West Virginia puts up little fight in blowout loss to Kansas

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Jalon Daniels threw three touchdown passes, Emmanuel Henderson returned a kickoff 94 yards for a TD and Kansas beat West Virginia, 41-10, on Saturday night in the Big 12 opener for both teams.

Leshon Williams had 19 carries for 129 yards, which included a 62-yard TD to cap the scoring, and added a 39-yard touchdown reception, which was set up by a 43-yard kickoff return by Henderson.

After the Jayhawks forced a three-and-out on West Virginia’s first drive, Daniels threw a 41-yard touchdown pass to Levi Wentz. Daniels also hit Boden Groen for a 7-yard touchdown in the third quarter.

Laith Marjan kicked a 42-yard field goal early in the second quarter and a 44-yarder as time expired in the first half before Henderson caught the opening kickoff in the third quarter at the 6 and eluded a pair of would-be tacklers at the 20 and 25 before racing to the end zone to make it 27-3.

Daniels was 12-of-24 passing for 138 yards.

The Jayhawks (3-1, 1-0 Big 12) finished 242 yards rushing — 69 by Daniels on five carries — and forced the game’s only two turnovers.

Nicco Marchiol was 15-of-27 passing for 126 yards with an interception for West Virginia (2-2).

Mountaineers backup quarterback Jaylen Henderson scored on a 13-yard run in the fourth quarter. Kade Hensley kicked a 26-yard field goal in the second quarter.

The takeaway

West Virginia: The Mountaineers, who went into the game fourth in the FBS with 13 sacks, didn’t record one.

Kansas: The Jayhawks had nearly as many return yards (199) as West Virginia had total yards (227) through three quarters.

Up next

West Virginia hosts Utah next Saturday, and Kansas will remain at home to play Cincinnati.