Lincoln Journal Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • 9

1 i mm mm'P ppjpp 33 yecni Irifcsy hu kucli iid Lincoln Journal Star Sunday, November 12, 1995 It afltfit peflJly, tat it coiMiite Gordon Winters p'p in SPORTS gl to BY KEN HAMBLETON Lincoln Journal Star Game statistics Nebraska 41, Kansas 3 Nebraska 14 0 14 13 41 Kansas 0 3 0 0 3 NU Jon Vedral recovered fumble in end zone (Kris Brown kick) NU Tommie Frazier 1 run (Brown kick) KU FG Jeff McCord 1 9 NU Vershan Jackson 1 pass from Frazier (Brown kick) NU Lawrence Phillips 6 run (Brown kick) NU Frazier 5 run (Brown kick) NU Mike Fullman 86 interception return (kick failed) A 50,300 NU KU First downs 20 25 Rushes-yards 51-289 32-72 Passing 86 273 Return yards 108 4 Passing 10-15-1 30-50-3 Punts 3-42 4-33 Fumbles-lost 3-2 3-2 Penalties-yards 2-20 5-42 3rd-down conv. 4-9 8-16 4th-down conv. 0-1 0-2 Time of possession 28:36 31:24 LAWRENCE, Kan. If it doesn't look like a blowout and doesn't feel like a blowout, is it still a blowout? No picture explained Nebraska 41-3 victory over No. 10 Kansas better than record-setting Nebraska quarterback Tommie Frazier leav ing KU Memorial btaaium on crutches.

"We did what we had to do," Fra zier said. "Our goal was the win the Big Eight. We have one more victo ry before our main goal the les- ta Bowl and a chance at getting' another national championship. "I thought this was pretty good. We can do better.

We could have done worse." If there were style points, Ne braska might have had negative numbers in building a 14-3 lead in the first half. Nebraska fulfilled expectations in in the second half. Nebraska had three turnovers, the first since playing Washington. State in September, but came up with five KU turnovers and scored on all of them. Nebraska players and coaches alike, described the game in two parts.

"It wasn't very good looking in the first half, but you know we didn't think it was all that bad by the said Tony Samuel, Nebraska outside linebackers coach. "I don't feel like it was 41-3, but at the end of the game, that's what the scoreboard said. OK with me," Nebraska linebacker Terrell Farley said, Nebraska senior defensive tackle Christian Peter added, "We felt like we were in the toughest dogfight of the year in the first half. Good enough. We gave up three points.

OK. We didn't give them any more. That's what we're supposed to do." sj" -i ll' Kit. I RANDY HAMPTON Lincoln Journal Star A Nebraska defenders Jamel Williams (28), Terrell Farley (43) and Jason Peter (back) combine to wrap up KU running back L.T. Levine in the first quarter.

The Cornhuskers' Black Shirts defense limited the Jayhawks to a paltry 72 yards on 32 carries. How Associated Press Rank, team Comments 1 Nebraska (10-0-0) defeated No. 10 Kansas 41-3 OU final obstacle to Fiesta trip. 2. Ohio State (10-0-0) defeated Illinois Eddie George runs wild against lllini.

3. Florida (9-0-0) defeated South Carolina 63-7 Go ahead, look past Vandy to FSU. 4. Tennessee (8-1-0) was idle Volunteers just praying for Notre Dame to slip up. 5.

Northwestern (9-1-0) defeated Iowa 31-20 Wildcats will end Cinderella year vs. Purdue. 6. Florida State (8-1-0) defeated North Carolina 28-12 Terps will test Seminoles before Gators do. 7.

Kansas State (9-1-0) defeated Iowa State 49-7 these Wildcats be a legit contender? 8. Notre Dame (8-2-0) was Irish must beat Air Force Saturday to make Bowl Alliance. 9. Colorado (8-2-0) defeated Missouri 21-0 Buffs get final crack at surging K-State. 1 0.

Kansas (8-2-0) lost to No. 1 Nebraska 41-3 New-look Jayhawks lose like tired old ancestors. 11. Texas (7-1-1) defeated Houston 52-20 Longhorns still have Southwest title in reach. 1 2.

Southern Cal (7-1-1) at Oregon State to face hobbled UCLA to end season. 13. Michigan (8-2-0) defeated Purdue 5-0 Who needs touchdowns anyway? 14. Virginia (8-3-0) defeated Maryland 21-18 Again, Cavs play at level of competition. 15.

Arkansas (8-2-0) defeated Southwestern Louisiana 24-13 With SEC West title in sight, this was too close. 16. Alabama (8-2-0) defeated Mississippi State 14-9 Could someone help the Tide find an offense? 1 7. Oregon (8-2-0) defeated Arizona 17-13 Ducks squeak by again, look to trap Beavers. 18.

