Kansas cornerback Jacobee Bryant (2) is chased through protection Marvin Grant (4) and cornerback Kalon Gervin (18) as he returned a blocked punt to attain a landing all through the primary part of an NCAA university soccer recreation towards Tennessee Tech Friday, Sept. 2, 2022, in Lawrence, Kan. (AP Photograph/Charlie Riedel)
AP
LAWRENCE, Kan.
There were quite a few years that Kansas has struggled to overcome groups from the Soccer Championship Subdivision to open the season, and second-year trainer Lance Leipold is keenly acutely aware of that reality.
Perhaps that is why he did not mince phrases when it got here to assessing a 56-10 romp over Tennessee Tech on Friday night time.
“You play who’s at the time table and also you pass from there. It is a recreation we must win through that margin and we did that,” Leipold mentioned. “We all know this program hasn’t had sufficient wins to be overly essential of the way it performs out.”
There wasn’t a lot to be essential about towards the Golden Eagles.
Jalon Daniels threw for 182 yards with touchdowns at the flooring and during the air ahead of giving strategy to backup Jason Bean, who added a TD run of his personal. Devin Neal took a handoff 80 yards for a ranking and completed with 108 yards speeding and two touchdowns. Nebraska switch Sevion Morrison and Daniel Hishaw additionally reached the top zone.
Kansas even were given a 61-yard TD go back through Jacobee Bryant off a blocked subject target that set the tone early.
“We have now mentioned simply gaining self belief and this staff hasn’t had numerous that,” mentioned Leipold, whose staff piled up 297 yards speeding and 502 general yards. “That is indubitably a step in the best course.”
The Jayhawks’ remodeled protection used to be simply as just right: Golden Eagles starter Jeremiah Oatsvall used to be simply 10-of-18 passing for 76 yards with a TD and an interception. The Jayhawks held Tennessee Tech to 93 yards speeding on 43 carries.
“I advised our guys, ‘We performed the most efficient soccer staff had been going to play all yr,’ ” Golden Eagles trainer Dewayne Alexander mentioned. “There have been some issues we’ll display large growth from Week 1 to Week 2, however our guys did struggle.”
After greater than a decade of near to the whole thing going incorrect, the Jayhawks will have to have felt just right a few first part — albeit towards a lower-level opponent — by which near to the whole thing went proper.
Daniels attached on 14 of 15 passes for 182 yards, scoring on an 11-yard second-quarter run ahead of passing to Mason Fairchild for a 2-yard ranking. 3 other Jayhawks reached the top zone at the flooring. And when Bryant scooped up that blocked subject target past due within the first quarter and returned it 61 yards for a ranking, Kansas had its first such landing since Patrick Brown did it towards Oklahoma in 1996.
Most likely extra importantly, the Jayhawks’ rebuilt protection close down the Golden Eagles.
Kansas pressured a three-and-out on Tennessee Tech’s first two possessions, then blocked the sphere target at the subsequent. And after Tennessee Tech in any case transformed a subject target to make it 21-3, the Jayhawks pressured two extra three-and-outs.
The second one part wasn’t just about as blank for Kansas. Daniels just about fumbled the ball away on their first ownership ahead of Jacob Borcila neglected a 40-yard field-goal take a look at, then the Jayhawks’ quarterback threw a select on his very subsequent snap.
However the Golden Eagles neglected a chip-shot field-goal try of their very own, and at the Jayhawks’ subsequent offensive play, Neal cut up the protection over the best aspect and ran untouched 80 yards for the ranking.
“We done at a top point,” Neal mentioned. “We clearly made errors. I may not ever be glad. However the place we’re in comparison to remaining yr, it is night time and day.”
THE TAKEAWAY
Tennessee Tech: The Golden Eagles had been driven round on the line of scrimmage whilst making some distance too many errors on particular groups. The blocked subject target used to be the massive one, however Devin Parker’s leave out on a 29-yarder in the second one part rarely helped.
Kansas: The Jayhawks remodeled their protection with an inflow of Department I transfers, and a number of other made a distinction. Lonnie Phelps, a go rusher from Miami-Ohio, had 3 sacks and 4 tackles-for-loss. Ex-Ohio State linebacker Craig Younger used to be at all times close to the ball. And Eriq Gilyard, a switch from Central Florida, picked off a go early within the fourth quarter.
UP NEXT
Tennessee Tech: The Golden Eagles play their house opener Sept. 10 towards Texas A&M-Trade.
Kansas: The Jayhawks discuss with West Virginia on Sept. 10 for his or her Giant 12 opener.
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This tale used to be in the beginning printed September 2, 2022 8:26 PM.
