Match Summary: Football | 13-09-2024 21:46:00 hrs

KANSAS CITY, Kansas – Kansas was defeated 23-20 by UNLV on Friday night at Children’s Mercy Park before a capacity crowd of 21,493. UNLV scored a go-ahead touchdown on a fourth-and-goal with 1:51 left in the fourth quarter.

After limiting UNLV to a three-and-out on the game’s opening drive, Kansas took over at its own 19-yard line and marched 81 yards in 12 plays, capped by an 11-yard touchdown run by a redshirt junior quarterback Jalon Daniels to go up 7-0. Daniels completed 58 of 81 yards on the drive with 19 yards rushing and 39 yards passing, going 4-for-5 through the air. Daniels’ touchdown was his first rushing touchdown of the season and the 14th of his career.

UNLV responded with a 55-yard drive that ended with a 38-yard field goal. Kansas would lead UNLV 7-3 at the end of the first quarter.

On his next possession, Kansas would go up 14-3 on a Daniels 33-yard touchdown run on an option to the right side. Kansas’ scoring drive went 94 yards in eight plays. Daniels would convert a 3rd-and-4 to senior tight end Trevor Kardell for 18 yards for his 33-yard jump.

UNLV continued to score on the next drive, connecting on a 27-yard field goal to make the score 14-6 in KU’s favor with 6:19 left before halftime.

On Kansas’ first play of the next drive, Daniels connected with Neal on a 33-yard pass play. Two plays later, Neal bolted up the middle for 20 yards, but the drive would stall at the UNLV 28-yard line. KU senior kicker Tabor Allen would give the Jayhawks a 17-6 lead after he made a 35-yard field goal with 3:17 left in the second quarter.

On Kansa’s ensuing drive, UNLV intercepted a pass from Daniels and scored a touchdown two plays later with time expiring, giving KU a 17-13 lead at halftime.

UNLV would cut the lead to 17-16 with a 23-yard field goal that began a drive that started at the KU 4-yard line after an interception. KU pushed UNLV back a yard on the drive to limit UNLV to a field goal.

UNLV controlled field position for most of the third quarter, pinning KU on its own 2-yard line with 2:06 left in the quarter. KU would then mount a 75-yard drive on 13 plays that ended with an Allen 41-yard field goal to make it 20-16 with 11:22 left in the game. On his first third down of the drive, Daniels threw a 10-yard completion to redshirt junior Sevion Morrison to keep the drive going. Daniels then connected with senior wide receiver Lawrence Arnold on a 29-yard reception and Neal would add rushes of six and nine yards.

Rebel Kylin James capped UNLV’s game-winning drive with a one-yard rush. UNLV covered 75 yards in 18 plays over 9:22 on its final drive.

Devin Neal led the way offensively for Kansas with 120 yards on the ground, his third straight 100-plus yard rushing game of the season. Kansas outgained UNLV 352-267 in total offense.

With the loss, Kansas is now 1-2 on the season, while UNLV remains undefeated with a 3-0 record.

NEXT
Kansas opens its Big 12 Conference schedule when the Jayhawks travel to Morgantown, West Virginia to take on the West Virginia Mountaineers on Saturday, September 21 at 11:00 a.m. CT. The game will be televised on ESPN2.