The News-Star from Monroe, Louisiana • Page 26

4C Sunday, September 3, 2006 Nebraska 49, Louisiana Tech 10 The News-Star www.thenewsstar.com it, s. Beder 3. 1 La. Tech 10 0 0 0 10 Nebraska 7 14 7 21-49 First Quarter Herian 13 pass from Taylor (Congdon kick). 1:54.

Second Quarter LT-FG Horwedel 23. Lucky 13 run (Congdon kick), 5:54. LT Holland 39 pass from Champion (Horwedel kick). 2:36. Glenn 1 run (Congdon kick), .07.

Third Quarter Phillips 6 pass from Taylor (Congdon kick). Fourth Quarter Mueller 6 pass from Taylor (Congdon kick), 11:56. Brand. Jackson 25 run (Congdon kick). 7:49.

Teafatiller 29 pass from Ganz (Congdon kick), 3:14. Tech Neb First downs 13 30 Rushes-yards 21-67 48-252 Passing .238 332 Comp-Att-Int 13-32-1 24-36-1 Return Yards 23 23 Punts-Avg Fumbles-Lost 4-2 3-1 Penalties-Yards 5-25 5-45 Time of Possession 24:55 35:05 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING Louisiana Tech, P.Jackson 9-43, Franklin 6-35, Champion 6-(minus 11). Nebraska, Glenn 13-88. Lucky 13-79, K.WIIson 15-47. Brand.Jackson 3-36, Taylor 2-9, Team 2-(minus 7).

PASSING Louisiana Tech, Champion 12-27-1-231, Mosley 1-5-0-7. Nebraska, Taylor 22-34-1-287, Ganz 2-2-0-45. RECEIVING Louisiana Tech, Holland 7-139, Wheeler 2-69, Newman 1-16, Franklin 1-7, Carroll 1-7, P.Jackson 1-0. Nebraska, Nunn 5-54, Herian 3-6L Swift 3-46, Lucky 3-42. Peterson 2-30, Hardy 2-24, Mueller 2-10, Phillips 2-8, Teafatiller 1-29, Purify 1-28.

-r; 3t 1 i a Si AP Andrew Shanle on Saturday. GOOD PLAY Johnathan Holland made a highlight reel catch on a 39-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter. Holland hauled in Zac Champion's pass with one hand, his left, before getting both feet in and then tumbling into a row of seats that were field level. The play cut Nebraska's lead to 14-10. BAD PLAY On Nebraska's first touchdown of the day, tight end Matt Herian came wide open on what appeared to be a busted coverage.

Herian was all alone in the end zone for an easy 13-yard touchdown and a 7-0 Nebraska lead. GOOD CALL Nebraska found a soft spot in the Tech secondary underneath with its tight end and the Cornhuskers relentlessly kept going to it. Nebraska wound up throwing four touchdown passes to its tight ends. BIG HIT In the second quarter, Tech backup linebacker Marvin Lubin came up to make a tackle on Nebraska runner Cody Glenn, but Glenn lowered his shoulder and blasted Lubin, knocking him back and continuing to run. DID YOU NOTICE? On the first play of his college career, true freshman defensive lineman D'Anthony Smith intercepted a pass after it was tipped by linebacker Quin Harris.

The pick thwarted a Nebraska scoring threat as the Huskers had driven to the Tech 7-yard line. SOMETHING SPECIAL Tech kickoff specialist Brad Oestriecher was a game-time decision with an injured leg, and after warmups it was determined he couldn't go. Place-kicker Danny Horwedel handled the kickoff duties in his absence. GET IN THE GAME A sign at a Phillips 66 gas station across the street from Memorial Stadium said "Welcome back a message for Tech defensive coordinator George Darlington, who spent 30 years as an assistant at Nebraska. Scott Beder f'iv Louisiana Tech's Patrick Jackson Tech QB Zac Champion turned in a solid first start.