Texas (6-2-0) defeated Rice 17-10 Thursday Aggies to scrimmage Middle Tenn. St. Saturday. 19. Penn State (6-3-0) was idle Nittany Lions hoping to salvage some dignity.

20. Auburn (7-3-0) defeated Georgia 37-31 Iron Bowl vs. Alabama next, who cares? 21 Virginia Tech (8-2-0) defeated Temple 38-1 6 Hokies get share of Big East, may get bad bowl. 22. Washington (6-3-1) defeated UCLA With Abdul-Jabbar out, Bruins couldn't find Magic.

23. Syracuse (7-2-0) defeated Pittsburgh 42-10 Orangemen still in Big East race. 24. Clemson (7-3-0) defeated Duke 34-17 Arch-rival Gamecocks next on schedule. 25.

San Diego State (7-3-0) lost to Wyoming 34-31 Aztecs could have used Marshall Faulk. Defensive strategy halts KU Let the tortillas fly. No need to talk about Nebraska's offensive stars this -week. They get all the headlines anyway. This week the defense won the game all by itself.

Score 7-3, The defense gave up 345 yards, but the scoreboard showed only 3 points scored by a Jayhawk offense that had been averaging 29.9 points a game. And the defense scored enough points all to win the game on its own, with Mike Fullman's 86-yard interception return in the fourth quarter. "Our plan was they were not going to run the football," defensive backs coach George Darlington said. "We were going to force them to pass. Jay hawks rocked That part of the strategy resulted in Kansas gaining only 72 yards on the ground.

It also forced them to a short passing attack that netted 273 yards, but which turned out not to be effective in putting points on the scoreboard. "After awhile you throw that many times and you're going to have something bad happen," Darlington said. The best news is that the Kansas game offered the Nebraska defense a learning opportunity. And they took advantage of it. The ball-control passing attack the Huskers faced Saturday is is similar to one that Nebraska could very well face on Jan.

2 if it's opponent in the Fiesta Bowl is quarterback Danny Wuerffel and Florida. i "Every game allows you to prepare for the next one," Darlington acknowledged. But it's impossible to find a Nebraska cOach who' looks past the next game on the schedule. "I honestly have never seen Florida," Darlington said. "I know they put up all kinds of numbers and they have great receivers.

Every Florida team seems to have a wealth of quality players at the skill positions." On Saturday you could see development, and a measure of confidence, grow as the game progressed. The Kansas game imprinted the defense with memories of how they can succeed. Stripped clean Examples came with Phil Ellis grazing a pass with his fingertips to prevent a completion on fourth down with Kansas deep in Nebraska territory in the first quarter. Jared Tomich stripped the ball from June Henley on Kansas's next series. That turnover led to a Nebraska score.

Tyrone Williams finally got a cheap interception on a tipped pass. "I was suprised. That sort of thing never happens to me. Everybody else on the team gets SDme lucky interception, but it never happens to me." success came in tne second half with interceptions by Ellis and Fullman. The Husker defense passed the mid-term Saturday; the final exam is going to be a lot tougher.

I That may be why Nebraska coaches were chary with praise, despite the Husker's success at Keeping Kansas out of the end zone. "I don't think we played very well personally," Darlington said. Head defensive coach Charlie McBride characterized the defensive showing as one that is as good as I've seen this Which is less than glowing praise. The reason for the faint praise might be because they know something of the challenge that awaits down in Tempe. I Kansas quarterback Mark Williams is a good quarterback-Darlington ranks him as the second-best in the Big Eight but no one is touting him as a Beisman contender.

Wuerff el and his corp or receivers would be a much bigger challenge. Still, the defense showed something on Saturday. Personally I don't think the Huskers defense or of fense will be tested much on Nov. 24 against Oklahoma. Nebraska, 10-0 clinched a tie for the Big Eight title with the win.

The Huskers have Oklahoma left on Nov. 24. A victory in that game would give Nebraska its fifth consecutive conference championship and a berth in the Jan. 2 Fiesta Bowl in Tempe, Ariz. A Nebraska loss in that game coupled with a Kansas State victory over Colorado would leave the choice up to the Fiesta Bowl officials.

The Huskers didn't appear headed anywhere in the first half against Kansas. Nebraska slip-slided into a 14-0 lead despite a stunning short-passing display by Kansas quarterback More on NU. Page 4B IAN DOHEMUSUncoln Journal Star Nebraska vs. Florida What No. 1 Nebraska vs.

Nos. 23 Florida When 2 p.m. a Where NU Coliseum (sold out) Radio KLIN 1400 Key matchup All-- American middle blockers: Florida's Ayean Gokberk vs. Nebraska's Allison Weston. 15-11, 15-4 to finish the season 38-1.

The only loss came to the nation's No. 2 team, Chicago Mother McAu-'ley, in the finals of the Nike Challenge in Chicago. Bellevue West's fourth straight state title is a Class A record. Its sixth overall crowns tie the state record also held by Lincoln East, Grand Island Central Catholic and Shickley. With her team trailing 7-4 in the second game, even Bellevue West Coach Joanne Kappas wasn't certain gold medals were in the Thunderbirds' future.

