Kansas football’s run game helps Jayhawks dominate Oklahoma State

Kansas rushed for 232 yards in its 113th homecoming football game on Saturday, defeating Oklahoma State 38-21. Daniel Hishaw Jr., Leshon Williams and Isaiah Marshall all played an important role in helping the Jayhawks bounce back this week to beat the Cowboys for just the third time since 2007. 

The running back duo for the Jayhawks both carried the ball 14 times each, combining for 142 yards, with Williams rushing for 77 yards and Hishaw Jr. rushing for 65 yards. Both players contributed to helping Kansas score three of its five touchdowns in Saturday’s game. 

“It’s the most healthy the two of them have been since the opening game of the season. To have them both healthy going down this final stretch will be very important for us,” Kansas head coach Lance Leipold said. “You can see they complement each other well. They’re very physical runners with good vision.” 

Hishaw Jr. scored a touchdown in last week’s matchup, but this week achieved the milestone of scoring two rushing touchdowns in a game for the first time this season. 

“It was good. I’m glad we won,” Hishaw Jr. said. “I don't really think about the touchdowns, I promise. If I get out of here with no touchdowns, I’m just as happy.”

Hishaw Jr. and Williams made plays and wore down Oklahoma State’s defense when it mattered the most. At the same time, they were successful in decreasing the workload of one another. 

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Kansas football’s run game helps Jayhawks dominate Oklahoma State

“I mean, it’s very important, you know, to have multiple players that you know, you can believe in,” Hishaw Jr. said. “That’s the big thing about our running back group, is a lot of running backs, even the young dudes, are really nice.” 

Kansas third-string quarterback Isaiah Marshall made a big play in the third quarter after a 43-yard run, setting up the Jayhawks to score a touchdown two plays later. 

“It was a very big spark for us,” Leipold said. ”In fact, I told him before I came up here, your run was a big one that sparked us what we needed. We needed that little boost. It was huge.”

Playing against Oklahoma State was not only a big deal for Hishaw Jr. because it was homecoming week but also because he grew up an hour away from where the Cowboys play in Stillwater. 

“I mean, it’s very cool, you know, sometimes you forget in the moment, like I’m actually playing against a team I rooted for my whole life,” Hishaw Jr. said. 

Kansas will continue to try to run the ball effectively as they travel to Tucson, Arizona, for a matchup with the Arizona Wildcats on Saturday, Nov. 8. The game is set to start at 2:30 p.m. CT and will be streaming on ESPN2.