From page 1C Champion. Then on the Bulldogs' next possession, Johnathan Holland dropped a perfect pass for a first down and on the next play Champion was sacked again lor a 10-yard loss. This was followed by a delay of game. Not exactly an inspiring start. "It was a little difficult coming to Nebraska for my first game," Champion said.

"It took a while to get my feet underneath me." Which is exactly what Champion did. The junior from Birmingham picked himself off the turf literally and figuratively. After Nebraska took a 7-0 lead at the end of the first quarter, Champion settled down and engineered a nice drive, moving the Bulldogs 80 yards in 12 plays, leading to a Danny Horwedel field goal. On that drive he hit Holland on a big 35-yard pickup. "He had a couple of possessions early on and saw some pressure," offensive coordinator Conroy Hines said.

"He had some first-game jitters, but I thought he kept his composure well." After Nebraska took a 14-3 lead, Champion came right back, driving 67 yards in eight plays. He was 3-for-3 on the drive and threw his first career touchdown pass, a 39-yarder to Holland, who made a circus one-handed catch. Champion had gotten the Bulldogs into the end zone against a very good defense. Nothing bolsters confidence like results and after waiting three years to get on the field, he was coming through. "That was huge for Zac coming in with the debut he had," Holland said.

"He struggled like most first-time starters, but he stood in the huddle and remained poised." Most importantly to Bicknell and Hines, Champion managed the game well and made the right decisions. Even his one interception, which came in the fourth quarter, Bicknell said Champion made the proper read. Perhaps even more poignant, however, is that Champion removed a big question mark that hung over his head. Sure, he looked great during fall camp, but there's a big difference between an intrasquad scrimmage and Nebraska's Black Shirts. "Without question," Hines said.

"I obviously thought he could do the job, but you don't know until you get in a game. He handled it quarter with another stellar scoring drive to take control of the game. in the fourth quarter, Tech had a even more interesting. Champion hit Josh Wheeler on a big 56-yard had the ball stripped from him and drove 67 yards in seven plays and Phillips 6-yard pass to take a 35-10 his first career start, completed 12 -of-27 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Johnathan Holland had a big game, catching yards and one score.

Scott Beder LINCOLN, Neb. Louisiana Tech made it interesting for awhile, but in the end Nebraska proved to be too much. Nebraska quarterback Zac Taylor threw for 287 yards and tied a career high with three touchdown passes to lead the Cornhuskers past Louisiana Tech 49-10 in the season opener for both teams on Saturday. "This was encouraging to me," Tech coach Jack Bicknell said. "We came here and played a good football team and never felt like we were out of it." Behind Taylor, Nebraska rolled up 584 yards of total offense and four different receivers caught touchdown passes.

Tech (0-1) trailed 14-10 late in the second quarter, but the Cornhuskers (1-0) engineered a beautiful drive in the final 2 12 minutes of the second quarter to take a 21-10 halftime lead. Nebraska, ranked No. 20 by the Associated Press, then Conf. All School Boise State 0 0 10 Fresno State 0 0 10 New Mexico State 0 0 10 Hawaii 0 0 0 1 Idaho 0 0 0 1 San Jose State 0 0 0 1 Nevada 0 0 0 1 Tech 0 0 0 1 Utah State 0 0 0 1 NEXT WEEK'S GAMES Oregon State at Boise State Oregon at Fresno State Idaho at Washington State New Mexico at New Mexico State Nevada at Arizona State Stanford at San Jose State Utah State at Arkansas Z3 RECORD: 0-1 at Nebraska NICHOLLS ST. at Texas at Clemson at Boise State IDAHO (HO UTAH STATE at San Jose St.

at North Texas at Hawaii NEVADA FRESNO STATE at New Mexico WAC game Sept 2 Sept 16 Sept 23 Sept 30 Oct. 7 Oct 14 Oct 21 Oct 28 Nov. 4 Nov. 11 Nov. 18 Nov.

