The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Kansas notes
09.27.2014 | Football
Texas 23, Kansas 0
Postgame Notes
Sept. 27, 2014
Memorial Stadium; Lawrence, Kansas
TEAM NOTES
• Series: This was the 14th all-time meeting between the teams in a series that dates back to 1901. The Longhorns lead the series 12-2 with the only losses coming in 1901 and 1938 in Lawrence. The Horns have won all 12 matchups in Big 12 play. Texas holds a 6-2 advantage in Lawrence.
• Conference Openers: Texas is now 16-3 in Big 12 Conference opening games, including wins in 15 of the last 16. The only losses came to Oklahoma State (1997) and Kansas State (1998), both on the road, and to the Wildcats at home in 2007. UT is 7-2 all-time in Big 12 openers on the road.
• Shutouts: This marked the Longhorns first shutout since 2012 vs. New Mexico (45-0). It was the first shutout vs. a Big 12 foe since 2011 vs. Kansas (43-0) and first blanking on the road since 2005 at Baylor (62-0).
• Game Captains: WR Jaxon Shipley and DB Mykkele Thompson served as game captains.
• True Freshmen Seeing Action: WR Roderick Bernard, DT Poona Ford and WR Dorian Leonard saw their first career action today. There have now been eight true freshmen seeing time this season. TE Andrew Beck, WR Armanti Foreman, RB D'Onta Foreman, DB Jason Hall and WR Lorenzo Joe had already played. Hall, who opened the game at safety, became the first true freshman to start since Blake Gideon in 2008.
• Picking it Off: With four more interceptions today, Texas now has nine already this season after posting 10 all of 2013. The Horns, who had four interceptions in the season opener vs. North Texas, entered the game ranked tied No. 32 nationally in turnovers gained (7) and tied for 48th in turnover margin (+0.33 per game). The Horns scored 10 points off KU turnovers. The Jayhawks entered the game with just three turnovers (all interceptions) and ranked tied for 20th nationally in turnover margin (+1.0 pg).
• Sack Attack: The Texas pass rush has been consistent in the first four games. After posting four sacks in the season opener vs. North Texas, six vs. BYU and three vs. UCLA, the Longhorns had four more today. The Horns entered the game sixth in the FBS in sacks (4.3 per game) and Kansas was 65th in sacks allowed (2.0 pg).
• Third-Down Conversions: Texas entered the game converting 27.3 percent of its third-down attempts (No. 117 in the FBS), but went 7-for-17 (41.2 percent) today. The Horns were also 1 of 2 on fourth down.
• Closing the Door in the Fourth: After a scoreless third quarter from both teams, the UT defense was able to secure the win by holding Kansas to one first down in the fourth quarter (on the final possession). In the final quarter, Kansas had 31 total yards on 18 plays after posting 123 yards on 26 plays in the third quarter.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
Jason Hall, S
• Made his first career start and was credited with a career-high seven tackles (six solos). Became the first true freshman to start a game since Blake Gideon in 2008. He started all 13 games at safety that season.
John Harris, WR
• Had six catches for 89 yards and one TD. He has one TD reception in each of the first four games, becoming just the second player to accomplish that feat. Jordan Shipley had at least one TD catch in the first eight games of 2008.
Jordan Hicks, LB
• Credited with a game-high 11 tackles and collected his second interception of the season. It's his third-straight game (eighth of his career) with double-digit stops.
Hassan Ridgeway, DT
• Made his first career start and was credited with a career-high seven tackles.
Nick Rose, PK
• Missed a PAT and had a field goal blocked in the first half, but rebounded with a career-long 42-yarder in the second half. He also forced touchbacks on all five of his kickoffs. On the season, 14 of his 19 kickoffs have gone for touchbacks.
William Russ, P
• Averaged 42.5 yards on six punts, including a 55-yarder. He now has six punts of 50 or more yards on the season.
Jaxon Shipley, WR
• Had the second-longest punt return of his career - a 41-yarder - in the first quarter which set up a touchdown. He had a 50-yard punt return in last year's Baylor game.
Tyrone Swoopes, QB
• Made his third career start.
• Completed 19 of 34 passes for a career-high 218 yards with two touchdowns. Has now gone 68 straight pass attempts without an interception and has just one in his 99 on the season.
Ty Templin, WR
• Made his first career reception in the opening quarter, a 7-yarder from Swoopes.
Duke Thomas, CB
• Had three tackles and a career-high two interceptions. His first one pick, which occurred in the second quarter, set up the second touchdown. He is the first Longhorns with two picks in a game since Quandre Diggs vs. Ole Miss (Sept. 15, 2012).
