Fast Recap: Kansas blows out West Virginia to open Big 12 play

Kansas started the game in dominant fashion, forcing a three-and-out then scoring a touchdown on an explosive play. While things slowed down in the first quarter, the Jayhawks put together a dominating performance to win their Big 12 opener 41-10 over West Virginia on Saturday.

The Jayhawks’ defense set the tone early as the Mountaineers punted on their first six drives and averaged under four yards per play in the first half.

Kansas’ offense benefited from short fields due to its success in the return game. Tate Nagy set up the Jayhawks’ first score with a 30 yard punt return. Emmanuel Henderson returned one kick for 43 yards and opened the second half with a 94-yard kick return touchdown.

The run game started to get going in the second half, with Leshon Williams scoring a 63-yard touchdown. Williams scored on another explosive play in the first half, a 39-yard receiving touchdown.

First quarter: Neither offense amounts to much after opening touchdown

You couldn’t script a more perfect set of opening drives for the Jayhawks. The defense forced a three-and-out, with Dean Miller getting home on a third-down sack. The offense started its drive at midfield after a 30-yard punt return from Tate Nagy. Kansas converted on fourth and short in a big way, as Jalon Daniels found Levi Wentz wide open for a 41-yard catch and run to give the Jayhawks a 7-0 lead.

The defenses settled in, or more-so the offenses couldn’t manage anything successful. West Virginia managed just one first down in the entire first quarter and failed to convert on its first five third downs.

Kansas won the field possession often, as two of his three punts pinned the Mountaineers inside the 20. The Jayhawks gained just 10 yards after their opening drive, struggling to get things going in the running game. Daniels also missed some throws, and Kansas nearly turned it over deep in its own end after a low snap, making for an unentertaining first 15 minutes of play.

Second quarter: Kansas stacks scoring drives heading into halftime

Kansas’ offense managed a 10-play drive to open the second quarter but only gained 38 yards. The biggest gain was a 14-yard scramble from Daniels, where he was rocked as he slid. West Virginia safety Fred Perry was ejected for targeting, and there was a bit of a skirmish after the play as the Jayhawks’ offensive lineman defended their quarterback.

The scramble got Kansas near the red zone, but the drive stalled after that. Laith Marjan made a 40-yard field goal to extend the Jayhawks’ lead to 10-0.

West Virginia capitalized off of good field position to get itself on the board. The Mountaineers forced a three-and-out at Kansas’ 10 and got the ball at their 43-yard line. Nicco Marichol built some momentum on the first play of West Virginia’s drive, hitting Jeff Weimer for an 18-yard pickup.

The Mountaineers drove into the red zone, but the Jayhawks limited run plays on first and second down before forcing an incompletion. Kade Hensley made a 26-yard field goal to get West Virginia on the board with 3:43 to play.

Kansas responded quickly to West Virginia’s score, scoring a touchdown in three plays in 1:24. Emmanuel Henderson Jr. sparked the drive with a 43-yard kickoff return. The Jayhawks had positive plays on the first two plays before Daniels hit Williams on a wheel route off some misdirection for a 39-yard touchdown.

West Virginia drove into Kansas territory as Marchiol showcased a nice connection with Rodney Gallagher III. The Jayhawks’ defense bore down again, getting a fourth-down stop with 0:40 left on the clock at their own 37.

Daniels singlehandedly got Kansas into field goal range with his legs. While he was missing some throws, he picked up gains of 12 and 28 on quarterback draws. Marjan made another field goal, this one from 44, to give the Jayhawks a 20-3 lead heading into halftime.

Third quarter: Henderson kickoff return blows open the game

Henderson gave the Jayhawks a jolt out of the break, returning the opening kickoff 94 yards for a touchdown. The defense immediately forced a three-and-out as Lyrik Rawls laid a huge hit to break up a pass on third down.

Kansas started to get the run game going as it took firm control of the game. Williams was the bellcow as Daniel Hishaw exited with an injury. The Iowa transfer churned the Jayhawks down the field before Daniel hit Boden Groen for a seven-yard touchdown to make it a 34-3 game.

Trey Lathan made a big play against his former team. The West Virginia transfer picked off Marchiol and returned it 32 yards into the red zone. However, the Jayhawks failed to score points following the turnover, getting stuffed on fourth-and-one from the five.

West Virginia subbed Jaylen Henderson into the game, and he gave the Mountaineers a boost with his legs. Henderson picked up a pair of chunk gains, including a run of 32 yards to get to the Kansas 23 at the end of the third quarter.

Fourth quarter: Williams’ breakaway run closes out win

Jaylen Henderson kept it on the option on consecutive plays, getting into the end zone from 13 yards out. West Virginia still trailed 34-10 at the start of the fourth quarter.

Kansas responded in just four plays as Williams scored his second touchdown of the day. Williams broke a 62-yard touchdown run, making multiple Mountaineers miss in the process, to extend the Jayhawks’ lead to 41-10.

Cole Ballard subbed in for the Jayhawks with the game out of hand.

The defense forced another turnover late in the fourth quarter. Jalen Dye forced a fumble that Blake Herold recovered for Kansas’ second takeaway of the game.