24 Dec. 2 49-10 6 p.m. 6 p.m. noon 7 p.m. 6 p.m.

6 p.m. 5 p.m. 6 p.m. 10 p.m. 7 p.m.

8 p.m. 1 2 p.m. SATURDAY'S GAMES Michigan State 27, Idaho 17 Drew Stanton threw for 225 yards and a touchdown Saturday to lead Michigan State to victory over Idaho and new coach Dennis Erickson. Stanton completed 16-of-25 passes and rushed for 55 yards on eight carries. Washington 35, San Jose State 29 Isaiah Stanback rescued Washington from an embarrassing home-opening loss by passing for 168 yards and a touchdown and running for 102 yards and another score in the Huskies' win over pesky San Jose State.

Wyoming 38, Utah State 17 Hoost Marsh scored two touchdowns in leading Wyoming to a win over Utah State. ALSO: Alabama 25, Hawaii 17 n'y 5 (23) gets tripped up by Nebraska's in his abilities, but it's been a long time since he had woken up sore the day after a game. "I definitely gained some confi- dence Champion said. "I learned GOOD PLAY Grambling had its own block, stopping a Hampton field-goal attempt with less than a minute left in the first half and robbing the Pirates of some momentum going into the locker room. Sterlington product DeMichael Dizer smartly picked up the ball inside the Grambling 10 and ran it out to the 27.

GSU attempted to get into position to score, but could get no closer than the Hampton 35 before time expired. BAD PLAY Grambling got the ball back with 9:42 left in the game when Keefe Hall recovered a fumble on a punt at the Hampton 4-yard line. At that point, GSU led 20-13 and could have sealed the win with some points. It got none; in fact, the offense lost 11 yards then had a 32-yard field-goal attempt blocked. BIG HIT Dizer, starting at free safety, flipped receiver Marquay McDaniels end over end on a second-quarter sideline catch to force a long third down situation for Hampton, Pirates quarterback Princeton Shepherd cramped on the try and went down, forcing a punt DID YOU NOTICE? There were two late scratches among Grambling's starters, both crucial players.

Fullback Ruben Mayes and defensive end John Scroggins. Mayes, who had confirmed he would play on Friday, woke Saturday with his surgically repaired knee too swollen to play. Scroggin, a Minnesota transfer, was benched "for non-football 1 reasons," according to the coaches. SOMETHING SPECIAL Calling this one blocking out: Grambling's Tim Manuel had an extra point blocked in the third quarter to go with that crucial one in overtime. Hampton's Andrew Paterini had a 40-yard attempt stopped in the second quarter, after missing one from 39 yards.

GET IN THE GAME The rushing game was inextricably altered by the absence of Mayes, a bruising fullback. Senior Ab Kuuan is a different runner without that presence out front. He did well when he had a chance to skitter to the outside, but couldn't get to the second level on inside runs. -Nick Deriso I opened the third take a 28-10 lead and Trailing 28-10 early chance to make it Quarterback Zac strike, but Wheeler Nebraska recovered. The Huskers then scored on a lead.

Champion, making passes for 231 Tech receiver seven passes for 139 Hampton 27, Grambling St. 26 (OT) Missed opportunities costly jp -Tq 01 -irs well and led me to believe he can get better from here." Those same questions others had, deep down, Champion had them as well. He had confidence for GSU Mm since before Landers' impressive third quarter of work. He went back to work, hitting Neville product Tim Abney for a score on the fourth play of the ensuing GSU drive. But no sooner did Manuel send the ball sailing for the extra point, than a Hampton defender batted it dowa Tolbert, the hometown hero, looked stricken.

That was perhaps understandable. But even guys like Langford who had made critical plays turning-point moments in a game stuffed with them had few answers. "It just wasn't enough," said Langford, shaking his head. "I thought we fought hard, but the better team won." Spears cautioned against getting entangled in this one loss, reminding the players in a subdued post-game talk that Saturday's non-conference game gut-wrenching as it was won't keep them out of the SWAC hunt "Sometimes you have to go through a few bumps in the road," Spears told the team. "We're still on track to do what we want to do, and that's return here in December for the championship game." NICK DERISO Is sports editor for The News-Star.

