[2023] Mizzery: Kansas beats rival Missouri to finish regular season 7-5

[Bundy]

It was a close (perhaps much too close) game all evening, but the Jayhawks prevailed for the 2nd consecutive year, banishing the Missouri Tigers to a 2-10 season and ushering in what will be the darkest offseason for the SEC foes. 

For Kansas, who clinched bowl eligibility last week, the 20-14 victory was short of the beatdown they'd hoped to give, but it was still a noteworthy performance. Currently starting quarterback Tyler Summers completed 10/14 passes for 89 yards and no scores, but did not throw any costly turnovers in a game where he needed to play it safe. Summers was knocked out of action for the majority of the 3rd quarter, and redshirt freshman Dustin Benintendi, a 3-star 2021 commit from Pensacola, Florida, filled in admirably, rushing for a 6-yard touchdown and completing a pass to fullback Marcell Maysonet for 10 yards on 3rd and 10. 

Star running back Cody Casspi only toted the rock 6 times for 15 yards, with Aaron Diaz seeing the bulk of the KU touches, rushing for 82 yards on 17 carries. Tight end Alex Atkins, in his final home game, hauled in 4 of 5 targets for 39 yards. But it was standout, and should-be-household-name CB Chaz Tuivailala who really electrified fans when needed. Missouri was really starting to gain momentum in the 4th quarter down 14-17, and Tuivailala intercepted a Chris Golden pass and returned it to the Mizzou 25 yard line, which would eventually set up the game sealing FG that put Kansas ahead 20-17, making Missouri panic as they'd now need an elusive touchdown to win. Ryan Gilliam, a 5th-year senior, had previously picked Golden off.

"You hate to see it happen to a program, especially as good as they were at their inception," solemnly noted KU coach @Bundy post-game. "They had a fierce, fearless coaching staff headed by @Nittany Boiler, who unfortunately had to step away. Since then, its been turmoil, various coaches or unqualified interims. Any other school and I might feel bad, but with their shenanigans and forcing us to play them this year, yeah, we'll leave our talking in the win column."

 

 

For the regular season, Kansas players were able to shine, even if their 7-5 record wasn't quite what the fans were looking forward to. This Jayhawks squad was a young team.

Jayhawks Youthful Impact

Position Player Statistics QB Tyler Summers (SO) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 1,282 passing yards, 7 TD, 14 INT; 736 rushing yards, 2 TD WR Tanner Bradley (SO) ⭐⭐⭐ 10 Rec/22 Targets, 96 yards, 0 TD TE Steel Blue SO ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 26 Rec/63 Targets, 225 yards, 0 TD OG David Hager FR ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 12 starts DE Robert Wims (FR) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 13 tackles DE Kevon Jeter SO ⭐⭐⭐ 5 tackles LB Sung Franzese FR ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 90 tackles, 3 TFL LB Michael Koehn (FR) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 20 tackles CB Ross Patton (FR) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 27 tackles, FF, 3 INT CB Warwick Hollins (FR) ⭐⭐⭐ 9 tackles FS Eric Gaherty FR ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 36 tackles, 2 INT K Jake Ramirez SO ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 24/30 FG, 57 Long; 32/32 XP P Craig Lonergan FR ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 64 Punts, 28 <20

The Jayhawks will of course lose a bevy of talent to graduation and the pros, including RB2 Aaron Diaz, FB Marcell Maysonet, 3-year starter TE Alex Atkins, OT Zach Rogers, standout OG Jose Moustakas, and C Pete Blythe on offense alone. Defensively, OLB Aaron Freeman, DL Chris Barreto, DE Randal Holmes, DB Kevin Suarez, NB Ryan Gilliam, and DT Dante Gates will also leave. 

With this mass departure, fans will need to temper their expectations for another season, and major questions still remain in the receiving room, and at the quarterback position. Kansas is slated to start three freshman or redshirt freshman offensive linemen. 

But these questions will have to wait to be solved until one more question gets answered: where are we headed for the post-season, Kansas is going bowling!

 

[Bundy]

....why didn't my table insert properly