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Reesing, Kansas face tough test in South Florida

Sep 12, 2008 - 12:40 PM No. 11 Kansas (2-0) at No. 18 South Florida (2-0), 8:00 pm EDT

TAMPA, Florida (Ticker) -- Kansas often was the target of criticism for playing an easy schedule during its one-loss campaign in 2007. That won't be the case this year.

Todd Reesing and the 11th-ranked Jayhawks will face their biggest challenge of the season to date Friday night when they go on the road to play No. 18 South Florida.

Kansas (2-0), which went 12-1 last season, had little trouble disposing of its first two opponents this year.

The Jayhawks routed Florida International, 40-10, in their opener before cruising to a 29-0 victory over Louisiana Tech on Saturday.

Reesing could emerge as a Heisman Trophy candidate with a good showing against the Bulls (2-0). The junior has completed over 76 percent (69-of-90) of his passes for 668 yards and six touchdowns with one interception.

Dezmon Briscoe has become Reesing's favorite target, hauling in 16 catches for 201 yards and four scores. But Reesing has tossed the ball all over the field in the first two contests, completing passes to 11 different receivers.

Kansas will have to keep reigning Big East Defensive Player of the Year George Selvie from hounding Reesing in this one.

Selvie, who collected 14 1/2 sacks and 31 1/2 tackles for loss last season, is yet to get a sack this year.

Reesing also will be opposed by another talented junior quarterback in Matt Grothe, who passed for 442 yards and five TDs with two picks over the first two games.

Grothe supplies more of a dual-threat attack than Reesing, rushing 24 times this season for 73 yards.

South Florida did receive a challenge last week, squeaking out a 31-24 overtime victory over Central Florida on Saturday.

Grothe found Taurus Johnson over the middle for a 25-yard touchdown in the overtime to give South Florida the lead. The Bulls' defense stopped UCF quarterback Michael Greco on a 4th-and-5 run inches before the first down marker to seal the win.

"Taurus Johnson had a great game and Matt (Grothe) hit him really well," South Florida head coach Jim Leavitt said. "Matt is a competitor and I love the guy. I really do. You could not ask me any more from Matt. We put him in some tough positions that we probably shouldn't have, but I am really proud of Matt."

Johnson had six catches for 143 yards and Cedric Hill added a pair of touchdown grabs for the Bulls, who were helped by 12 UCF penalties for 148 yards.