Lincoln Journal Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • 32

"vrr HUSKER SPRING GAME i Lincoln Journal Star ltS. Sunday, April 26, 1998 Page design: Karl Vogef I BY CURT McKEEVER Lincoln Journal Star i r. Spring Garr.s notes Most of the noise in Saturday's Red-White Spring Game was created by Nebraska's No. 1 offense finally showing its big-play capability. that did was allow the Cornhuskers more heralded and experienced top defensive lunit to quietly go about its business.

And despite the fact the Blackshirts were without nose-guard Steve Warren and defensive tackle Jason Wiltz, business was still pretty good. I "They've got a lot of great athletes, we can't just totally shut them down," senior middle linebacker Jay Foreman said after helping i the Whites outlast the Reds 24-21 in Memorial Stadium. "Our quarterbacks are elusive and make you make a lot of open-field tackles. That's not a lot of fun. But I can't be disappointed." The way the previous two full scrimmages had gone this spring, it, wouldn't have been totally out of line to expect the Whites to post a shutout in FOREMAN Saturday's game.

"That's the way the farts have always been here." 4 Coach Frank Solich on the announced attendance of 60,498 SPRING AWARDS i'ri Scott Frost, Grant Wistrom and Matt Hoskinson were honored Saturday lor theirhard work durin0ie 1997. season. Frost won the Novak Trophy for his -courage and determination. Wistrom received the Guy Chambertin Trophy for Ns play and other coritrtoutions the football program. And Hoskinson was recognized as the winner of the Native Son Award for his work ethic, leadership' and love of Nebraska, 3 Frost, a third-round draft pick of the New York Jets, and Wistrom, a first- rwrri choice of the St.

Louis Rams, were unable to attend the Spring Gamp because of NFL minicamps. ''They improved every day. They've been making a move every week and they aren't going to be intimidated by us or anybody else." 1 -i- Cornerback Ralph Brown on the NU offense THIS AND THAT Bobby Newcombe 's 91 -yard touchdown run was a Spring Game record. The previous mark for longest 'J TD run from'scnmmage wasbeWby Todd Mhlir, who ran 89 yards In the 1995game. -y Country singer Collin Raye sang the national anthem before Saturday's game.

i OSBORNE SIGHTING Former Husker Coach Tom 3 Osborne, usually hard to find during sprmg games because he watched from the press box the last 36 years, was in the press box again Saturday. This time though, he was not found immediately after the game in the interview rooms. Instead he headed for a dinner with more than 700 of his I former players at the Devaney Sports Center. jr. I GAIL FOLDAUwin Journal Star Giving London no option: Nebraska rush end Mike Rucker (84) fends off a blocker behind the fine of scrirnmage and brings down Red team quarterback Frankie London (left) on a first-quarter option play That scenario ended in the second quarter, No.

1 quarterback Frankie London capped a seven-play, 52-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown. --V- The Reds also went 81 yards in 11 plays for a third-quarter touchdown and 52 yards in 11 plays for another in the final minutes. But as the final statistics would indicate, the yards came with a price. The Red offense rushed for 240 yards on 48 and average of 4.1 per play and gained just 48 more through the air. "We've got some great rush ends and we have the ability to put some pressure on people who throw the baH," said Coach Frank Solicit "You're not going to have a very consistent throwing game." Much of the Reds' offense came about because of the scrambling abilities of quarterbacks London, Bobby Newcombe and Eric Crouch.

The Reds also had more success than normal running up the middle, much of which could be attributed to the two defensive lineman Jeing held out. Warren missed because of an ankle injury, while Wiltz sat out because of a groin injury. "Anytime you move the ball against this defense, you've done something good," he said. So score one for the offense. But don't worry about the defense r.

"We did all right," Foreman said. Ws kind of hard when you get three different guys, playing quarterback. I expected exactly what we got a good defense with a lot of expert; ence back. I was pleased with what we did this excuses for the defense giving up some yardage Saturday. "I saw a very young offensive line come together today," he said.

"I was very impressed. There were times when we lacked some enthusiasm and got down a little bit, and they moved the ball on us." Newcombe, who was left quivering after the defense dominated an earlier scrimmage this spring, wore a satisfied look Saturday. "It hurt a little," Foreman said, "but you can also look at it as it was a chance for some other guys to get some experience." Beyond Warren and Wiltz, Loran Kaiser has shown the most promise of younger defensive linemea That lack of depth means incoming freshmen Jon Clanton, Jason Lohr and Jeremy Slechta could get an earlier opportunity for playing time. But rush end Mike Rucker was making no spring. 'I Hambleton Passing will get better r4 tit tX I Game sumnttiy White vv 14 7 3 Red 0 7 7 721.

