Jayhawks Stun No. 6 Sooners in Instant Classic

A sold out David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium played host to Kansas’ 111th Homecoming Game vs. No. 6 Oklahoma. The Sooners, who always seem to have a tough time when in Lawrence, finally succumbed to the Jayhawks on Saturday 38-33. 

 
The Jayhawks, coming off the bye week sitting at 5-2, one win away from being bowl eligible in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2009. 

During the week off, many Jayhawk fans speculated about the health of junior quarterback Jalon Daniels. Daniels has been nursing a back injury since the start of fall camp and has only started three games this season. 

Although Daniels took the field during warmups in full gear, senior quarterback Jason Bean was the man under center for the Jayhawks offense. Bean took the field after the Jayhawks picked off senior quarterback Dillon Gabriel and returned it for a touchdown. It was only Gabriel’s third interception of the year. 

The first quarter was all Jayhawks, scoring fourteen unanswered points with sophomore running back Daniel Hishaw seeing the endzone as well. Then, mother nature stepped in. A lightning strike in the middle of the second quarter sent the game to stop play for about an hour. 

It was all Oklahoma after that, 21 straight points propelled the Sooners into the halftime up 21-17. The game seemed to be getting away from Kansas. Halftime was more of a momentum stopper than anything for the Jayhawks. 

The second half started with both teams trading blows. Both teams were clicking offensively, and the score was evident of that. The ground game for both offenses was imperative for their success due to the cold, wet conditions. Both teams had over 225 yards on the ground, respectfully. 

One thing that was not working for either team was the two-point conversion. There were five total, none of them were converted, leaving crucial points on the board. 

Late in the fourth quarter Oklahoma scored a touchdown to put them up one with two minutes left in the game. Senior quarterback Jason Bean was tasked to lead a touchdown drive against the No. 6 team in the nation. A seven-play, 80-yard drive that ended with junior running back Devin Neal’s first touchdown of the afternoon. 

There was still time on the clock, however, for Oklahoma to try and get a game winning touchdown. Head coach Lance Leipold’s defense bended, but never broke as Gabriel’s last gasp heave sailed over the head of receiver Jovante Barnes, propelling the Kansas Jayhawks to their second bowl game in as many years. FOX knew what they were doing when they sent Big Noon Kickoff to Lawrence this weekend.