Nick Krug
The Kansas defense smothers UNLV quarterback Matthew Sluka (3) during a first quarter play on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas.
Kansas City, Kansas – All of their offensive problems could have been forgotten if the Jayhawks had simply slipped up on a fumble.
Midway through the fourth quarter on Friday night, with Kansas holding a four-point lead, KU defensive end Jereme Robinson knocked the ball away from UNLV quarterback Matt Sluka from behind. The Jayhawk tackles had a chance to pounce on it, but only pushed it further back into the defensive backfield, where safety OJ Burroughs blew two more opportunities to recover it.
The ball landed safely in the hands of UNLV running back Kylin James.
That was the kind of night it was for KU. After a stop-and-go drive lasting more than nine minutes, during which the Rebels benefited from pass interference, suffered a personal foul and then converted two fourth-and-ones, James scored the decisive touchdown in UNLV’s 23-20 victory.
Quarterback Jalon Daniels ran for two touchdowns in the first half, but his two interceptions, one of which led to a key touchdown for UNLV late in the second quarter, hamstrung an offense that initially seemed to have recovered from its troubles at Illinois. The Jayhawks were only able to score a single field goal after halftime, and a chop block by Logan Brown on fourth down thwarted their attempt at a game-winning drive.
After KU forced an early three-and-out, the team slowly fought its way forward. Luke Grimm picked up a key first down by driving defenders out of bounds with a screen pass, and Lawrence Arnold got the Jayhawks into the red zone with a reverse. Daniels got the first score himself by keeping the ball on a speed option and going around defenders for an 11-yard touchdown.
UNLV faced a fourth-and-short on its next drive, but Sluka charged forward for first down after a quarterback sneak and promptly completed a 31-yard pass to Jaden Bradley. The Rebels’ drive stalled, however, when there was a delay of game penalty on third-and-3 and Sluka’s throw was too high for Ricky White III, leading to a Caden Chittenden field goal.
The Jayhawks responded with a heavy dose of Devin Neal before another speed option keeper fooled the Rebels and allowed Daniels to sprint 33 yards into the end zone to make it 14-3.
KU offered little resistance to UNLV’s next attack, which featured a large role for the quarterback’s running game. So much so that on third-and-7, the Rebels called a designed quarterback run at KU’s 11-yard line and didn’t even come close to a first down. Chittenden converted again, cutting the lead to one possession.
A 33-yard pass from Daniels to Neal to start the next drive kept the Jayhawks’ offensive momentum going, and Neal ran another 19 yards soon after. But like UNLV, KU failed to gain enough yards on a third-down quarterback run, and Tabor Allen kicked a 35-yard field goal with 3:17 left in the first half.
The Rebels again appeared in danger of going three-for-one when Sluka outfoxed Dean Miller at the line of scrimmage and then raced 46 yards down the left sideline. A sack by Jereme Robinson on second down gave UNLV another field goal, this time from 50 yards, where Chittenden was both short and wide.
In the final minute before halftime, the momentum shifted massively in UNLV’s favor. After KU passed the halfway line, Daniels threw his fifth interception of the year, which Jalen Catalon returned 46 yards to turn the field. Sluka threw a short pass to Jacob De Jesus, who was tackled infield at the 27-yard line, and even with timeouts remaining, the Rebels ran down the clock incredibly far, leaving them with just one play before halftime.
On this play, however, Jai’Den Thomas came out of the backfield and caught a lob from Sluka for a game-winning touchdown that made it 17-13 as time expired in the second quarter.
Daniels was intercepted again by Jackson Woodard early in the third quarter, but even though UNLV started a drive at the 4-yard line, the team had to settle for a third field goal instead of taking the lead as the Jayhawks’ defensive line held firm again.
KU held firm on defense throughout the quarter, but was unwilling to capitalize on offensive opportunities further up the field, including on third-and-long. When Daniels found Sevion Morrison for 18 yards on third-and-10 from the Jayhawks’ 2-yard line, it was only the second successful pass by the KU offense in nearly 20 minutes. Shortly after, he scored another first down against Kardell.
On that drive, which lasted into the fourth quarter, the Jayhawks got as far as second and first down at the UNLV 16-yard line before a screen pass to Grimm went back seven yards. Daniels and Grimm were out of sync on the third attempt, leading to a second successful field goal for Allen.
After the forced fumble came to nothing and Devin Dye was penalized for defensive pass interference, UNLV continued to fight its way to a fourth-and-inches at the 2-yard line with five minutes left. Sluka managed to get to the line to recover the ball, but a personal foul late in the game pushed the Rebels back to the 16.
UNLV found itself in a tough spot on third-and-12 after Dylan Wudke botched a reverse, but Sluka was able to get the Rebels close to the goal line, allowing James’ touchdown.
The Jayhawks travel to West Virginia to face the Mountaineers on September 21 at 11 a.m. Central Time.
This is how they scored
First quarter
6:22 – Jalon Daniels 11-yard run. Tabor Allen PAT good. Twelve plays, 81 yards, 7:16 TOP. KU 7, UNLV 0.
1:33 – Caden Chittenden’s 38-yard field goal is good. Eleven plays, 55 yards, 4:49 TOP. KU 7, UNLV 3.
Second quarter
12:12 – Daniels 33-yard run. Allen PAT good. Eight plays, 94 yards, 4:10 TOP. KU 14, UNLV 3.
6:19 – 27-yard field goal by Chittenden good. Twelve plays, 66 yards, 5:53 TOP. KU 14, UNLV 6.
3:17 – Allen’s 35-yard field goal is good. Seven plays, 58 yards, 3:02 TOP. KU 17, UNLV 6.
0:00 – Jai’Den Thomas pass from Matthew Sluka for 27 yards. Chittenden PAT good. Two plays, 33 yards, 0:30 TOP. KU 17, UNLV 13.
Third quarter
9:38 – 23-yard field goal by Chittenden good. Four plays, minus 1 yard, 1:22 TOP. KU 17, UNLV 16.
Fourth quarter
11:22 – Allen’s 41-yard field goal is good. Thirteen plays, 75 yards, 5:44 TOP. KU 20, UNLV 16.
1:51 – 1-yard run by Kylin James. Fourteen plays, 75 yards, 9:31 TOP. UNLV 23, KU 20.
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Written by Henry Greenstein