White Bobby Newcombe 91 run pan Hadenfektt kick) White Casey Vanderhoef 43 pass from Newcombe (Hadenfektt kick) White Frankie London 1 run (Chaos Long kick) Red Con-ell Buckhalter 24 run (Kris Brown kick) Red Joel Makovicka 1 run (K. BrJyvn kick) (, White FG Hadenfektt 42 Red Dan Alexander 9 run (K. Brown kick) A 60,498 White Red First downs 16 18 Rushes-yards 46-291 58-240 Passing yards 106 48 Total yards 246 298 Passing 5-10-0 6-13-0 Return yards. 44 54 Punts-average Fumbtes-tost 2-2 3-0 4-30 3-17 Time of possession 24:55 35:05 Third-down conv 513 Fourth-down conv -1-1 0-2 play every day, the defenses that aren't as talented as ours, won't be as tough on us." London still knows more about the offense than the other two. Crouch made bigger gains in four weeks than the other two.

Newcombe has magic on his side. His disappearing act at the 9-yard line and reappearance in the end zone 91 yards later on his first play of Saturday Spring Game was a marvel Nobody was perfect. They were, as Solich said, "Showing the character of young quarterbacks. "It's a good problem to have three very talented players to choose from. I'm not worried." Ken Hambleton covers Nebraska football.

He may be reached at khambletonnebweb.com or 473-7436. Continued from Page 1C "It was a typical spring for throwing, but that's nothing new around here," said Solich. "The passing will get better when the timing of the pass protection, the routes the receivers run and the quarterbacks simply have more practice." All three quarterbacks took sacks, hobbled the ball and, at times, appeared confused by the defense. Blame Chad Kejsay, Mike Rucker and Jay Foreman. The Black Shirts didn't play favorites and decided to spread the pain among the quarterbacks equally.

"They are the best defense in the country," said London. "And no, it is not easy to just drop back and throw a pass or try to clear the corner and make the option pitch against our defense. You learn from that. Tve got to believe the people we don't 7 was going to show you aH jj something." l-back DeAhgelo Evans, who had just two carries Saturday' i because of an ankle spraia f-Vn INJURY REPORT There were two serious injuries Saturday's game. Offensive tackle Jefi Clausen, who recently recovered from knee surgery, suffered a broken left hand and will wear a' cast at least two' months.

Offensive tackle Adam Joteh, who worked his way into the top units lately, suffered an ankle injury that will require surgery today. Defensive tackkf Luis Almanzar re-aggravated nis anklr-injury, l-back DeAngeki Evans had a mild, ankle" spraiin, quarterback Frankief-. London a hip pointer and linebacker; Carlos Pok injured his fooL i "Clausen won't be able to lift for a couple of months and Juteh is out TJ? probably two months with the dislocated ankle that's a blow to the offensive line, which is not deep and nl not experienced," Coach Frank sajd. 'i -v '(Z WHERE ELSE? Where would the quarterbacks go if they don't play quarterback? Frankie London: "I don't know' right now: Maybe Bobby Newcombe: "Back to I vj wingback. I only had a week to work on receiver last year because I was quarterback for about four weeks." Eric Crouch: "I have experience defense and offense.

I wouldn't mind being a quarterback Quarterback coach Turner Gil "All three can play quarterback. We've got some tough decisions. We've got 5 to pick the best guy, the guy who can win all our games for us. We need to pick a starter and a No. 2 and figure out a way to get the third guy on the field because all three of these guys i need to be on the field.

They are that good as athletes." a i RANDY HAMPTONLncoln Journal Star panimal: White team l-back Dan Alexander (38 center) fights three Red defenders Carlos Polk (13), Marcus Johnson (56) and Dion Booker (14) on a first-quarter run. Alexander, a 250-pound sophomore, gained 21 yards on 7 carries and scored a touchdown. FIRST QUARTER Russ Hcchsteln Jon Penny Tyson Gilroy Josh KoW Troy Watchorn SACKS WHITE 7, RED 0 Bobby Newcombe 91 run (10:56) Drive 91 yards in 1 play. Conversion Dan Hadenfektt kick. WHITE 14, RED 0 Casey Vanderhoef 43 pass from Newcombe (1:29) Drive 63 yards In 4 plays, set up by Ralph Brown II 22 punt return.

