Lincoln Journal Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • 16

4B Lincoln Journal Star Sunday. September 17, 1995 HUSKERS Page design: Jute Koch Devils snowed under by Husker scoring explosion V1m Sun Devil notes couldnt control the balL knew the biggest challenge of the game would be our defense versus their offense. It was a challenge and we didnt help our defense very much. We don't match up with them and we're not as good as they are." Nebraska finished SNYDES snowed under "We all need to be more aggressive on the field It seems to work in practice, but we need to focus our aggression on the other team." Which is not to say the Sun Devils were ineffective all game long. Quarterback Jake Plummer threw for 273 yards, with Keith Poole the primary recipient, catching six passes for 200 yards.

He flew by the Husker secondary for a 66-yard catch to set up Arizona State's first score. Nebraska scored again, but Plummer came right back to Poole, this time on an 80-yard scoring strike. Poole's 38-yard touchdown catch cut the Huskers' lead to 49-2L "They play a man-press and if you get by them (the defensive backs), you can stay behind them," Poole said. "Jake and the coaches took advantage of that We knew that coming in, that teams had beaten them deep." But Plummer was matter-of-fact about those successes. "We scored on the big plays, but they weren't big plays because the game wasn't close," he said.

The avalanche had already taken its toll Dragoo, who was the Sun Devils' second leading tackier with eight total tackles, said defending the run against Nebraska was difficult "They have so much depth at I-back. Their starter is an incredible player and he didnt even play," he said of Lawrence Phillips, who was dismissed from Nebraska's team this week. "Their next guy comes in and I'm sure runs for a zillion yards and then the third guy comes in and runs for another zillion yards. They have so much depth." But it wasnt just the Huskers offensive prowess that contributed to the lopsided game. While Nebraska built its 28-0 lead, Arizona State generated just six yards of total offense.

The Sun Devils finished with 461 yards of total offense, but five punts and an interception in the first half led to Nebraska scores. "I wish we could practice against these guys," said Arizona State running back Chris Hopkins. "To play a team like Nebraska, you need Nebraska-type people to prepare against. And that's nothing against our scout squad. When you play a high ranked team, you prepare harder you tend to prepare for who you're playing rather than executing your game plan.

BY RYLY JANE HAMBLETON Lincoln Journal Star Arizona State Coach Bruce Snyder didnt feel the heat so much as he felt the cold. "It was just kind of an avalanche," JSnyder said. "I've never been in an av-' 'alanche, but that's the kind of feeling it was that, my God, I'm standing there and it's coming down the hill at me and there's nothing I can do about it I believe rthe players probably felt the same way. 'There's a sense of helplessness." The avalanche was the four-touchdown barrage Nebraska mounted in the opening 9 minutes, 22 seconds of the game. The Cornhuskers scored on the opening play, a 65-yard run by I-back Clinton Childs, and then scored each time 'after stopping Arizona State on three downs and a punt on the Sun Devils' next three possessions.

The result was a 77-28 Nebraska win. It was the most points ever given up by State, surpassing Nevada-Reno, swhich beat Arizona State 74-2 in 1946. defense got put right on their and we couldn't rebound," said jSnyder. "And there was no other part of fhe team that could help the defense. Our -Sticking was horrendous, the punting was no better and the offense Nebraska's 77-28 victory against Arizona State Saturday, in a nutshell, according to Arizona Coach Bruce Snyder, was the result of the Nebraska "system." "Their system here, all of it from recruiting to the support system to strength and conditioning to coaching everything is as advanced as anybody in our conference (Pac-10)," he said.

"We may have a team or two that can play with them, but not on a consistent basis. That shows up in their coaching. They know exactly what they want to do and their players know exactly who to block. It's just another piece of the puzzle." Defensive tackle Jason Reynolds, on Nebraska's quick start "We were prepared mentally and physically, but they just got the best of the first half. They started really quick and things went downhill from there.