Contact him at 362-0234 or at P.O. Box 1502, Monroe, La. 71210. If KAJ Jill) AP I can play with those boys." SC0TT BEDER is a staff wrlter for The News-Star. Contact him at 362-0287 or at P.O.

Box 1502, Monroe, La. 71210. Hampton 7 3 3 7 7- 27 GSU 7 0 13 0 6- 26 First Quarter HAMPTON McDaniel 55 pass from Shepherd (Paterini kick), 10:47. GSU Edwards 11 pass from Landers (Manuel kick), 6:38. Second Quarter H-FG Paterini 47.

14:01. Third Quarter GSU Tolbert 29 pass from Landers (Manuel kick). 9:21. GSU Bridges 51 pass from Landers (kick failed), 6:59. HFG Paterini 37, 2:43.

Fourth Quarter OJones 9 pass from Mitchell (Paterini kick). 1:10. Overtime Beverly 10 pass from Mitchell (Paterini kick). GSU Abney 12 pass from Landers (kick blocked). A 19,175.

Hamp GSU First downs 19 19 Rushes-yards 42-203 30-32 Passing yards 209 273 Comp-Att-Int 14-27-1 21-42-1 Return Yards 39 Punts-Avg Fumbles-Lost 1-1 2-1 Penalties-Yards 9-71 7-40 Time of Poss 32:55 27:05 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING Hampton, V.Morgan 14-82, Coleman 12-72, Beverly 8-34, McDaniel 3-8, Mitchell 3-4, Shepherd 2-3. Grambling Kuuan 17-37, Carter 4-9, Edwards 1-3, Landers 8-(minus 17). PASSING Hampton, Mitchell 616-1-89, Shepherd 8-11-0-120. Grambling Landers 21-41-1-273. Team 0-1-0-0.

RECEIVING Hampton, McDaniel 6-113. OJones 4-42, V.Morgan 1-24, Lomax 1-11, Beverly 1-10, Gilchrist 1-9. Grambling Bridges 6-94, Edwards 6-36, Tolbert 4-78, Abney 4-56, Byrd 1-9. RECORD: 0-1 vs. Hampton at Ala.

at Houston Sept 2 Sept 9 Sept 16 Sept 30 Oct. 7 Oct. 14 Oct. 21 Oct 28 Nov. 4 Nov.

25 Dec. 2 27-26 p.m. lp.m. 6 p.m. lp.m.

lp.m. Prairie View at Miss. Valley vs. UAPB Jackson State at Texas Southern Alabama State vs. Southern Alcorn State -SWACoame 3 p.m.

lp.m. 3 p.m. 1p.m. lp.m. SATURDAY'S GAMES Jackson St.

44, Paul Quinn 20 Ohio State transfer Erik Haw scored four touchdowns Saturday as Jackson State began the Rick Comegy era with a 44-20 victory over Paul Quinn College. The Tigers won their home opener for the first time In four years after suffering through three straight losing seasons. Miss. Valley 10, UAPB 0 Mississippi Valley State, led by defensive lineman Tyler Knight, shut out Arkansas-Pine Bluff 10-0 at the eighth annual Chicago Football Classic on Saturday. ALSO: Alabama 27, Tenn.

St, 20 Troy 38, Alabama St. 0 Southern 30, Bethune-Cookman 29 Texas Southern 17, Prairie View 14 Grambling State's Clyde Edwards (5) had six catches for 36 yards Saturday, including this 11-yard first-quarter touchdown pass over Hampton defender Travarous Bain (1). GET IN THE GAME with Nick Deriso nderiso thenewsstar.com BIRMINGHAM, Ala. Grambling State could have won this game if Hampton defender Derius Swinton hadn't stormed into the backfield to block a final extra-point try in overtime. If GSU kicker Tim Manuel's field goal as regulation expired hadn't sailed wide right.

