The Kansas Jayhawks started Big 12 football action the right way on Saturday, defeating the West Virginia Mountaineers, 41-10, in Lawrence, Kansas.
The Jayhawks (3-1, 1-0 in Big 12) got a great game from quarterback Jalon Daniels, who threw for 138 yards and three scores while rushing for another 69 yards. It was more evidence that the oft-injured, but talented quarterback can have a great season in his final year with the program.
The Mountaineers (2-2, 0-1) gave up too many explosive plays on defense. Kansas had five touchdowns and four were 39 or more yards. WVU let the game get away from them by halftime and Kansas poured it on from there. West Virginia was short-handed on offense, and it impacted its ability to convert on third down and sustain drives. In the pass game, no Mountaineers receiver had more than 26 yards receiving.
Here are three thoughts on the game.
Emmanuel Henderson Jr. is Really Fast
I mean, just look at this.
I’m wondering how Alabama let this guy get away. The Crimson Tide’s loss is the Jayhawks’ gain. Going into the game he had already caught 12 passes for 183 yards and two touchdowns. He had five receptions in two seasons played at Alabama. He finished with six catches for 38 yards and no touchdowns. He had the kickoff return for the score. But he wasn’t the only speedster.
Running back Leshon Williams showed off the wheels too. He rushed for 129 yards and a touchdown. He also caught one pass for 39 yards and a touchdown.
That was a theme as I watched this game — speed. The Jayhawks appear to be overflowing with it. Henderson and Williams have game-breaking potential. So does quarterback Jalon Daniels. The speed was there on defense, too. It’s the kind of speed that can make a big difference in league play, especially if Kansas can break off big plays consistently.
Four of their five touchdowns were 39 yards or more. That shows just how hard Kansas potentially will be to defend.
Was the Jayhawk D Really That Good?
West Virginia had 324 total yards, but it was a rough game all around. The Mountaineers turned the ball over twice. Kansas sacked the quarterback twice and had five tackles for loss. WVU was 3-for-15 on third down. Very little worked.
But West Virginia is also short-handed on offense. They’re down a couple of key backs, including Jaheim White. Jaylen Henderson (79 yards, one touchdown) did have a nice night, but he’s a back-up quarterback. The Mountaineers were unable to sustain drives and their failures on third down, especially in the first half, stymied any hope of a comeback.
Give the Kansas defense credit for what they did the first three quarters. It gave the Mountaineers no daylight and that eliminated the chance of a comeback.
What Now Rich?
The return of Rich Rodriguez to West Virginia is good vibes for the program. I think everyone in Morgantown gets that it will take time for him to get the program where he wants. But I also think this is a game that many Mountaineers fans thought the program could win.
To no surprise, the offense is inconsistent. Quarterback Nicco Marchiol has the kind of completion percentage that a Rich Rod quarterback should have. But, this is the second game in which the Mountaineers have scored 10 points or less this season. Getting into the end zone is an issue.
That’s where the losses in the run game really hurt. White was one of the most experienced backs in the conference and before his injury He had 144 yards rushing on 24 carries and three scores. Tye Edwards, the leading rusher on the team, also didn’t play.
Still, WVU rushed for 182 yards using seven different ball carries. But the run game lacked the consistent explosiveness that White and Edwards can provide. Right now, the Mountaineers can rack up all the yards they like. But, without that explosiveness, they’re going to have to find creative ways to compensate.
