LAWRENCE, Kan. — The way leads and records kept changing hands, even the players had trouble keeping up.
First, Dezmon Briscoe broke Kansas’ career record for receptions. Then Kerry Meier leaped ahead of Briscoe. Then Meier also erased the school record for most catches in a game.
In the meantime, Todd Ree-sing was throwing for a career-high 442 yards and four touchdowns and No. 16 Kansas was beating Iowa State 41-36 with the help of plenty of last-minute good fortune.
Iowa State’s Austen Arnaud ran around eluding tackles on a fourth-and-9 play and spotted Darius Darks running free into the end zone with about a minute left. But the ball sailed over the receiver’s outstretched hands, allowing Kansas (5-0, 1-0 Big 12) to slip past the 20-point underdogs and remain unbeaten.
“We found ourselves in a shootout and in the end, we seemed to make a few more plays and found ourselves on the top end,” Meier said.
For a second or two, it looked like the ball might settle into the clutches of Darks, who about two minutes earlier had caught Arnaud’s 5-yard TD pass.
“If (the pass) is 2 yards shorter, we’d be having a heck of a celebration right now,” said Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads.
Arnaud had a day to remember, hitting 25-of-40 for 293 yards and two TDs. Alexander Robinson, who missed most of the previous game with a groin injury, ran for 152 yards and two more TDs for the Cyclones (3-3, 0-2).
“I thought I had (Darks),” Arnaud said. “But I just threw it a yard or two too far.”
Reesing was 37-of-49 passing for the Jayhawks. He tied his team record for completions and came within 38 yards of the school mark for yards.
Meier had a school-record 16 catches for 142 yards and two TDs while Briscoe, a fellow senior, caught 12 balls for 186 yards and two more scores. For this week at least, Meier owns the career record with 167 receptions. Briscoe stands at 165. Meier broke the single-game record he and Briscoe had shared.
“I don’t think you can find a duo who’s better than them,” Reesing said. “If you do, I’ll challenge and say that they’re not.”
