Bulls beat Kansas
Ben Yarnell
Issue date: 10/12/06 Section: Sports
Saturday's game couldn't have gone any better for the Bulls.
When the Bulls beat Kansas State University on Saturday 33-7 to kick off their league match play, they made it count as much as they could.
Whenever there is a league game, teams can gain points in the standings. Because the Bulls won by more than 10 points and scored more than four tries, they were awarded five points - the maximum for a single match. To top it off, Kansas State came away with no points, helping the Bulls widen the gap in the standings.
Head coach Bill Sexton said the game puts the team in a good position.
"As far as the league goes, this game creates some separation in the standings," he said. "It really was the ideal situation for us."
For the second week in a row, sophomore Mike Fitzgerald showed excellent offensive work, scoring two tries for the Bulls. This weekend's tries brought Fitzgerald to a two-week total of five tries.
Another player who had a solid offensive showing was freshman Xavier Jackson. After the normal starter, freshman Andy Vien, had to leave the game two weeks ago against Washington University with a leg injury, Jackson stepped up to take his spot. The Kansas State's game was Jackson's first start and he played very well, collecting two tries.
Sexton said he was very impressed with Jackson.
"That's a really good way to cement down a position for yourself," Sexton said.
Jackson said he plans to keep up his intensity, especially now that he is a starter.
"I fought hard to get to the spot I am at now," Jackson said. "If I relax, I could get injured or something could happen to me or somebody could take my spot."
The Bulls' defense also made a big stand against Kansas State, Sexton said.
"Our execution needs a little bit of work, but we have had some good, opportunistic plays that we took advantage of," he said.
One blow to the Bulls was the loss of freshman Phil Powell, who fractured his radius, ending his season.
When the Bulls beat Kansas State University on Saturday 33-7 to kick off their league match play, they made it count as much as they could.
Whenever there is a league game, teams can gain points in the standings. Because the Bulls won by more than 10 points and scored more than four tries, they were awarded five points - the maximum for a single match. To top it off, Kansas State came away with no points, helping the Bulls widen the gap in the standings.
Head coach Bill Sexton said the game puts the team in a good position.
"As far as the league goes, this game creates some separation in the standings," he said. "It really was the ideal situation for us."
For the second week in a row, sophomore Mike Fitzgerald showed excellent offensive work, scoring two tries for the Bulls. This weekend's tries brought Fitzgerald to a two-week total of five tries.
Another player who had a solid offensive showing was freshman Xavier Jackson. After the normal starter, freshman Andy Vien, had to leave the game two weeks ago against Washington University with a leg injury, Jackson stepped up to take his spot. The Kansas State's game was Jackson's first start and he played very well, collecting two tries.
Sexton said he was very impressed with Jackson.
"That's a really good way to cement down a position for yourself," Sexton said.
Jackson said he plans to keep up his intensity, especially now that he is a starter.
"I fought hard to get to the spot I am at now," Jackson said. "If I relax, I could get injured or something could happen to me or somebody could take my spot."
The Bulls' defense also made a big stand against Kansas State, Sexton said.
"Our execution needs a little bit of work, but we have had some good, opportunistic plays that we took advantage of," he said.
One blow to the Bulls was the loss of freshman Phil Powell, who fractured his radius, ending his season.