Kansas football notebook: Miscues hurt Jayhawks, freshman QB Ethan Vasko debuts
Texas Tech’s Trey Wolff booted three field goals, while the Kansas Jayhawks had a pair of makeable Jacob Borcila kicks clang off the right upright and fall harmlessly to the turf.
The Jayhawks were flagged for 10 penalties to the Red Raiders’ six.
In addition, KU quarterback Jason Bean, who threw for 270 yards and three touchdowns — and ran 16 yards for another score — also threw an interception right before halftime, ending a drive that might have ended in points. He also lost the football on a sack in the closing moments when the Jayhawks needed a long drive for a touchdown and two-point conversion to force overtime.
In other words … the Jayhawks, who had plenty of good things happen, also suffered a batch of low moments in a 43-28 Big 12 football loss to the Red Raiders on Saturday at Jones AT&T Stadium.
“When we are playing well, we are playing really well. When we can’t get out of our own way it’s ugly at times,” tight end Mason Fairchild said after the Jayhawks’ record dropped to 6-4 overall and 3-4 in the Big 12. Texas Tech, which was led by quarterback Tyler Shough (246 yards passing and a touchdown with no interceptions; 76 rushing yards and one TD) improved to 5-5 (3-4 Big 12).
“I felt it was one of those things we couldn’t get out of own way. Every time we were starting to get a rhythm we shoot ourselves in the foot,” Fairchild added. “We’ve got to keep eliminating bad ball, move on, learn from this and be better because of it.”
The Jayhawks dug themselves an early 24-7 hole with 9:36 left in the second quarter. They had the deficit down to three points (24-21) with 2:31 left in the half.
KU, which trailed 27-21 at halftime, was down by 12 points (33-21) with 14:52 to play, then reduced the gap to five points (33-28) when Bean connected with Quentin Skinner on a 20-yard passing touchdown with 8:06 left.
“I thought we handled the up-tempo of their offense,” said KU coach Lance Leipold. The Jayhawks outgained the Red Raiders 525 yards to 510. “At the end of the day they executed better than we did. We had opportunities to make plays. We missed two field goals (41, 37 yards). They made their field goals (51, 33, 30). There were a lot of different things in this game that (showed) we were outplayed,” Leipold added.
Such as penalties.
“There were some uncharacteristic ones that are very disappointing,” Leipold said. “We had 10. That’s higher than we want to be. A couple were just getting lined up, jumping. Some are anxious and aggressive ones, other ones a couple holding calls that are concerning this time of the year when guys are banged up and not practicing all the time as much as you want. We’ve got to analyze that: Are they moving well enough to be productive, especially at key moments? That’s something that comes back to me. I’ve got to do a better job.”
Among the positives, however, running back Devin Neal gained 190 yards on 24 carries, including a 63-yard burst in the first half.
“Considering everything we are putting on his shoulders right now at this stage of the season, he’s had his two most workmanlike carry totals these last two games,” Leipold said. Neal rushed for 224 yards on 32 carries (and one TD) in last week’s win over Oklahoma State.
“Highly productive. One thing he does do, he is in good rhythm, He sees things, You can see some of those consistent maybe seven, eight, 10-yard runs because he has good feel for how things are playing out,” Leipold noted.
Jason Bean injured; Ethan Vasko makes debut
QB Jason Bean, who has started the last four games in place of the injured Jalon Daniels, did not appear for the Jayhawks’ final series. Freshman Ethan Vasko completed 3 of 5 passes for 13 yards and rushed two times for six net yards with a long gain of 17 yards.
“Jason took another shot in the middle part of his body just like he did at the end of the game last week,” Leipold said. “At that point he was not able to return. We’ll see where that’s at heading into next week because it’s been two consecutive weeks now. We’ll see.”
Leipold did not consider putting Daniels in the game. Daniels has been recovering from a shoulder injury sustained in the TCU game on Oct. 8.
“At that point and where everything is at with him, standing around in this (cold) weather, would not be a wise decision to put him out there,” Leipold said. “He is practicing every day and is very close (to returning).”
KU will meet Texas next Saturday at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium and then close the regular season at Kansas State on Nov. 26.
This story was originally published November 13, 2022 at 12:19 AM with the headline "Kansas football notebook: Miscues hurt Jayhawks, freshman QB Ethan Vasko debuts."
