Marshall’s late surge caps Kansas upset of Baylor

Late surge decides tight contest

Isaiah Marshall’s 15-yard rushing touchdown, followed by a failed two-point pass conversion, gave the Kansas Jayhawks a 25-24 victory over the Baylor Bears on Saturday. The decisive run came in the final minute of play at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium in Lawrence, where 32,000 spectators watched the home team secure a critical win.

This result improved Kansas’ record to 3-4, while Baylor fell to 4-3. The game featured a balanced offensive battle, with both teams exchanging leads before Kansas closed the gap in the fourth quarter.

Quarter-by-quarter breakdown

The scoring sequence revealed a back-and-forth affair. In the first quarter, Baylor struck first with a 22-yard pass from Isaiah Marshall to Carson Bruhn, but Kansas tied the game at 7-7 with a one-yard run by Dawson Pendergrass. The second quarter was scoreless, leaving the teams deadlocked at halftime.

The third quarter saw Baylor pull ahead, with Devon Jordan returning an interception 42 yards for a touchdown to make it 14-7. Kansas responded with a 40-yard field goal by Martin Connington, but Baylor reasserted control with an eight-yard pass from DJ Lagway to Jayden McGowan, taking a 21-10 lead into the final period.

Marshall leads the charge

Kansas mounted a late rally in the fourth quarter. Isaiah Marshall connected with Nik McMillan on a 34-yard pass, scoring six points on a failed two-point conversion to cut the deficit to 21-16. Martin Connington added a 42-yard field goal to make it 21-19.

Baylor then kicked a 42-yard field goal by Rhett Armstrong to lead 24-19. With time running down, Marshall rushed 15 yards for the winning touchdown, and the subsequent two-point pass attempt failed, sealing the 25-24 final score.

Stat lines and records

Marshall was the offensive engine for Kansas, completing 17 of 29 passes for 212 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Dylan Edwards provided a strong ground game with 30 carries for 156 yards. On the receiving end, McMillan caught two passes for 66 yards and a touchdown.

For Baylor, DJ Lagway led the passing attack with 236 yards on 20 of 31 completions, adding one touchdown and one interception. Lagway also rushed for 47 yards on 11 carries. Gavin Freeman was Baylor’s top receiver, catching nine passes for 123 yards.

The Jayhawks’ defense also played a pivotal role, as the blocked late field goal attempt was not listed in the scoring plays, but the final score reflects the successful defensive stand that preserved the lead.

Sources

ESPN