University of Kansas - Jayhawker Yearbook (Lawrence, KS)

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f ' so-+4 4 rizffp W . - L., A Y 11 Above: Senior running back Brandon McAnderson stretches for the extra yard against the Iowa State defense. Left: Junior receiver Dexton Fields pushes an Iowa State defender aside. Top: Senior wide receiver Marcus Henry keeps an eye on the defense as he works his way dovvnfieid.

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November 72 2007 l Junior linebacker Joe Mortensen brings down an Iowa State player in the layhawks'victory against the Cyclones. Kansas vs. Iowa State Jayhawks stay undefeated, blow away Cyclones or the Texas A8cM Ag- gies, few things are more simple than converting on fourth-and-short: put Iorvorskie Lane in the back- field, hand him the ball, and let the 274-pound wrecking ball of a running back do ,, the rest. When Tex- as A8zM head coach - 7 Dennis Franchione put the tactic to use late in the second quarter, he failed to account for Kansas defensive tackle Iames McClin- ton. As was the case many times on against Texas A8cM, McClinton and the Kansas defense came up with a big stop on a crucial play on the way to a 19-ll victory. Kansas cemented its best start to a season since l909, snapped a seven-game losing streak to Texas ASIM and defeated a Big 12 South opponent on the road for the first time in the Mark Mangino era. With just more than three min- utes remaining in the first half and the score tied at zero, Texas ASIM had finally found some offensive rhythm. The Aggies sat entrenched at the Iayhawks' nine-yard line after pushing 71 yards on nine eilicient plays. Fac- ing fourth-and-one, many teams might have elected to attempt a chip-shot field goal to take the lead, but Texas A8cM decided to hand the ball to Lane, their short- yardage weapon. Lane took the handoff from quarterback Stephen McGee and leaned toward the left side of the offensive line. As the power- ful back neared the first-down IAEA marker, McClinton managed to impede his progress just enough for his Iayhawk teammates to bring Lane down short of the marker for a loss of two yards. The Kansas offense picked up yardage with ease for much of the first half but repeatedly stuttered near the end zone. The Iayhawks entered the Aggies' 20-yard line twice in the first half, but senior kicker Scott Webb missed a field goal on both occasions, with the first try being blocked. The Iay- hawk offense scored on all three of its third-quarter possessions while the defense brought the Aggie rushing attack to a halt. Story by ASHER Fusco Photo by 10N Goenms , ,J

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November 24, 2007 Sophomore quarterback and receiver Kerry Meier U01 battles with a Missouri defenderfor a pass. 0 0 Kansas vs. Missouri Kansas foils short of perfection ogo1'nst!Vi1'ssour1' eff Wheeler came close. The sophomore defensive end's outstretched fingers came within inches of the foot- ball as it left Chase Danielis hand. But the ball spiraled past Wheeler and into the grasp of a Missouri receiver during the middle of the third quarter. - 28 - was just one of 40 The completion by the Missouri quarterback, the resulting first down just one of 29. But it underlined the recur- ring theme in Kansas, 36-28 loss to Missouri: the Iayhawks falling just short of making crucial plays. 1'We had chances to execute, but that's the way the game wentf' said sophomore wide receiver Kerry Meier. Early on, it was the Tigers who came up just short, as a trick play backfired in the Iayhawks' favor. After freshman wide receiver Jer- emy Maclin returned a punt 43 yards to the Kansas 32-yard line, the Tiger offense stalled and ad- vanced only 10 yards on their next four plays. But Missouri opted for something more adventur- ous than a field goal. After holder Tommy Saunders received the long snap, he stood up and fired a pass to wide receiver Will Frank- lin on the left sideline. Franklin burst downfield but came up sev- eral yards short of the first down marker, giving Kansas the ball and the momentum midway through the hrst quarter. Daniels, second touchdown pass was one example of Kansas coming within inches of making a key play. Leading 7-0 early in the second quarter, Missouri faced third-and-goal at the Kansas ll- yard line. The Iayhawks pressured Daniel and forced him into a quick retreat to the 30-yard line. just when Kansas junior defensive 1 ,.,..l