Lincoln Journal Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • 39

Iitfle-used defense -r gives Huskers boost mm muMwmwiii wwwpiwauMmmi i i. iiiiinm.n.ui i '-V vtARir iV Jf 1 JL Kansas surprised Nebraska with 64 rushing yards in the first half the most NU has allowed all season in the first 30 minutes. Moran Noms, a 6-2, 245-pound junior, had 49 of them and finished with 80 on 17 carries. The Jayhawks finished with 116 rushing yards. "They caught us with some draws just because the scheme of our defense had us coming from the outside and left the middle open," -Brown said.

"The draw is a good call against that defense i The Jayhawks are just the third team this season to rush for more than 100 yards against the Huskers, joining Oklahoma State (188) and Iowa State (146). KU's 77-yard pass play was the longest NU has allowed this year. came out fired up and put some points on the board," Walker said. "They had a couple big plays. vBut we came out in the second half and got the job done." With some help from a defense they weren't expecting to use.

a "George (Darhngton, defensive backs coach) was up there (in the coaches' box) drawing up blitzes ia the second half," McBnde said, snul- -mg 1 Walker said the Huskers' demean- or was calm at halftime despite their 9-0 deficit BY STEVEN M. SPPLE bncokt Journal Star LAWRENCE, Kan. This wasnt supposed to be a game in which Nebraska had to pull a defense out of the archives in an act of near desperation. 1 Kansas entered Saturday ranked 65th nationally in rushing and 85th in passing. The Jayhawks weren't supposed to be able to move the ball like this.

At least not against the nation's third-ranked defense. Yet there was Kansas, leading 9-0 at half time while racking up 184 yards of offense, startling 45,100 spectators at Memonal Stadium and a Fox Sports Net national television audience. "They kind of surprised us," Husker nickel back Joe Walker said. "They got a safety and then turned around and got a TD. We knew from there it would be a dogfight." 1 Nebraska wound up winning the war 24-17 thanks in part to a defensive scheme the Huskers hadn't shown all In essence, NU rover back Mike Brown said, they used more outside blitzes by the linebackers in the second half to elusive Kansas quarterback Dy-len Smith.

i 6-foot-l, 190-pound junior college transfer, threw for 120 yards in the first half. He threw for 97 more in the second half, but 77 came on a touchdown pass to flanker Mike Chandler, pulling the Jayhawks to 17-17 with 11 :45 remaining in the game and keeping; alive their hopes of a stunning Chandler beat- Keyuo Craver in front of the Husker sideline. NU free safety Clint Fmley barely missed a tackle on the play. 'J "Other than that one play, I thought we played like gangbus-ters," Nebraska defensive coordinator Charlie McBnde said. "We just tackle.the guy.

That was realr ly sad: It was disappointing to see than that, I was really proud how hard we played." v. KIRKLmcom Jounwi star Off to the races: Nebraska's Bobby Newcombe (12) runs away from tor a touchdown in the third quarter that gave NU a 10-9 lead. KU Kareem High (right) and Greg Erb Newcioinnibe connies to tBn Wingback takes advantage of additional playing time, contributes big plays YOUR T1RESTORE NEXT DO Off BY STEVEN M. SIPPLE Lincoln Journal Star LAWRENCE. Kan Before Saturday night.

Nebraska's Bobby Newr combe had; been' a 'solid wmgDacK and return man this But he had done nothing really special. Twere flashes, but nothing to; merit headlines. People -were waiting for something special from Newcombe. something electn- game in which he was: the The wait ended Saturday against 1 "I just, saw an opportunity." said Newcombe; rer The Faces You Know. A Right now you can buy 40,000 mile All Season Steel beitea Kaaiais for just $119 tax.

rhnnw frnm the sizes listed The "We knew what we had to do in the second halt" he said. But Chandlers 77-yard TD was a jolt, NU defensive tackle Loran Kai-ser said. "It was 'almost hke last week." he said, referring to a 24-20 loss at Texas. "We go up and, bam. they hit us.

You kind of look at -yourself hke, what going Kaiser was proud NU was able to respond, even if it meant using a defense that was somewhat unfamiliar "You never saw anyone's head drop," he said. "We faced adversity and beat it It shows what kind of, team this is." 1 -tu r7- Service You Trust I 4 IMHOUaM 114- bAMMC MMIMAWf AMOCO. TIUCO. HVU AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID FLUSH $69.95 REGULAR PRICE OF $89.95 good through J03t '9SJ Downtown 1918 "0" SL (402)476-6521 East 6800 "0" St (402)467-2555 .1. i AH mmr 11 mi i 6 Sometimes it takes one play, one game to get a guy over the hump.

