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Kansas freshman running back Corey Avery caught a screen pass and snaked away from a determined Central Michigan defense en route to a 30-yard touchdown to salt away a 24-10 victory for the struggling Jayhawks. Avery's score ended an heroic effort by the Chippewa defense to keep the game close. Unfortunately for the Chippewas, Avery also ended any hope that Cooper Rush and the sputtering CMU offense would be given one last chance to find a scoring touch that was missing throughout the contest.
The game was still up for grabs late in the fourth quarter when CMU took over on its 26 yard line after a poor Jayhawk punt. With momentum on the Chips' side, Cooper Rush and the CMU offense went into a shell. A long pass to Jesse Kroll was broken up by Jayhawk defensive back Dexter McDonald. The Chippewas went in reverse on the next two plays and were forced to punt. The Chippewa offense looked predictable and transparent in the series and the chance to get the equalizer was squandered.
The Jayhawks shot out to an early lead on their first offensive play from scrimmage on an end around run by senior Tony Pierson that resulted in a 74 yard touchdown. That was the only score of the first quarter.
The Chips' offense perked up in the second quarter. An 11 play drive resulted in a 37-yard field goal by Brian Eavey. The half ended with Kansas ahead 7-3.
A Devon Spalding fumble forced by Kansas pre-season All-American linebacker Ben Heeney set the Jayhawks up at the CMU 39 yard line. The Jayhawks needed six plays to convert the CMU turnover into three points courtesy of a Matthew Wyman 29-yard field goal.
CMU showed some life on the ensuing drive. Martez Walker was given some reps at running back and he made the most of it. Walker rushed for a total of 46 yards on the drive and capped things off with an 18 yard run for a touchdown. The score knotted the game at 10-10, but that would be it for the CMU offense.
Kansas quarterback Montell Cozart passed for 231 yards and two touchdowns. Cozart was kept quiet by the Chip defense for most of the game, but he was key in the clutch for the Jayhakws. The victory improve Kansas' record to 2-1. The Chips fall to 2-2 with the loss.