Manage Delivery
First quarter
Key play: Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones hit receiver Kenny Stills on a pretty, 44-yard touchdown pass that gave the Sooners a 10-0 lead with 3:49 left in the fourth quarter.
Key stat: One turnover. With KU threatening to score, Oklahoma linebacker Tom Wort laid out QB Dayne Crist, forcing a fumble in the final minutes
Second quarter
Key play: Oklahoma’s Justin Brown opened the floodgates on a zig-zagging, 90-yard punt return for a touchdown with 10:09 left in the second quarter. Oklahoma 24, KU 0.
Key stat: 44. That was how many passing yards KU’s quarterbacks had at halftime. Oklahoma had 219.
Third quarter
Key play: Oklahoma added some style points when Roy Winch opened the second half with a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
Key stat: For the first time in Oklahoma history, the Sooners returned a punt and kickoff for touchdowns in the same game.
Fourth quarter
Key play: KU running back James Sims saved the offense from being shut out with a 1-yard touchdown run in the final minutes.
Key stat: Oklahoma has won eight straight over Kansas, with the Jayhawks’ last win coming in 1997.
Report card
Offense: D. It didn’t matter what quarterback Kansas put out on the field. Oklahoma’s resurgent defense simply locked down the Jayhawks’ passing attack. Running back James Sims and Tony Pierson had their moments — but not nearly enough.
Defense: D-. One week after an inspired effort, the Kansas defense reverted to form. Landry Jones picked on receiver-turned-cornerback JaCorey Shepherd in the first half, and KU’s passing defense was overmatched.
Special teams: F. Punter Ron Doherty returned from injury and boomed a couple long kicks, but Oklahoma returned a punt and kickoff for a touchdown in the game’s first 31 minutes.
Coaching: D+. Some will wonder if Charlie Weis should have had a shorter leash with Crist, who was given more chances on Saturday. But we also learned that the alternatives aren’t much better.
Player of the game
Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones. If Jones faced Kansas every week, his NFL stock would be soaring.
Reason to hope
The Jayhawks will get their crack at Texas’ brittle defense next week. Maybe that’s an answer for KU’s anemic offense.
Reason to mope
KU finishes with three of its last five games on the road, including trips to Baylor and Texas Tech. It’s hard to find KU’s next conference victory.
Looking ahead
Kansas returns home to Memorial Stadium to face Texas at 11 a.m. Saturday.
Quote
"This wasn’t Barry Sanders out there that we’re talking about." — Charlie Weis, on KU allowing two returns for touchdown against Oklahoma.
— Rustin Dodd
