LAWRENCE, Kan. — Sam Richardson, who had not even attempted a pass all year, threw for 250 yards and four touchdowns Saturday night, sparking Iowa State past Kansas 51-23 and handing the Jayhawks their 20th consecutive Big 12 loss.
Richardson led the Cyclones (6-5 overall, 3-5 Big 12) to touchdowns on four straight possessions in the second quarter while taking a 38-17 lead. The redshirt freshman, virtually overlooked all year in the Cyclones’ jumbled quarterback picture, had previously seen only mop-up duty in one game.
While going 23 for 27, Richardson spread his completions around to 12 different receivers. Six different Cyclones scored touchdowns.
For Kansas (1-10, 0-8), the final home game of the year sent a bedraggled class of seniors out on the same sort of sour note which has characterized their entire collegiate careers.
The fourth- and fifth-year seniors came aboard just as the Mark Mangino-coached Jayhawks were winning two straight bowl games for the first time in school history. The long-struggling program seemed headed for the heights. But after starting the 2009 season 5-0, the Jayhawks lost their next seven and now, counting this lopsided loss to Iowa State, have dropped a stunning 36 of 42 games under three head coaches.
Kansas will need to win at West Virginia in its season finale on Dec. 1 to avoid its worst season since the 1988 Jayhawks finished 1-10.
It’s also a bitter entry into the Big 12 for Kansas coach Charlie Weis, who announced at midweek that he would pay the $3 charge for anyone who wanted to buy a student ticket. Officials said it would be several days to know how many took him up on his offer.
Richardson replaced starter Steele Jantz on Iowa State’s third possession and immediately engineered a 10-play, 89-yard drive connecting, with Josh Lenz for 30 yards and setting up Jeff Woody’s 11-yard touchdown run for a 10-7 lead. Lenz also had a 14-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter.
Tony Pierson rushed for 89 yards for Kansas, including a 55-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, and caught a 37-yard scoring pass from Dayne Crist in the fourth. But after his 55-yard score, Iowa State answered immediately with Richardson’s 11-yard scoring pass to Albert Gary.
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