Sept. 6, 2008

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LAWRENCE, Kan. - Not even soggy conditions could stop 14^th-ranked Kansas quarterback Todd Reesing, as the junior connected on 32-of-38 passes for a career-high 412 yards and three touchdowns in KU's 29-0 shutout victory against Louisiana Tech here Saturday night.

With the win, Kansas improved to 2-0 for the fifth straight season, dating back to 2004, while Louisiana Tech fell to 1-1. The victory was KU's 11^th straight home victory and 16^th consecutive win at Kivisto Field at Memorial Stadium against non-conference opponents.

Defensively, KU posted its second shutout in the Mark Mangino era. Last season the Jayhawks posted a 62-0 win against Southeastern Louisiana on Sept. 8.

A crowd of 48,621, the second largest non-conference home crowd at KU, saw Reesing's 412 passing yards for the game rank third on the KU single-game list. Reesing now holds four of the top 13 single-game passing yards in KU history. His 84.2 completion percentage against the Bulldogs ranks fifth on the KU single-game list.

Freshman Daymond Patterson and sophomore Dezmon Briscoe combined for 15 catches and 276 yards receiving from Reesing. Patterson ended the game with eight catches for 130 yards and two touchdowns, while Briscoe had seven receptions for a career-high 146 yards and one score. Patterson and Briscoe became the first two Jayhawks to record 100 receiving yards in the same game since the 2006 season against Nebraska - Brian Murph (8-129) and Dexton Fields (8-108). Not to be outshined, junior Kerry Meier led all receivers with nine receptions for 71 yards on the night.

Up 13-0 at half, KU scored 16 points in the third quarter to cruise to the victory. On its second drive after intermission, Reesing and Briscoe connected on a 48-yard touchdown pass to make the score 20-0 in favor of the Jayhawks. The reception was the longest of Briscoe's career as he ran around and through Bulldog defenders the final 40 yards to pay dirt.

On the ensuing drive, Louisiana Tech sophomore Phillip Livas raced 78 yards, the fifth-longest rush in Bulldog history, down to the KU two-yard line. The Jayhawk defense then mounted a goal-line stand which ended in a Brad Oestriecher missed field goal from 23 yards out.

KU then went on an eight-play, 71-yard drive which ended with a Jacob Branstetter 26-yard field goal to make the score 23-0 in favor of the Jayhawks. Branstetter connected on three field goals in the first action of his career. Later in the quarter, Reesing connected with Patterson on a 39-yard pass to close the scoring for the game.

Kansas took the opening drive 74 yards to the Louisiana Tech 11 before freshman Branstetter made a 38-yard field goal to make the score 3-0. Reesing was 5-for-7 on the drive for 65 yards through the air as it marked the first time KU scored on its opening drive since Nov. 18, 2006, against Kansas State.

In the second quarter Louisiana Tech mounted an 88-yard drive, but KU's Chris Harris intercepted a Taylor Bennett pass in the end zone with 10:40 to play. Reesing then orchestrated an eight-play, 80-yard touchdown drive in 3:02 to make the score 10-0. Reesing went 6-for-6 on the drive, hitting Patterson on a three-yard strike for the score.

Branstetter made his second field goal of the half, a 25-yarder, in the second quarter as KU went on a 13-play, 52-yard drive which stalled at the Louisiana Tech eight-yard line. Reesing went 6-for-6 passing on the drive as KU led 13-0 at intermission.

Kansas hits the road for the first time this season when it plays at No. 17 South Florida on Friday, Sept. 12. Kickoff from Raymond James Stadium is set for 7 p.m. (Central) and the game will be televised on ESPN2.