If we would have started off better, had a better first quarter, it would have been a different game. They weren't physically dominating at all." Reynolds, on what the Sun Devils need to learn from the loss "Never to let it happen again." Running back Chris Hopkins on playing from behind "We need to learn how to pull our heads up out of the sand. When you come into a stadium like this where there are winners, with tradition, we need to pick something up from this loss." Quarterback Jake Plummer on Nebraska "We were playing one of the best teams in the nation. We expected to play better, but you can't have your cake and 63111,100." with 686 yards of total offense, but the majority of the damage was done in the first half. The Huskers gained 507 yards of total offense in building a 63-21 half-time advantage.

"When you're playing the defending national champion, you're so jittery," Sun Devil linebacker Justin Dragoo said. "Their running backs are so good, you get excited and go flying in there. I can never picture us losing. There's no use making the trip if you think that But with the atmosphere and the fact we are a young team, we made some dumb mistakes early and gave them a huge lead. "When you spot them that many touchdowns, you're in trouble." Husker receivers enjoy 'air show' Childs has banner first start BY CURT MCKEEVER Lincoln Journal Star much an ideal game, offensively, today." Baul was one of seven Nebraska players to catch a pass.

"It's a nice offense to be a part of," he said. "Everybody gets involved. Than AQnt iitet Iraw nn nno narOATI 1111 1 11 11. 111! II I ll 11. 'z C'jDl Clester Johnson caught as many passes and got more yardage in Nebraska's game against Arizona State yesterday as he did all last seasoa Ditto for Jon Vedral.

Yes, the Cornhusker wingbacks were all smiles after Nebraska's 77-28 victory. For that matter, so were the rest of the Nebraska receivers, who combined for 12 receptions, 292 yards and three touchdowns. "We knew we were going to have a lot of big plays because Arizona State's defense was very aggressive," said Johnson, who had career-highs of four catches and 129 yards, including a 28-yard touchdown in the second quarter. Saturday's aerial display by the Huskers was their largest since a 292-yard effort against Missouri in 1973. In their first two games this year, the Huskers had thrown for a total of 272 yards.

"Since we rarely get that many passes, we have to be unselfish about catching the ball," Johnson said. "We know we have to establish the run first." Nebraska needed one play to do that Saturday, as I-back Clinton Childs, making his first start as a Husker, ran 65 yards for a touchdown on the first play from scrimmage. That set the tone for a Husker offensive free-for-all. The Huskers scored a school-record 63 points in the first half, reaching the end zone on nine of 10 possessions. "I knew our potential.

it's just a little different when you see it," said split end Reggie Baul, who caught a 36-yard pass, the third-straight game he's had a reception of at least 30 yards. "It seemed like everything we worked on in practice, the new plays we put in, everything was working. Everybody was open and everybody was right. It was pretty Everybody was trying to focus on Clinton's debut. The first play Clinton does good and then after that the fullbacks and receivers.

It's a fun offense." Johnson caught his first pass from Childs, hauling in a sharply thrown ball over a Sun Devil defensive back who was flagged for interference. On the next play, Vedral snared a pass from quarterback Tommie Frazier for a 27-yard touchdown to put Nebraska up 28-0 with 5:38 left in the first quarter. "It was a play we just put in this week," Johnson said of Vedral's catch. "We knew once we started running outside they would run up and try to pursue. We knew they would be overplaying it and the receivers were wide open.

"The other play, with Clinton, the ball was thrown a little short, but I didn't really care. I didn't even know he interfered me. I told myself today that no matter what was in the air, it was coming down in my hands." Johnson's touchdown, a 28-yarder from Frazier with 10:48 remaining in the first half, came on a post pattern two plays after an interception by Michael Booker. Johnson also caught a 61-yarder from Frazier to set up another touchdown that made it 56-21. "I was kind of down after last week.

