Game report: Texas Tech 34, Kansas 21
First quarter
Key play: Moments before Texas Tech went ahead 10-0, KU cornerback Dexter McDonald dropped a potential interception along the sideline. A few plays later, Texas Tech’s Davis Webb threw his first touchdown pass to Reginald Davis.
Key stat: KU had 100 total yards and zero points.
Second quarter
Key play: Webb hit Brad Marquez for an 8-yard touchdown, stretching the Red Raiders’ lead to 17-0 with 6:57 left in the first half.
Key stat: There were 31 seconds left when Kansas finally scored its first TD.
Third quarter
Key play: After Kansas cut the lead to 27-21 midway through the third quarter, Webb hit Ian Sadler for a 36-yard gain, setting up another Texas Tech touchdown.
Key stat: Webb competed 25 of 40 passes through three quarters.
Fourth quarter
Key play: After KU trimmed the lead to six points again, Texas Tech answered with a 21-yard TD run by Justin Stockton.
Key stat: KU has lost 27 straight on the road.
Player of the game: KU linebacker Ben Heeney. It came in a losing effort, but Heeney was a monster on Saturday. He finished with a career-high 21 tackles, the most since Marcus Rogers made 22 tackles in 2001. Heeney was just four stops shy of the KU single-game record. He also had an interception in the first half.
Reason to hope: In his second start of the season, junior quarterback Michael Cummings looked adequate. He finished 20 of 32 passing for 235 yards and two touchdowns.
Reason to mope: The schedule. Kansas still has to travel to Baylor, Oklahoma and K-State. They will also face a ranked TCU squad at home.
Looking ahead: KU has a bye this week before heading out on the road to face Baylor on Nov. 1 in Waco, Texas.
| Rustin Dodd, rdodd@kcstar.com
Report card
C+ | Offense | Junior quarterback Michael Cummings has given the passing game a steady hand, and tight end Jimmay Mundine (seven catches) has certainly benefited from Cummings’ presence. The early injury to Tony Pierson hurt, but the Jayhawks need to find a way to get going in the first half. |
B- | Defense | Linebacker Ben Heeney was everywhere, and senior Michael Reynolds forced a fumble in the backfield. The defense kept the Jayhawks in the game in the first half, but the Red Raiders still managed to put up 507 total yards. |
C | Special teams | There were no major coverage breakdowns in the return game this week, so that was a net positive. The kicking game cost KU three points when Matthew Wyman missed a 35-yard field goal in the first half. Punter Trevor Pardula averaged 45 yards on six punts. |
B | Coaching | For two straight games, interim coach Clint Bowen has put Kansas in position to win against a favored Big 12 opponent — this time on the road. The KU staff, though, has to find a way to solve some of the issues surrounding the slow starts. |
This story was originally published October 18, 2014 at 10:53 PM with the headline "Game report: Texas Tech 34, Kansas 21."