered 41 yards.

K-State then mounted an 11-play, 60-yard and was on the verge of scoring before Freeman fumbled at the one-yard line. KU senior Mike Rivera recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchback. On the next drive, KU went 80 yards in 10 plays with Reesing going the final 15-yards on an option to make the score 31-0 with 1:24 left in the half.