I was open two or three times. I felt like why didn't they hit said Johnson, who had just one reception for nine yards this season prior to the Arizona State game. "But they told me to be patient. I talked to (tight end Mark) Gilman and (undergraduate assistant Abdul) Muhammad and they said you're going to be open. Abdul came up to me today before the game and told me I was going to have a big game." TEO KIRKUncoln Journal Star A Nebraska's Mike Minter (10), Tyrone Williams and Jason Peter gang tackle Arizona State fullback Ryan Wood in the second quarter Saturday.

Arizona State's air success has NU defense concerned BY STEVE SIPPLE Lincoln Journal Star Clinton Childs missed having one of his best friends with him during Nebraska's 77-28 win against Arizona State Saturday. "He's in pretty good spirits. He's doing well," Childs said of fellow Nebraska I-back Lawrence Phillips, who was suspended indefinitely from the team last Sunday. "Lawrence has really lifted me up, and I think that's what helped me have a great performance today." Childs, a 6-foot, 215-pound senior from Omaha North, took over the Huskers' No. 1 I-back duties with Phillips sidelined.

Childs responded by rushing 12 times for 143 yards and two touchdowns, including a 65-yard sprint around the left end on the first play from scrimmage. "When I turned the corner, I felt pretty good about the run I didn't see anybody in sight," said Childs, who was making his first career start. "I was just hoping with the bigger frame I have this year that I Wouldn't get caught from behind." Childs' game-opening burst helped demonstrate Nebraska was focused on football despite numerous off-field problems that rocked the program this past week. Last Sunday, Phillips a leading Heis-man Trophy candidate was arrested after allegedly assaulting an ex-girlfriend. Nebraska's problems drew nationwide attention.

Phillips was in Childs' thoughts after Saturday's game. Childs said the two players talked every day this past week before Saturday. "Lawrence is telling me to keep my head up, that he will be all right," Childs said. "I didn't talk to him (Saturday), but he dropped me off at the movie theater last night, and he was in good spirits. "He said, 'I know what you can do, and you know what you can do, so just go out and do it'" Childs wasn't sure whether Phillips attended Saturday's game, which was not televised.

But if Phillips did see it, he would have been impressed with his friend Childs, who had rushed eight times for 83 yards a week earlier against Michigan State. Childs served a one-game suspension for missing practice in Nebraska's opener Aug. 31 at Oklahoma State. "Today, I just wanted to show to myself that I was a little more than just a backup," Childs said. "I'm kind of disappointed with how I had to step into the starting role, but I just had to produce." In addition to Phillips, Nebraska was missing I-back Damon Benning, who was recovering from a hamstring injury.

Childs, freshman Ahman Green and 24-year-old sophomore James Sims picked up the slack for the Huskers against the outmanned Sun Green rushed 13 times for 111 yards and two touchdowns, and Sims added 47 yards on seven carries. "We had to step it up a notch today, which we did, Green said. "The line was working hard, pushing guys out of the way for us, and all we had to do was get to the holes and get to the secondary and then to the end zone. The line really did it for us up front. "To come out on the field and do what we did today, it just makes us feel really good and builds up confidence in the whole team." Green said Nebraska's players retained focus despite the week's distractions "We just worked hard in practice and really didn't worry about it," he said, Sims said he is gaining confidence each time he is handed the balL He entered Saturday's game with five carries for 114 yards in the Huskers' two previous wins.

6 BY CURT MCKEEVER Lincoln Journal Star J'f We haven't come together as a group. We always start out slow, but at the end we pick it up. Tyrone Williams 9 Why snao the ball from center directly to the Nebraska Nobody on the Nebraska defense seemed concerned a week ago when Michigan State threw for 290 yards against the Cornhuskers. After all, NU won 50-10. Saturday, however, there was a different feeling after Arizona State produced the same yardage and scored ttflpints.

"We're not sharp right now," said senior cornerback Tyrone Williams, who was one of three Nebraska players to get beat on long plays in one-on-one coverage Saturday. "We're playing hard, but we're making a lot of busts in the secondary as far as checking into the coverages. "We havent come together as a group. I think with due time I've been here three years. We always start out slow, but at the end we pick it up." Nebraska's pass defense wasn't a total bust against the Sun Devils.

