North Dakota State Bison vs Kansas Jayhawks Match Player Stats On Sep 04, 2010

SportsDirect Inc. staff
Sep 4, 2010
This was not the start Turner Gill and the Kansas Jayhawks were looking for.

Hoping to get the Gill era at Kansas off to a fast start, the Jayhawks instead were stymied by North Dakota State in a stunning 6-3 loss Saturday in the season opener for both teams.

Gill came to Lawrence looking to turn around the Kansas program after a successful stint at Buffalo. He spent the past four seasons at Buffalo, leading it to a conference championship in his third season.

The Jayhawks had won six consecutive season openers, but they could not overcome three turnovers and an uneven offensive performance.

Kansas took a 3-0 lead on a 25-yard field goal by Jacob Branstetter late in the first quarter. But that would be it for the Jayhawks offense.

North Dakota State tied the game on a 44-yard field goal by Ryan Jastram with 3:26 left in the first half. Jastram kicked what turned out to be the game-winning field goal with 8:41 left in the third quarter from 32 yards out. Jastram's second field goal was set up by a Kansas fumble.

Kale Pick got the start at quarterback for Kansas and completed 13-of-23 passes for 135 yards and one costly interception. On third-and-goal from the Bisons' eight-yard line, Pick threw an interception in the end zone with five minutes to play in the third quarter.

Gill tried Jordan Webb at quarterback but he was no more effective than Pick, completing 6-of-11 attempts for 55 yards. Branstetter had a chance to tie the game but missed from 42-yards out with seven minutes to go and the Bison picked up their fourth win against an FBS team since 2006. They have also defeated Minnesota, Ball State and Central Michigan.

D.J. McNorton rushed for 65 yards on 17 carries for North Dakota State, which was outgained 282-169.