Kansas falls to Wildcats in Dillons Sunflower Showdown, 21-17
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Costly miscues late in the game plagued Kansas in the Dillons Sunflower Showdown, as Kansas State topped the Jayhawks, 21-17, on Saturday afternoon at Bill Snyder Family Stadium.
Kansas’ defense took control of the 116th meeting with in-state rival Kansas State early, forcing the Wildcats to punt the ball away three times in the opening 15 minutes. The Jayhawk shut out K-State in the first half, marking the second time this season that KU’s defense has kept its opponents from scoring and giving Kansas the edge in the first half.
Senior kicker Gabriel Rui gave Kansas the lead in the second quarter with a 21-yard field goal. The scoring drive marked the longest drive in yardage (94) and time of possession (9:40) this season for the Jayhawks, which gave KU a 3-0 advantage at the half.
Coming out of the break, Kansas State stole the momentum scoring on its first drive of the second half. The Wildcats went on to outscore KU, 21-14, in the latter half, but it was turnovers and penalties late in the fourth quarter that prevented the Jayhawks from getting back into the end zone.
NOTABLES // Complete Postgame Notes
- Senior wide receiver Steven Sims Jr. finished the day with 113 receiving yards, recording his eighth career 100-yard receiving game and first of the 2018 season.
- Senior quarterback Peyton Bender threw for 232 yards and two touchdowns at K-State, surpassing Jordan Webb in career passing yards with 3,177 and Dylan Smith in career passing touchdowns with 22.
- Kansas kept Kansas State from scoring the entire first half, marking the second time this season to hold an opponent scoreless in the first half.
- Sophomore punter Kyle Thompson has pinned opponents inside the 20-yard line on 17 of his 47 punts this season. He had one punts land inside the 20-yard line at Kansas State.
KEY PLAYS
- Senior kicker Gabriel Rui put Kansas on the scoreboard in the second quarter after his 21-yard field goal attempt split the uprights.
- Senior quarterback Peyton Bender connected with senior wide receiver Jeremiah Booker for a nine-yard touchdown reception.
- Bender threw his second touchdown pass of the game in the fourth quarter, as senior wide receiver Steven Sims Jr. caught a 65-yard reception.
UP NEXT
Kansas will travel to Oklahoma on Saturday, Nov. 17. Game time and television designation is to be determined.
FOLLOW
@KUFootball
KUAthletics.com: The official online source for Kansas Athletics, Williams Education Fund contributions, tickets, merchandise, multimedia, photos and much, much more.
