Game report: South Dakota State 41, Kansas 38
First quarter
Key play: South Dakota State running back Brady Mengarelli got loose for a 25-yard touchdown run as the Jackrabbits took a 10-0 lead with 8:09 left in the first quarter.
Key stat: South Dakota State had 213 yards of total offense.
Second quarter
Key play: The Jayhawks scored their first offensive touchdown of the season on a 19-yard reverse to receiver Tre’ Parmalee, who broke free around the right side.
Key stat: SDSU receiver Jake Wieneke had five catches for 125 yards at halftime.
Third quarter
Key play: KU running back Ke’aun Kinner broke a 26-yard touchdown jaunt to cap a scoring drive that took just one minute and 15 seconds.
Key stat: Kinner had 111 yards rushing after three quarters.
Fourth quarter
Key play: Before Montell Cozart’s fumbled snap, South Dakota State running back Isaac Wallace broke the Jackrabbits’ touchdown drought with a short run. It pushed the SDSU lead to 41-31.
Key stat: Kansas lost to an FCS team for the second time in six years.
Player of the game: It came in a losing effort, but KU running back Ke’aun Kinner was sensational in his debut. A juco transfer from Little Elm, Texas, Kinner appears to be a recruiting coup.
Reason to hope: Kansas’ offense rolled up close to 600 yards on a respectable FCS program. Quarterback Montell Cozart moved the team. That’s something to build on.
Reason to mope: Starting with Memphis next week, Kansas likely won’t be favored to win another game this season.
Looking ahead: The Jayhawks return to Memorial Stadium this Saturday face Memphis at 6 p.m.
Report card
A- | Offense | The Jayhawks’ 576 yards of total offense was the most by KU since racking up 615 yards against Florida International in 2007. Kansas finished with 90 plays, showcasing the bread and butter of its up-tempo scheme. There are kinks to work out, but the offensive output was impressive. |
C | Defense | The Kansas defense settled down after an atrocious beginning, but on the whole, the day was cause for some alarm. The Jayhawks gave up 463 total yards and didn’t force any turnovers. |
B | Special teams | Redshirt freshman Ryan Schadler, a former Wichita State track athlete, provided the boost of the day, sprinting 91 yards for a kickoff return for a touchdown in the first quarter. Schadler, who possesses great speed, hit a crease and outran the SDSU coverage team. He could be a weapon in the return game. |
C+ | Coaching | David Beaty wanted a clean game in the season opener. This wasn’t quite that. Kansas had seven penalties, including a costly face-mask in the final minutes, and two turnovers. South Dakota State had just three penalties. There were some solid signs, but Beaty probably wishes he could replay his coaching debut. |
To reach Rustin Dodd, call 816-234-4937 or send email to rdodd@kcstar.com. Follow him on Twitter: @rustindodd.
This story was originally published September 5, 2015 at 9:15 PM with the headline "Game report: South Dakota State 41, Kansas 38."