Game report: Texas 59, Kansas 20

First quarter

Key play: On Texas’ first play from scrimmage, quarterback Jerrod Heard hit John Burt on an 84-yard touchdown pass, the first hammer in the ensuing blowout.

Key stat: Heard threw for 131 yards in the first quarter.

Second quarter

Key play: In the opening minute of the quarter, Kansas returner Derrick Neal muffed a punt deep in KU territory. It appeared that KU coach David Beaty tried to argue that the Texas player came from out of bounds to recover the ball. But the play stood and Texas soon stretched its lead to 24-7.

Key stat: KU left 10 points on the board — at least — after a fumble and missed field goal in the final minutes before half.

Third quarter

Key play: Texas’ D’Onta Foreman rushed 93 yards for a touchdown with 10 minutes left in the third quarter, a jaunt that gave the Longhorns a 31-14 lead.

Key stat: Ryan Willis was sacked six times through three quarters.

Fourth quarter

Key play: Texas backup quarterback Tyrone Swoopes hit receiver Armanti Foreman on a 40-yard touchdown strike, pushing the Longhorns’ lead to 45-14.

Key stat: KU has lost 37 straight away from Lawrence.

Offense

D

The running game was a little better, and Ryan Willis showed flashes. But the Jayhawks turned the ball over four times and were lackluster in the red zone. In the end, 20 points will not win many games in the Big 12.

Defense

D

For a stretch during the first half, the Kansas defense buckled down and picked up some key stops. The Jayhawks, though, had no answer for the deep ball and the big play. Texas, a team that has struggled all year to throw the football, landed a couple of big blows with over-the-top throws.

Special teams

D

Sophomore kicker Nick Bartolotta missed another field goal — this one from 26 yards. Sophomore Derrick Neal also had a costly muffed punt that set up a Texas touchdown.

Coaching

C

For a half, the Jayhawks were positioned to stay with Texas. Offensive coordinator Rob Likens called a nice game, and the defense had its moments. David Beaty’s decision to kick a field goal at the end of the first half was also more understandable once you heard that quarterback Ryan Willis was banged up on the last play.

Player of the game: D’Onta Foreman, a sophomore running back for the Longhorns, rushed for 157 yards on 12 carries, averaging 13.1 yards per attempt. His 93-yard touchdown run was a back-breaker — and the third longest in Texas history.

Reason to hope: Kansas will have quarterback Ryan Willis for another three seasons — if the Jayhawks can keep him healthy.

Reason to mope: The Jayhawks have just three remaining chances to pick off a victory — TCU, West Virginia and K-State.

Looking ahead: The Jayhawks will be back on the road next Saturday, traveling to No. 4 TCU, which lost to Oklahoma State on Saturday.

This story was originally published November 8, 2015 at 12:46 AM with the headline "Game report: Texas 59, Kansas 20."