If Hampton's Alden Blizzard hadn't flung himself airborne, striking quarterback Brandon Landers across the facemask and arms with his leg and forcing a critical fumble with 3 minutes left in the game. If Grambling had gotten some points even three on that shinning fumble recovery by Keefe Hall that gave the Tigers the ball on the Hampton 4 early in the fourth quarter. If they had capitalized on safety Bryan Langford's interception just before that Opportunities missed, all of them. And in the end, they helped to snap a winning streak that dated back 10 games to Sept 17, 2005. GSU fell 27-26 to Hampton in what became a knock-down, drag-out extra-inning doozy.

"This was what a national championship game should be like," said GSU coach Melvin Spears. "It went back and forth, and the team that wanted it the most took it in the end." Grambling started slow, with a new passer under center. There were three-and-outs on two of the first three possessions including an ugly initial sequence that went like this: delay-of-game penalty, incomplction, incompletion, sack, punt. But the game was still well within reach. Hampton didn't score from the 14:01 point in the second until 2:43 was left in the third period.

Problem was, Grambling was still misfiring there was that disheartening, one-play drive in the second quarter that ended on a pick and in the end, could only get one touchdown over that span. "We'll keep working," Landers, a redshirt sophomore, was saying. "We'll get there." He was almost rigl. i So much was so very different about this visit to Legion Field for Grambling. Passer Bruce Eugene was here again, but in street clothes as a volunteer coach.

It was his replacement, Landers, who came charging out first when the team entered the stadium. GSU could be found congregating before kickoff on the visitors' side, something that hasn't happened in trips to Birmingham that resulted in four SWAC titles over the last six seasons. But the third quarter brought an air of familiarity, just a whisper of Grambling's invincibility from the past. Coaches made a couple of critical substitutions on the remade offensive line, and Landers suddenly had a little wiggle room against Hampton's swarming defense. Like Eugene had before him, he took command just after the half and for a moment GSU looked eerily similar to last December's version at this legendary, if graying, football sanctuary.

Back then, Eugene dismantled Alabama with four third-quarter touchdown passes, with two going to Birmingham native Henry Tolbert. Saturday, Landers moved ahead of Hampton with scoring throws to Tolbert for 29 yards and to Georgia Tech transfer LaKeldrick Bridges for 51 yards. But, wait. That GSU collapse at the Hampton 5 was still to come in the next period. And the fumble.

And the missed kick. And the crushing aftermath. "We're starting to get on the same page, but there were still some mishaps," said Bridges, Grambling's leading receiver on Saturday with six catches and 94 yards. "IU get over it; we've got another game next week. But I don't like losing." The Pirates, now on the uptick, scored the final 10 points to send this roller coaster careening to overtime, where the teams lined up for consecutive drives beginning at the 25-yard line.

Receiver Kevin Beverly sliced in at the pylon five plays later, as Hampton's band and even its players moved and grooved nearby. The Pirates weren't simply more confident at this point, Spears said, they simply wanted it more. "They did, at that particular time," Spears admitted. "They made great plays when they needed to, and we sometimes didn't" Hampton kicker Andrew Paterini, who missed once and had another kick blocked, hit the extra point pushing the score to 27-20, the first time the Pirates had led EAST DIVISION Conf. All School i Miss.

Valley 1 0 1 0 Alabama 0 0 1 0 Jackson State 0 0 10 Alabama State 0 0 0 1 Alcorn State 0 0 0 1 WEST DIVISION Texas Southern 1 0 10 Southern 0 0 10 GSU 0 0 0 1 Prairie View 0 1 0 1 UAPB 0 1 0 1 NEXT WEEK'S GAMES GSU at Alabama Texas Southern at Alabama State Alcorn State at UAPB Mississippi Valley at Southern Edward Waters at Prairie Viewk I. i.