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Kansas Dominates Middle Tennessee in 55-0 Shutout
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- Kansas Dominates Middle Tennessee in 55-0 Shutout
(IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
Kansas football put together one of its most complete performances of the season Saturday, shutting out Middle Tennessee 55-0 to improve to 2-2 on the season.
The Jayhawks controlled the game from the opening quarter and never allowed Middle Tennessee to find any rhythm offensively. Kansas scored first with a field goal with six minutes left in the first quarter before Dylan Edwards found the end zone for the first time on a six-yard touchdown run.
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Edwards continued to be a major part of the Kansas offense throughout the game. After both teams exchanged punts, Edwards scored again on a five-yard touchdown run, giving Kansas a 17-0 lead with four minutes remaining in the first half.
While the offense continued to build its lead, the Kansas defense was having one of its best performances of the season. Dakyus Brinkley recorded his first sack of the season, and the defense later forced a turnover on downs after Middle Tennessee quarterback Gagliano threw an incomplete pass.
Kansas added another field goal before halftime after quarterback Isaiah Marshall tried to connect with Pickett in the end zone but could not get him in bounds. The 35-yard field goal gave Kansas a 20-0 advantage heading into halftime.
Marshall completed 8 of 15 passes for 76 yards in the first half, while Gagliano was just 5 of 13 for 32 yards. Marshall also led all players with 100 rushing yards at halftime. More information and coverage of the game can be found through the Jayhawk Roundtable homepage .
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Kansas picked up right where it left off after halftime. The Jayhawks put together an almost three-minute drive that ended with Edwards scoring his third touchdown of the afternoon on a rushing play, extending the lead to 27-0.
After another Middle Tennessee punt, Kansas eventually found the end zone again when Marshall connected with Nahzee Cox on a 34-yard touchdown pass. With 3:47 left in the third quarter, Kansas had built a 34-0 advantage.
The defense continued to dominate, with Kansas recovering a fumble by Leroy Harris III. The Jayhawks also surpassed 300 rushing yards during the game, showing how effective the rushing attack was from start to finish.
Marshall finished his afternoon 13 of 22 for 161 yards before leaving the game. Kansas continued to add points with its backups, including a five-yard touchdown run from Jalen Dupree to make it 41-0.
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Edwards finished with 137 rushing yards and three touchdowns, leading a Kansas rushing attack that consistently moved the ball against Middle Tennessee. Chase Jenkins then added a 14-yard touchdown run for his first score of the season, making it 48-0.
Khiljohn Cummings Coleman added another touchdown on a 24-yard run for his first touchdown of the year, pushing the score to 55-0. Kansas later converted a fourth-and-seven while attempting to run out the clock.
The 55-0 victory gave Kansas its first shutout since 2008 and provided a strong response heading into the next part of the season. The Jayhawks will now turn their attention toward Utah, which awaits next Saturday. Fans can also follow additional Kansas coverage and updates from Kansas Athletics and ESPN's Kansas football page .
For Kansas, the win was about more than just improving to 2-2. The Jayhawks dominated on both sides of the football, received a huge performance from Edwards and showed that the defense can create problems for opposing offenses. Now, the challenge will be carrying that momentum into next week's matchup with Utah. Kansas football coverage from 247Sports .
