Football Falls 42-17 in Regular Season Finale at Missouri

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Senior running back Jon Cornish racked up 126 rushing yards to become KU’s all-time single season rushing leader, but it wasn’t enough as the University of Kansas football team fell to Missouri 42-17. KU finished the regular season 6-6 overall and 3-5 in the Big 12, while Missouri moved to 8-4 overall and 4-4 in the league.

Cornish, a native of New Westminster, British Columbia, carried the ball 15 times and averaged 8.4 yards per carry, including a 42-yard touchdown run late in the first quarter.

MU jumped to a 13-0 lead early in the game, thanks to a pair of field goals from placekicker Jeff Wolfert and a 74-yard touchdown pass from Chase Daniel to Jared Perry. Cornish cut the Tiger lead to 13-7 when he scored on an option play around the left end with one minute remaining in the first quarter.

After trailing 20-7 at halftime, the Jayhawks cut the lead to three points thanks to a 37-yard Scott Webb field goal and a 42-yard TD reception from freshman quarterback to sophomore Aqib Talib.

However, that was a close as the Jayhawks could get as an effective Missouri offense rattled off four straight touchdowns to seal the win.

Sophomore linebackers Joe Mortensen and Mike Rivera led the defensive effort with 12 and 10 tackles, respectively. Talib, who entered the game as the nation’s leader in passes defended, finished the contest with four pass breakups.

On special teams, KU kick returner Marcus Herford had 158 return yards on six returns to move his school-record single season total to 757 yards.