Fast recap: Kansas blows out Oklahoma State in second half

Kansas (5-4, 3-3 Big 12) snapped a two-game losing streak, beating Oklahoma State (1-8, 0-6) 38-21 on Homecoming. The Jayhawks had a 10-7 lead after having only two drives and controlled the game in the second half.

The running game put together its first 200-plus yard performance since Kansas’ game against West Virginia, finishing with 234 yards on the ground. Leshon Williams led the way with 77 yards and a touchdown, while Daniel Hishaw added two touchdowns and 65 yards.

First quarter: Oklahoma State controls game early

Oklahoma State took an early lead, driving down the field in 10 plays with relative ease and taking advantage of a face mask. Zane Flores completed three of his four passes on the drive for 45 yards. He found Shamar Rigby wide-open on a crossing route for a 12-yard touchdown on third-and-goal.

Kansas had a long drive of 13 plays, but the drive stalled near the red zone. Jalon Daniels kept the drive alive with an eight-yard scramble on third down as pressure was closing in.

Bryson Canty made a contested catch for a 24-yard gain. However, Daniels missed Cam Pickett on third-and-long after two straight negative runs in the red zone. Laith Marjan made a 40-yard field goal to get the Jayhawks on the board.

Oklahoma State made its way down the field again, getting into Kansas territory at the end of the first quarter. The Cowboys converted a third-and-short, and Flores hit Rigby for a 14-yard gain, who got hit hard by Dean Miller at the end of the play.

Second quarter: Blocked field goal holds Kansas’ lead at halftime

Kansas’ defense didn’t make things challenging on Flores, allowing him to complete short and easy passes. An illegal shift put Oklahoma State behind the sticks before Marcus Calvin got home for his first career sack. The Cowboys’ kicker Logan Ward missed a 44-yard field goal to keep them scoreless on a 14-play drive.

The Jayhawks had another long drive, not getting any explosive plays but driving down the field. Daniels found Leyton Cure for a fourth-down conversion, then Daniel Hishaw rushed for 16 yards to get Kansas into the red zone.

Daniels set Kansas up in first-and-goal after scrambling for 13 yards. Hishaw broke multiple tackles on the way to the end zone from four yards out to give the Jayhawks a 10-7 lead. Kansas took 6:55 off the clock on a 15-play drive.

Oklahoma State ramped up the pace trying to get a score before halftime. Rodney Fields narrowly kept the Cowboys on the field on a fourth down run where the Jayhawks thought they made the stop. On the next play, Flores fit a pass into a tight window to Gavin Freeman for a 33-yard gain.

The Jayhawks’ defense forced another field goal attempt, which again went poorly for Oklahoma State. Leroy Harris blocked the chip-shot field goal, and Kansas found a way to take a lead into halftime.

Third quarter: Jayhawks’ offense gets rolling behind explosive plays

Kansas had a pair of explosive plays as it extended its lead coming out of halftime on a 10-play touchdown drive. Pickett gained 19 yards on a toss play before Daniels hit Cure over the middle for 27 yards. Daniels hit his other tight end Boden Groen on back-to-back plays in a goal-to-go, scoring a three-yard touchdown.

The Jayhawks forced their first three-and-out of the game, as Blake Herold got home for a sack on third down.

Kansas set up near midfield, then Isaiah Marshall broke a designed run for 43 yards. Daniels hit Canty for a five-yard touchdown, his first as a Jayhawk, to extend the lead to 24-7.

Oklahoma State marched down the field to inch closer. Flores picked apart the Kansas defense, converting a third down against cushioned coverage. He hit Sam Jackson V down the seam for 26 yards before Freeman scored on a 10-yard touch pass.

Emmanuel Henderson Jr. returned the kickoff 58 yards to set up the Kansas offense. Daniels got stopped short on a third down sneak to set up a fourth-and-one at the start of the fourth quarter.

Fourth quarter: Running game secures the win

Leshon Williams broke a 32-yard run to keep the offense on the field and set up a goal-to-go. Hishaw reached the end zone for his second score of the day to put Kansas ahead 31-14 three plays into the fourth quarter.

The Jayhawks then forced a four-and-out to help them take full control of the game. Lyrik Rawls nearly came up with an interception on fourth down against his former team.

Kansas relied on the ground game in the form of Williams as the Jayhawks extended their lead and chewed the clock. Williams took 10 straight carries for 39 yards, getting into the end zone on a five-yard run. Kansas took 6:31 off the clock and held a 38-14 lead with 6:04 to play.

Flores completed a 29-yard pass to Terrill Davis before giving way to Lawrence native Banks Bowen. Syeed Gibbs laid a huge hit on Bowen to force a fumble, but the Cowboys stayed on the field after targeting was called.

Bowen scrambled for nine yards on a third down conversion. Sesi Vailahi scored on a wildcat run to make it a 38-21 game.

Kansas kneed out the remaining 1:19 with Cole Ballard at quarterback.