KANSAS CITY, Kansas – Kylin James scored on fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line with 1:51 left to help UNLV to a 23-20 win over Kansas on Friday night at Children’s Mercy Park.
Due to construction on their stadium, the Jayhawks will play all of their games outside of Lawrence, Kansas this season.
UNLV quarterback Matthew Sluka completed just 7 of 18 passes for a total of 86 yards, but ran for 113 yards.
Jalon Daniels completed 12 of 23 passes for 153 yards and had two interceptions for Kansas (1-2). He scored two rushing touchdowns.
Daniels’ second interception of the game gave UNLV the ball at KU’s 4-yard line, but the Rebels only managed a 23-yard field goal by Caden Chittenden.
Kansas responded with a 41-yard field goal by Tabor Allen to extend the lead to 20-16 in the fourth quarter.
But UNLV (3-0) used a 14-play, 75-yard drive to take 9:31 off the clock to secure the late lead.
After forcing a three-and-out to start, Kansas responded with a 12-play, 81-yard touchdown drive capped by Daniels’ 11-yard run. The Rebels responded with an 11-play drive but had to settle for a 38-yard field goal by Chittenden.
Daniels then ran 33 yards, untouched by the right tackle, capping his 94-yard run that gave Kansas a 14-3 lead early in the second quarter.
Kansas’ defense stepped up again and stopped UNLV on third-and-7, forcing Chittenden to make a 27-yard field goal. Allen then extended the lead to 17-6 with a 35-yard field goal with 3:17 left in the first half.
Kansas went for another point when Daniels threw his fifth interception of the season. The ball was returned 46 yards to the Kansas 33-yard line. As the first half clock expired, Sluka found Jai’Den Thomas in the flat field and Thomas converted it for a 27-yard touchdown with no time left on the clock, cutting the score to 17-13 at halftime.
THE RESULT
UNLV: The Rebels need to work on their long passing game. Sluka attempted seven passes of at least 20 yards – several of them significantly longer – and missed all seven.
Kansas: Daniels has the makings of a star, but he needs to cut down on his turnovers. He threw an interception in the season opener and had three in the loss at Illinois. His first-half interception on Friday kept UNLV in the game, and his second-half interception allowed the Rebels to get a chip-shot field goal.
Next
UNLV: The Rebels open the Mountain West Conference season on September 21 with a home game against Fresno State.
Kansas: The Jayhawks open the Big 12 Conference on September 21 with an away game at West Virginia.
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