The Cornhuskers did harass starting quarterback Jake Plummer into a 12-for-26 performance, which included an interception by cornerback Michael Booker. But three of Plum-mer's completions went for touchdowns to wide receiver Kyle Poole. "When you play as much man as we do, if you arent perfect against an exceptional receiver you're going to pay for it," said NU secondary coach George Darlington. "All in all, I think they did a reasonably nice job, but when you give up four big passes, you cant be excited." going to keep holding my head up and come back Monday ready to work for Pacific." Later in the first half, Poole beat Dennis on a 38-yard touchdown play. "I certainly have to congratulate Poole," Darlington said.

"He's a fabulous receiver, and their quarterback is a good player. But we'll be fine. It kind of reminded of the Wyoming game last year. Wyoming beat us on some big plays." Before Saturday, that was the last time the Cornhuskers had given up three touchdown passes in a game. "You try to learn and develop what you have and what you can do, and project it against Florida State, Kansas State, Colorado, Washington State teams that throw extremely well," Darlington said.

"We'll make some decisions as to who we want to play and where they're going to play, so that when Washington State marches in here two weeks from now well be ready." Darlington said he planned no personnel changes because of Saturday's result After all, Nebraska did win 77-28. Nebraska's defense suffocated the Sun Devils' offense on their first three possessions, allowing no first downs. That helped the Cornhuskers get off to a 28-0 start, but Plummer finally got untracked on ASU's fourth series. He' hit Poole on a slant pattern that went for a 66-yard gain to the NU 2-yard line when cornerback Leslie Dennis slipped. Three plays later, Plummer found Poole across the middle for a touchdown.

Poole, who caught six passes for 200 yards in the first half and then didnt play because of a sprained ankle, beat Williams for an 80-yard score on a third-and-10 play two series later to make it 35-14 with 14:43 left in the first half. "When your offense is running up and down the field, you tend to let your guard down from time to time, and when you do that's the time when you usually get beat," said Williams. "I'm very upset with myself. It was a simple route, I should've never jumped that (play-fake), but it happens to the best of them. You see it every day in the NFL, so I'm I-back? Lawrence Phillips scored on a 50-yard run a week ago, and Ahman Green scored on a 26-yard run on the same play against Arizona State.

"All week long, Coach (Frank) Solich had been talking to me about where to line up, now to line up ana what to do with the ball. They called the play, I Just lined up next to Tommie Frazier," Green said. The touchdown put Nebraska ahead 56-21 with 3:40 left in the first half. "They have an aggressive defense and I think they were blitzing. I just get the ball, find a hole and run.

The only guy who touched me was the ref after I crossed the line." Where was Lawrence Phillips? Coach Tom Osborne said he didn't know. 1 worried about him. I remembered Scott Baldwin, and how it went after the first game he couldn't play. Phillips was with Ed Stewart (former player) Friday night and I've had a lot of contact with him. Playing again is not a major issue right now, but I am concerned." Clinton Childs said Phillips is a good friend and he talked with Phillips on Friday night.

"He's getting things going. He knows he made a mistake. I felt bad for him." How typical was the first play from scrimmage, on which Childs rumbled for a 65-yard touchdown run? "It was just an outside sweep (to the left), and I think they blitzed to the right side," Osborne said. Jl think the blitz probably moved the safety over a little bit, and I think the cornerback was man-to-man because of the blitz. Our split end came in to crack the safety, and their corner came with him.

I think the cornerback kind of ran himself out of position. I think their blitz hurt them on the play the fact they were playing man-to-man (coverage)." Why did hbacks Childs and Green throw passes? "Washington threw one on them (for a game-winning said Osborne. "We felt they'd be cwnnritting a lot to the run." Clester Johnson caught Childs' pass for a 34-yard gain. Jon Vedral couldn't hang onto Green's toss in the end zone from 21 yards out. "They can all throw It," Johnson said.

"But Ahman, he's a rookie." A',.