Quick recap: Kansas football opens new Booth with blowout win over Fresno State

Kansas opened the reimagined David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium with a bang, flying to a 31-7 win over Fresno State on Saturday night. The Jayhawks shined on both ends of the football in front of a sellout crowd on national television.

Jalon Daniels looked like his best self, completing 18 of 20 passes for 176 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 47 yards in about three and a half quarters of play. The Jayhawks outgained the Bulldogs 385-216 and 208-37 on the ground, and the defense forced three takeaways in the blowout win.

Here’s how it happened:

First quarter: Kansas racks up two touchdowns

Kansas started with the ball and put together an essentially perfect first drive, scoring a touchdown on a 9-play, 86-yard drive in 3:49. Jalon Daniels looked dynamic with his legs, buying time and scrambling for an 11-yard pickup on first down. The Jayhawks kicked up the tempo, and Daniels once again made a play on the run with a 22-yard pickup on an option keeper. The next play, Daniels found Cam Pickett on an RPO who took it 21 yards to the house.

Fresno State had a quick answer. EJ Warner kept the drive alive with a pitch to Bryson Donelson as pressure started to close in, and Donelson picked up 39 yards due to a poor tackling effort. The Bulldogs scored on a 7-play, 3:46 drive, with Elijah Gilliam squaring the game at 7-7 with a three-yard touchdown run.

Kansas looked less crisp on its second drive, picking up two holding penalties and a false start. Yet, the Jayhawks managed to score, relying on Daniels in the run game. Leshon Williams bounced a fourth-and-one run outside for a 19-yard touchdown.

Second quarter: Jayhawks’ defense settles in, Pickett scores again

The Bulldogs converted their first two third down tries on distances of six and 10 yards. However, pressure got to EJ Warner on third-and-nine to open the second quarter, forcing Fresno State to punt for the first time.

Both defenses settled in, with Fresno State forcing Kansas’ first punt and the Jayhawks responding by forcing a three-and-out. Bangally Kamara flew into the backfield for a tackle for loss, and Jahlil Hurley broke up a pass on third down.

Pickett continued to showcase a strong connection with Daniels. The Ball State transfer hauled in three receptions, including a 10-yard catch for a touchdown that mirrored his first, to make it a 21-7 game.

Kansas brought pressure to Warner again, and he forced a pass into traffic that Devin Dye intercepted. The Jayhawks went to work extending their lead, with Daniels racking up carries in the quarterback run game. Laith Marjan nailed a 47-yard field goal after the drive stalled.

Fresno State had 0:56 on the clock to try and cut into the deficit, but Bulldogs kicker Dylan Lynch missed far short from 55 yards.

The Jayhawks took a 24-7 lead into the half following a strong half from Daniels. He was dynamic with his arm and legs, going 13-15 for 145 yards and two touchdowns through the air, adding eight carries for 47 yards. The defense responded after an opening touchdown drive from Fresno State, stringing together stops.

Third quarter: Defense forces two turnovers

Warner and the Bulldogs put together a decent drive to start the quarter, with Warner finding Josiah Freeman over the middle of the field for a third-and-long conversion. Bangally Kamara flew off the edge on third-and-seven near midfield, forcing a fumble that Kenean Caldwell recovered.

Daniel Hishaw and Leshon Williams each broke open 21-yard runs as Kansas drove down the field with ease. Daniels found Keaton Kubecka for a 13-yard touchdown – his first career reception – to extend the Jayhawks’ lead to 31-7.

Fresno State turned it over again on its ensuing drive. The Bulldogs converted a third down, but on the ensuing play, the ball went off the hands of Freeman and into the hands of Lyric Rawls for the Jayhawks’ third takeaway of the game.

Kansas drained the final 6:19 of the third quarter, relying on the run. Hishaw and Williams took a bulk of the carries, and the Jayhawks kept the drive alive on fourth down as Daniels found Boden Groen for the conversion.

Fourth quarter: Kansas finishes off the win

Kansas failed to convert on fourth-and-one to open the quarter, with Hishaw stopped short of the line to gain. The defense responded by forcing another three-and-out.

The Jayhawks’ offense slowed down, going three-and-out. Yet, Finn Lappin bombed a 61-yard punt to pin the Bulldogs at their four-yard line.

The Kansas defense continued its stalwart effort, pitching a shutout in the second half. Leroy Harris III picked up a sack to force Fresno State’s fourth punt of the game, giving Kansas the ball with a 31-7 lead with 5:38 to play.

Cole Ballard entered at quarterback while the Jayhawks killed two minutes of the clock on a three-and-out. Lappin placed another punt inside Fresno State’s 10-yard-line.

The Bulldogs failed to convert on fourth down, then the Jayhawks iced the game to open the season 1-0.