Three years ago SEMO gave the Jayhawks an opening-game scare

If you ask anybody that follows Kansas football when is the last time the Jayhawks played Southeast Missouri State and what was the result, most people don’t remember. In the last week I have asked several people from long-time KU followers, to people who work at KU, even players who played in the game.

Well, the answer is, just three short years ago the Jayhawks and Redhawks squared off in the season opener in Lawrence.

And there could be good reason some either don’t remember or want to remember.

It was a game Kansas dominated early and then had to hang on to win. They jumped out to a 24-0 lead in the first quarter when Nick Harwell caught a 10-yard touchdown pass from Montell Cozart. Everything was clicking and the game looked like it was on track for a blowout.

Then the game took a turn not in favor or the good guys.

Over the next three quarters Southeast Missouri would outscore Kansas 28-7. Late in the fourth quarter Kyle Snyder connected with Paul McRoberts pulling SEMO within six, at 34-28.

With 1:33 remaining in the game the Redhawks attempted an onside kick that was recovered by Harwell. The Jayhawks ran out the clock to hang on to the win.

Talking with the players this week the common theme is they are all ready to hit someone else not wearing a blue jersey. For the last four weeks they have been going up against each other in practice and that gets old. Every team in America is ready to finally play a game.

One sportsbook has installed Kansas as a 26-point favorite. Don’t be surprised if David Beaty bring up past history to show his team they can’t Southeast Missouri State lightly. History, just three years ago, proves that point.