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Reesing's four TD passes lead Kansas past Iowa State

Nov 18, 2007 - 2:08 AM LAWRENCE, Kansas (Ticker) -- Todd Reesing and Kansas were just warming up before the main event.

Reesing passed for 253 yards and four touchdowns as the fourth-ranked Jayhawks posted a 45-7 Big 12 conference victory over Iowa State on Saturday.

Wide receiver Dexton Fields caught 11 passes for 109 yards and two touchdowns and Marcus Henry hauled in four for 92 and a score for Kansas (11-0, 7-0 Big 12 North), which is 11-0 for the first time in the 117-year history of the program.

"Being 11-0 means a lot to the people who work with our players every game, the players themselves, and the team as a whole," Kansas coach Mark Mangino said. "It means a lot to them that they have been able to do something that hasn't been done in the past."

The Jayhawks will square off with No. 6 Missouri next Saturday in Kansas City for a chance to advance to the Big 12 title game.

"We had planned to have a good season, and one of the things that the kids wanted to accomplish this year was to have an opportunity to win the Big 12 North," Mangino said. "Next week they will get an opportunity to try and do that."

A win over the Tigers would put Kansas in a likely matchup with third-ranked Oklahoma in the conference championship game.

With wins in its next two games, Kansas - the only unbeaten team left among the six conferences with automatic bids to the BCS - almost certainly would secure a berth in the national championship game on January 7.

Reesing, who completed 17-of-18 attempts in the first half and who owns the school's single-season record with 30 touchdown passes, connected with Fields twice before the end of the first quarter.

A 5-11 sophomore, Reesing capped a 10-play, 82-yard drive by finding Fields from 17 yards outs with 5:27 left in the period.

After Kansas' defense forced a three-and-out, Reesing engineered an 80-yard drive that he finished by tossing a 16-yard score to Fields with 1:57 remaining in the quarter.

"Tonight we were executing our plays very well, and we weren't trying to force anything and take what the defense would give us," Reesing said. "Because of that we were able to complete a lot of passes and have productivity."

The Jayhawks' third touchdown came midway through the second period when Reesing hit Henry on a crossing pattern over the middle that the senior took all the way to the end zone for a 52-yard score.

"Reesing had another great night out," Mangino said. "He had good protection. The receivers, tight ends and backs ran good routes, which gave him the chance to put some balls into coverage. Todd had a really good night."

Henry had a career-high 199 receiving yards last week against Oklahoma State and also caught three touchdowns in that contest.

Alexander Robinson ran for a six-yard touchdown with just under four minutes left in the half to cut the Cyclones' deficit to 21-7.

But the Jayhawks took their next possession 75 yards in eight plays, with Reesing finding Kerry Meier from 18 yards out to give Kansas a 28-7 halftime lead.

Meier, who caught three passes for 41 yards and a TD, was the Jayhawks' starting quarterback last season before losing his job to Reesing in the spring.

"It took a day (after spring football) to get over the fact that Reesing is the starting QB," said Meier, who was 9-of-9 for 101 yards after taking over quarterbacking duties late in the third quarter. "I realized that Todd is the man for the job this year, and that's how it's going to be.

"I needed to find another place and another way to get on the field, and I think I found that way and I'm enjoying what I'm doing right now."

Bret Meyer went 16-of-28 for 103 yards and backup Austen Arnaud was 8-of-15 for 79 and an interception for Iowa State (3-9, 2-6 North) which is 0-5 on the road and has never beaten a top-five team in school history.

"They are a very good football team," Iowa State coach Gene Chizik said. "They are deservedly No. 2 in the country. (Mangino) built it right. He's built it with speed and with great players."