Other plays Sean Applegate 18 run, Travis Soucie no gain, Newcombe 2 run. Conversion Hadentekfl kick. No. Yards Player Eric Sean 1 8 8.0 DEFENSE Yard. Avg.

TACKLES 118 19.3 Player UT AT TT 34 5.7 Loran 2 8 10 31 2 8 Jay Foreman 3 6 9 29 97 ChadKelsay 2 5 7 26 3 7 Brian 2 4 6 17 8 5 Eric 3 3 6 16 53 MikeBrown. 1 4 2 6 13 33 BobbyGiN ,31 4 5 25 2 2 .4 ,4 40 Jerome 3 1 4 Khan" Reynolds. 1 2 3 Erie 1 2 3 Levi Mehl 1 2 3 4 Quint Hogrefe.l-i...- 0 3 3 Tony Ortiz 2 1 3 50 0 Ben 1 ,2 3 Brandon Mooberry 0 3 3 Yard' Avg. Erie Fisher -1 1 2 28 14.0 Ralph Brown 2 0 2 43 43.0 CM Finley 1 1 2 27 27.0 Mike Rucker 11 2 OFFENSE RUSHING Player No, Bobby Newcombe. 8 Frankie London 6 Eric Crouch 11 Sean 3 Travis Soucie 7 Dan Alexander 2 Dahrran Dtednck 3 4 Ben '2' Todd Uhlir 1 Billy 1 1 PASSING Player C-A-l Bobby Newcombe 3-6-0 Enc Crouch 2-4-0 RECEIVING Player No.

Billy Haafke 2 Casey 1 Demond Frmster 1 SECOND QUARTER SPECIAL TEAMS PUNTING Pfaryer1 -1 Nd. Yerds Dan Hadenfeldt 3 Brian Mom, 2 79 39.5 PUNT RETURNS Player Yards Avg. Ralph Brown 3 1 24 8.0 Joe Walker 2 10 5.0 CBnt Finley 1 10 10.0 Mike Brown 1 0 0.0 kickoff beturns i' I Pleyet No. Yards Avg. Kharl Reynolds 1 21 21.0 Ben Kingston 1 J.3.

1 WHITE 21, RED 0 Frankie London 1 run (11:33) Drive 52 yards in 7 plays. Other ptoys Frankie London 3 run, Alfc Tillery 5 run, London 10, 18 runs, Ben Kingston 4 fun, Sean Applegate 9 run plus Red personal foul penalty to Red 1 Conversion Chace Long kick. WHITE 21, RED 7 CorreU Buckhalter 24 run (3:32) 9 Drive 52 yards in 8 plays. )i Other plays CorreU Buckhalter no gain, Newcombe 8 run, Joel Makovicka 4 run, Newcombe pass to Lance Brown Incomplete, Newcombe 11 run, Newcombe sacked for toss of 3, New- combe 8 pass to Kenny Conversion Kris Brown kick. -j I 1 H) 1 Vifi fife THIRD QUARTER OFFENSE RUSHING "You don't want to kit your own quarterback, but you also don 7.

want to-' look ma fool." Rush end Chad Keisay on the: level of effort In the Spring Game! v' i A NO FAIN, NO GAIN Rush end Mike Rucker is oonvhoed whoever wins the quarterback job will be tough enough to handle 1 responsibility. "We put some' hits on them," he said. "I know they're going to be sore tomorrow, but each one can hold up and pJay the. KICKING NOISE 5 Dan Hadenfeldt, a junior from Des Moines, Iowa, ts making a strong bid to become the Nq.1 punter and backup place-kicker to Kris Brown, i Saturday, Hadenfeldt nailed a 42-yard field goal With a gusty wind at his back to provide the Whites with the winning points. The kick would have been good from 55 yards.

Hadenfeldt also averaged 46.7 yards on three punts. Bill Lafleur, Nebraska's No. 1 punter entering spring averaged 42.3 yards on six kicks. He -also had a punt blocked by Clint Finley. ,1 hope it's pretty important.