"I sat there thinking, 'What will I tell them when I give them their sec A NU setter Christy Johnson, practicing serves, hopes the No. 1 Huskers finally get a test from Nos. 2 and 3 Florida. back flattens lllini Huskers 5 Fared corner of the end zone from quarterback Bob Hoying. All of that came against a defense ranked 10th in the country in total defense.

In the third quarter alone, George had 105 yards rushing and 18 points and Illinois came in allowing just 109 yards rushing and 17.5 points per game. "The whole line was just dominating all day," George said, sounding Heisman-like. "We really didn't need to pass the ball. Looking at films, I was worried how we would get 20 yards against their defense." Ohio State (10-0, 6-0 Big Ten) maintained the inside track to the Rose Bowl while keeping pace with No. 5 Northwestern in the Big Ten standings.

The victory also ended a string of disappointments against Illinois. The lllini (4-5, 2-4) had won six of More on BUCKEYES, Page 7B State tournament Saturday's finals Class A Betovm Wnt dtf. PtpttotvLV 11-15. 15-11. 1W Class BWdrf.

Ogata 16-7, 154 Class C-1 Col. 8cotm del. Grand Wand CC 15-5, 15-9 ClatsC-2 How M. Law 8-15. 15-7, 1M Out D-1 Chappd dat.

Sargent 15-10. 9-1S. 15-9 Class D-2 Lewtatondef.3hKy 16-12. 15-10 eager for challenge BY STEVE SIPPLE Lincoln Journal Star of 142 rushing yards, picked up 180 yards in the first half. He broke Keith Byars' Ohio State record of 274 yards on a 13-yard touchdown run midway through the third quarter.

Byars' big day also came against Illinois in 1984, the last time Ohio State played in a Rose Bowl. "Eddie George was just spectacular. He was a nightmare," Illinois Coach Lou Tepper said. Illinois defensive coordinator Denny Marcin said, "They created craters I could run through. We probably gave (George) the Heisman today.

I've been coaching for 32 years and I've never seen a back do that." George broke a tackle in the backfield and raced for a 74-yard touchdown on Ohio State's first offensive play of the second half. He scored his third touchdown of the third quarter when he lined up in the slot and caught a 13-yard pass in the Nebraska setter Christy Johnson wants to be challenged. A knockdown, drag-out, five-game match would be interesting and fun, she said. It could help harden the Cornhuskers for the upcoming postseason grind. It also would be something More on VOLLEY, Page 3B Buckeye COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) After piling up an Ohio State-record 314 yards rushing in a 41-3 beating of Illinois, Eddie George refused to strike a Heisman pose.

"We've got two games left, two big games." George said. "I'm not really concerned about the Heisman. I'm more concerned about the Rose Bowl and how we're going to finish the year." But his coach wasn't nearly so reluctant to talk about the senior tailback's chances. "That's probably the finest individual effort I've seen out of a running back," Ohio State Coach John Cooper said. "If there's any player out there in America who's better than Eddie George or more deserving of individual awards than Eddie George and I've been coaching 33 years I don't know who he is." George, who started the game sixth in the country with an average ond-place said Kappas, whose team had beaten the Monarchs in straight games the first four times, including a 154, 15-6 win in the district final last week.

"It didn't look good." But behind the offense of outside hitters Nikki Henk and Jamie Hamm and the blocking of Megan Porter, Kappas saved those words for another season. Hamm, a 5-foot-10 sophomore, hammered 18 kills, 10 in the final two games. Henk, a 5-9 senior, ripped 12 of her 17 kills in the last two games. Henk also contributed five ace serves, two ace blocks and 22 digs defensively. Monarchs threaten, then fall to Bellevue West BY RON POWELL.

Lincoln Journal Star The first four times top-ranked Bellevue West played No. 2 Papilll-on-LaVista this season, there was never any doubt about the outcome. But in the Class A championship match at the State High School Volleyball Tournament Saturday at Pershing Auditorium, Bellevue West's earlier domination meant very little. The Thunderbirds, ranked No. 3 nationally, had to come from behind to win their fourth straight state championship and sixth In the past seven years, finally prevailing 11-15, Porter had 10 kills and five ace blocks, all in games 2 and 3.

Bellevue West finally took control of the second game when two Monarch hitting errors, an ace block by Porter and back-to-back kills by Henk started a nine-point run that produced a 13-7 lead. In the third game, the teams traded nine sideouts with the Monarchs leading 1-0 before Bellevue West scored the next four points three coming on ace serves by Henk on its way to a 9-2 lead. "We finally got better serve and serve-receive," Kappas said. "They More on WEST, Page 8B I' MaV4SLaSaftjAaS..