Lincoln Journal Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • 10

Lincoln Journal Star Sunday, October 19. 1997 HUSKER EXTRA Page design: Kail Vogal aitovicKa new way to score BY STEVE SIPPLE Lincoln Journal Star jinn, m.ii.m i ipii, in iimi. hji i 11 i u.i. niimni muffin i 11 L- MAKOVICKA FROST Jr.) Nebraska running backs coach Frank Solicit is serious when he says Comhusker fullback Joel Mako- Vicka has good hands for catching thefootbalL I "You just don't want to throw it too high," Solich said with a wink and a grin. Nebraska quarterback Scott Frost was right on target when he found the 5-foot-10, 235-pound Mako-i vicka with a three-yard touchdown pass during the second quarter of the Cornhuskers 29-0 win against Texas Tech on Saturday at Stadium.

It was Makovicka's first reception of the season. And it was the first touchdown catch by a Nebras- ka fullback since 1992, when Lance Lewis hauled in a 15-yarder in the Huskers' 19-10 loss at Iowa State. "Mack's got good hands," Frost said. "He can run you over (running the ball), but he's agile, too. He can do a lot for a short kid." Makovicka was informed of the short-guy comments.

"I can't believe it," he said. Makovicka wasn't as surprised about his touchdown grab, which gave Nebraska a 10-0 lead. "Iknew I'd be open because they wouldn't be expecting the play," he said. "I knew he'd throw it to me. I didn't even think about it I just looked the ball into my hands." On this particular play, Nebraska used two fullbacks.

Billy Legate lined up behind Frost and in front of Makovicka. The I-back lined up be-hiiid Makovicka. In this case, Makovicka went in motion to his right, and Frost found him running free in the front part of the end zone. "They came with a wide blitz, and ne and (tight end Vershan Jackson) were both open," Makovicka said. "It's pretty exciting.

I hope there's RANDY HAMPTONUncoti Journal Stv Husker I-back Ahman Green (30) breaks free for a 5-yard gain in the second quarter as Texas Tech's Duane Price (1), Stoney Garland (56) and Anthony Terrell (24) close in. more catches to come. But I guess if we're rushing the ball well and scoring enough points, I won't need (to catch passes)." Nebraska was its usual punishing self on the ground, finishing with 400 rushing yards, just 1.8 yards shy of its nation-leading average. I-back Ahman Green led the way with 178 yards, and Makovicka bulled bis way to 57 yards on nine carries. Texas Tech entered the game allowing an average of 100.8 rushing yards.

"We knew they'd be really physical," said Makovicka, a junior from Brainard. "They played us tough last year, and they had a good scheme. We may have come out a little sluggish the first few series, but eventually we asserted ourselves. "Our goal is 400 yards a game," he continued. "Our linemen take pride in that At halftime (when Nebraska had 148 yards rushing), we told ourselves we needed to get 400, and we came out in the second half and put people on the ground." Texas Tech Coach Spike Dykes praised the running of Green and Makovicka.

"They're hard to tackle," Dykes said. "We hit them a lot of times at the line of scrimmage, and they still made 3, 4 or 5 yards. They're relentless." Dykes described Makovicka as "an old blue-collar, Ail-American kind of player." With a good pair of hands. consistency Nebraska junior I-back Green quietly runs for 178 yards BY STEVE SIPPLE Lincoln Journal Star Green's season Opponent Akron Central Fla. Washington Kansas St.

Baylor Texas Tech Totals Att Yds 9 99 25 113 29 129 20 194 20 158 24 178 127 871 TO 2 0 1 4 4 1 12 ft Green's career i fe-liiifr- rrfiiilia A defense like that, you have to work for every yard, and that's what he did." Last season, Green was severely limited by a turf-toe injury in four games and later was slowed by a stress fracture in his foot This season, he said, he is feeling fine. "I'd say I'm getting stronger and being more consistent," he said. "That's what I try to do in practice if I'm consistent in practice, I'll be consistent in games." Green moved up to fourth on the Nebraska career rushing chart with his second-best day of the season (he gained 193 yards against Kansas State). Green now has 423 carries for 2,873 yards in three seasons, passing Derek Brown Lawrence Phillips (2,777) and I.M. Hipp "You couldn't ask for anything more from Ahman this season," Solich said.

