Texas Tech holds off Kansas 30-20
For the Kansas Jayhawks, it was a combination of timing on offense, turning the ball over and missing easy field goals.
Still there was a chance for Kansas football to get that first win under coach David Beaty but could not in the end. Instead, Texas Tech hung on for a 30-20 victory despite a late rally by the Jayhawks.
“We didn’t get it done,” Beaty said afterward. “We’re going to keep working, keep turning over rocks and find the combination to get it done.”
Still, Kansas showed some fight late.
In his second start, freshman quarterback Ryan Willis led several sustained drives. Midway through the third quarter he hit Darious Crawley for a 10-yard touchdown pass.
Willis then connected with Tre’ Parmalee for a 21-yard score early in the fourth quarter. After that, a long drive ended with a Taylor Cox rushing touchdown putting Kansas within a field goal.
The offense seemed to be clicking by the last part of the game, something that the receivers take pride in.
“We work day in day out,” Crawley said of the wide receivers. “That repetition and practice that we have together is making us confident as a whole.”
Despite struggling throughout to grab complete control, the Red Raiders made a big play when Jah’Shawn Johnson returned an interception 27 yards, putting Kansas out of reach with 4:07 remaining in the game.
showed some more progress with 35-of-50 completed passes, 330 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. However, turnovers made it difficult for Kansas to stay with the Red Raiders.
“I know that screaming at him and not teaching him would be a mistake,” Kansas coach David Beaty said. “When he comes back off the first thing I do, we start teaching.”
Although Texas Tech was not as potent as usual, quarterback Patrick Mahomes completed 29 of 50 passes for 359 yards and a touchdown. Zach Austin was the leading receiver for the Red Raiders with 77 yards.
The afternoon’s best throw came with 1:02 remaining in the first half, Mahomes threw a high arching ball to Reginald Davis which he grabbed over a Kansas defender for a 45-yard touchdown.
Even with the big yardage totals, the KU defense did a better job organizing its assignments and held a team well under their season average of 52.7 points.
Fish Smithson made several big plays including 10 tackles and his first career interception. He credited the defensive line pressure with helping his team become better.
“When they get after the quarterback and make him flustered it helps the defense and it helps the whole team,” Smithson said.
Three missed field goals by Kansas were hard to shake off after the game.
“It sucks when you lose by 10 points and we leave 10 points on the field,” kicker Matthew Wymann said. Wyman missed from 52 and 34 yards and Nick Bartolotta missed a 22-yard field goal.
Now, with a better all-around performance, the Jayhawks have shown they can be competitive in Big 12.
“They knew that they could win,” Beaty said of the biggest takeaway. “They played like it. They believe it now.”
The Jayhawks are on the road next week against Oklahoma State. The game starts at 2:30 p.m.
This story was originally published October 17, 2015 at 3:08 PM with the headline "Texas Tech holds off Kansas 30-20."