I've put a lot of practice in this spring and this fs the payoff," Hadenfeldt said. "I'm 1 pleased. I'd like to be able to give the, coaches enough confidence in me to earn a stfiblarship and travel." i This spring has been the first since Hadenfeldt was in high school that he punted against A rush. 1 That's a lot different that just dropping the ball and Kicking," he 4 "You've got to work on speed and i geltlng Kicks off at the right time." ST1L WORK TO DO Middle linebacker Jay Foreman is happy to rpt through his final spring practice. But what if the Cornhuskers had another day left? "We ve octLn a lot out of spring.

But the thing our coaches trsft us is enoir is so if we had p. i I s.iy you can never work eiimiuh on fun-J tmentBls," he said. i No. 7 12 7 11 6 2 1 2 3 5 1- Player Bobby CorreU Joel Makovicka Frankie London Eric Crouch Willie Miller Shewn Wigrjins DeAngefc) AKk Tiltery Dan Alexander Bitty WHITE 21, RED14 Joel Makovicka 1 run (8:04) Drive---81 yards hi 11 plays. Other plays Newcombe pass to Cheatham Incomplete, Buckhalter 11 run, Newcombe 15 run, Makovicka 12 run, Buckhalter 3 run, Makovicka 11 run, Buckhalter no gala Newcombe 18, 2, 8 runs.

ft Conversion K. Brown kick. WHITE 24, RED 14 Dan Hadenfeldt 42 field goal (1:01) Drive 54 yards in 11 plays. Other plays Newcombe 23 run. Soucie 3 run, Kingston 1 run, Newcombe 8 pass to Apple gate, Newcombe pass to Casey Vanderhoef incomplete, Soucie 6, 6 runs, Applegate 2 run, 'Newcombe pass to Vanderhoef incomplete, Newcombe 5 pass to Billy Haafka.

Dan Alexander 1 4 4 0 DEFENSE Yerds Avg. TACKLES 59 8.4 Player UT AT TT 55 4.6 Julius Jackson. 4 3 7 43 6.1 Carlos 2 5 1 7 34 3.1 Travis Toline 1 5 6 17 3 4 Aaron Wills 1 4 5 11 5.5 Wes 3 2 5 7 7 0 Brian 1 4 5 5 8-5 Matt McGinn 1 3 4 Jamie Bumjw. 4 0 8 Josh 2 1 3 TonyOrtiz 3 0' ,3 -2 0 Rod Baker 2 1 3 Scott Siebenbom n- 2 ,1 Yerds 1 Mic i 2 0 2 28 0 BrandoriQuindt 1 1 8 0 0 1 1 2 0 Tracy -0 1 1 10 0 GregMcGraw 0 1 1 Mattlckes 10 1 Yards Avg. Luis Almanzar 1 0 1 6 3.0 Joe Hausmann 1 0 1 20 20.0 Brandon Wardyn 1 0 1 10,.

10.0 MitchEbke 1 0 1 8 8.0 Simon Van 0 .1, 1 Matt Grummert 0 1 1 Dominic 0 1. 1. Mark Vedral 1 1 Dion Booker 0 1 1 Gregg List 0 1 '1 Marcus Johnson 0 1, ,1 1 SACKS Player No. Yards Julius 2 ill Scott Siebenbom 1 4 FUMBLE RETURNS Meyer" No. Yerde Aaron With 1 0 Matt McGinn 1 a SPECIAL TEAMS i PWtpM i No.

Yards--: Avg. Bill Ufleur 6 254 ...,42.3 1 0 0.0 PUNTRETURNS Player Yerds Avg. Lance Brown. 3 27. 9 0 Shevin Wiggins 2 27 ,13.5 KICKOFF RETURNS Player No.

Yards Avg. Kenny 2 54 27.0 Shevin Wiggins 1' 25 25.0 Jay Runty PASSING C-A-l founTH G'JAHTZn Player i Frankie London Bobby Newcombe Eric Crouch 3-7-0 1-30 1-2-0 1-1-0 RECEIVING WHITE 24, RED 21 Dan Alexander 9 run (2:42) Drive 52 yards in 11 plays. el Other piays Frankie London pass to Sheldon Jackson incomplete, Buckhalter toss of 10 on rumble forced by Jay Foreman, Buckhalter 1 2 run. White pass Interference penalty on tourth-; and 8, Buckhalter 5 run, Makovicka 1 run, London 1 1 run. Watte Miller 6 run, London pass to Jackson incomplete, London 4 pass to Wiggins, London loss of 1 Conversion K.

Brown kick, 1 No. 2 1 1 1 -Player Shevin Wkjoxis Matt Davison Tom BeverkJge Kenny Cheatham.