Maybe this was it vt NU receivers coach. as a freshman, when his 20.3-yardK average onv12 punt 'returns would have led the nation if he had had the requisite' number, of He also averaged 24.7 yards on seven in his first season. 1 he was. capable." Brown said: THe had made big plays off and on. but to have two big ones-in one game and few intermediate plays was certainly huge for us.

characterise tic humihty after, the game, "The offensive line did a great job protecting (quarterback) (Crouch) on the. pass plays; and on the punt returns, everybody locked in on their blocks." Newcombe said Coach Frank So -lich and Brown decided earlier this week to use Newcombe and Matt-. Davison on the field more to- pres--' sure defenses. The coaches wanted to use Newcombe more as a blocker, as a as a decoy, as a prime receiving threat. Just get him more involved.

i The plan worked. "We needed a big win," New-, combe said. "We just needed to win the game Newcombe was asked if his heart is still at quarterback. 1 1 "My heart's into football. he said.

1 "I still love playing quarterback. I just love the game." Newcombe had seemed to be growing impatient with his role. He hadn't been a major part of the of-, fense. He wasn't a difference-maker. That all changed Saturday night.

"I don't know if I'd say he needed this," Brown said. "There are a lot more important things you need in. life. But I will sav this could turn out-, to be a big game for him. But I don't want to overdo it.

He might be able to do this a lot more for us." P20575R14 Blackwall Wfffi P20575R15 Blackwall fizt -v ii7y iff P21575R 15 Blackwall rf P22575R15 Blackwall (38) on an 86-yard punt return. rescwie SALE CVCKVOUNG, 868 "Your Bast Bet under $1,000." MOO OW! Plut FRFE DELIVtRY SET UP 300 OLYMPIC SET MZr I IndudM 7' Bar a Colla-i r9 No Carry Outs No Dealers Quantities Limited No Rain Checks LJ fc-4 ULhJi. GET $50 OR $25 IN FREE GAS WITH THE PURCHASE OF 4 SELECTED TIRES ON YOUR GOODYEAR CARD ACCOUNT fernng to his '86rvard punt, rer" turn that helped spark ka's 24-17 come-; -back victory before 45.100 fans at Memorial Stadium. "I got a' bunch of great blocks. I just had to out-- NEWCOMBE run one person.

I did, and that was all she wrote, -No, that's not all she wrote. Not by a long shot. Newcombe punt return gave Nebraska a 10-9 lead. But the game was tied 17-17 when, on trst-and-10 from the Kansas 49-yar'd-line with 3 :25 remaining, Newcombe. -found an opening between defenders in rone coverage and hauled in a game-winning touchdown pass.

For much of the game, eighth-. ranked Nebraska was in danger of being on the wrong end of a major -upset. Newcombe came to the res cue. The 6-foot, 195-pound junior, who started at quarterback the first two games this season, finished with. four catches for 89 yards.

He also had a 29-yard punt return in the seo ond He played more snaps than he had all season at wingback, and it was easily his best performance of the season. "Sometimes it takes one play one 'game to get a guy over the hump," Nebraska receivers coach Ron Brown said. "Maybe this was it." Newcombe entered the game with six catches for 101 yards and six punt returns for an average of 12.2 yards. He was solid, not spectac-. ular.

Saturday, he was spectacular, living up to the promise he showed -s TED KIRKUnco Journal Star Celebration: Split end Matt Davison (3) gives wingback Bobby Newcombe a big hug after Newcombe pulled down a game-winning 49-yard pass from Eric Crouch with 3:24 left in the game Saturday in Lawrence, Kan. A COOLING SYSTEM POWER FLUSH $49 95 INCLUDES UP TO 2 GALLONS OF ANTIFREEZE CONDITIONERS. i REGULAR PRICE OF $64.95 WE FIT YOUR LIFE OHer good through IO399 Ask about our 90 days same as cash plan. "Best Buy" PHCflllflSTElT PRO "More Best Buy Ratings than any other Treadmill" Plus FREE DELIVERY SET UP', JS JWL Si Mnnrxt 1 Hk YOUR TinE STORE NEXT DOOR C.JT 'North 2Cth Comhusker (402)474-2277 South 5651 S. 56th SI (402)421-1500 ALL BENCHES HOME-GYMS ON SALE ftS HEX DUMBBELLS Ss Money matters in BUSINESS, i every day in the V-W- Journal Star East Purk Pit 200 N.

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