"He's put together a series of games that have showed great ability." Green could have easily rushed for two touchdowns Saturday. But, he said, he popped the ball out of his own hands with his knee as he headed for the end zone late in the third quarter. Nebraska got the touchdown when right guard Jon Zatechka recovered the ball in the end zone. "When I heard the crowd yelling, I knew we had scored," Green said. Year 1995 1996 1997 Totals TO 13 7 12 32 Att Yds 141 1,086 155 917 127 871 422 2,874 RANDY HAMPTONUncoh Journal Star Ahman Green breaks free on a short gain in the third quarter.

Nebraska's soft-spoken starting I-back went about his business quietly Saturday. As it turns out, business was surprisingly good. Ahman Green was somewhat startled upon learning he had rushed for 178 yards during Nebraska's 29-0 victory against Texas Tech at Memorial Stadium. He figured his final yardage would be about 90 to 100 yards. Aaron Taylor, the Cornhuskers starting left guard, thought the same thing.

"I would have said 120 yards at the most," Taylor said. "Getting 178 quiet yards is unbelievable." Perhaps Green's day seemed quiet because his longest run from scrimmage was for 24 yards and he scored only one touchdown, a 7-yard burst early in the fourth quarter that capped the scoring. Gi'een had scored four touchdowns apiece in Nebraska's previous two games, victories against Kansas State and Baylor. The 100-yards-plus rushing days are becoming routine for the 6-foot, 215-pound junior from Omaha. He topped the century mark for the fifth straight game and now has 870 yards on the seasoa Ta A Green's performance against Texas Tech was particularly impressive considering the Red Raiders entered the game rated 23rd nationally in rushing defense, having allowed 100.8 yards per game.

"They gave us what we expected they were hard-hitters and aggressive to the ball," Green said. "It was mostly smash-mouth football We didn't throw the ball much and we ran a lot between the tackles. "It was five yards and a cloud of dust all day long." Well, not exactly. Green averaged 7.4 yards a carry to raise his season average to 6.85. His average of 145 yards a game ranks among the nation's top eight His hard running Saturday impressed Nebraska running backs coach Frank Solich.

"The way I see it, with that type of game, he shows his strength well," Solich said. "He ran hard, he ran strong and he ran smart Usually when you play against a IAN DOREMUSLmcom Journal Star Nebraska comerback Ralph Brown II (22) knocks the ball away from Texas Tech receiver Dee Jackson (85) on a first-quarter pass play. lack Shirts keep foes up in air NU's next foe BY-JEFF KORBEUK Lincoln Journal Star But unlike those games, the Huskers also shut down the pass. Central Florida lit up Nebraska's secondary for 318 passing yards. Washington had 299.

Texas Tech had a mere 110. "Once we shut down the run, they were forced to pass," Nebraska senior defensive tackle Jason Peter said. "That's the perfect setting right there. That way we can come after them. We put a lot of pressure on them today." Nine times Nebraska came up with tackles for losses.

Four of those were sacks for 30 yards. "We felt like we had to come after (Tech quarterback Zebbie Lethridge), squeeze him in the pocket a lot like we did Charlie Ward (former Florida State quarterback)," Nebraska defensive coordinator Charlie McBride said. "We had to get up field and get a good push." Part of Texas Tech's running problems were because of Nebraska's speedy, physical defense. But the Red Raiders also were hampered by an ankle injury to Leth ridge. The Tech quarterback hurt his ankle during a loss North Texas State Sept.

20, and he hasn't been the same since. "We felt maybe we were safe against the quarterback draw because he wasn't full speed," McBride said. "So, we took a few more chances with our defense." Texas Tech came into the game averaging 187.2 yards a game on the ground, ranking them 28th in the nation. Nebraska's defense was allowing just 84.8 yards a game, 11th best inthenatioa Freshman Ricky Williams was Texas Tech's leading ball carrier with 37 yards on 15 carries. That worked out to a 2.5 rushing average.

Lethridge, who gained 88 yards against Southwestern Louisiana and can run the option, netted a minus 23 yards on five carries. Three times he was sacked. "We knew Zebbie was hurt a little bit with his ankle," Peter said. "He really didn't want to run the ball. When they ran the option, he pitched really quick." Nebraska's defense is making a habit of destroying the opposition's running attack.

For the fifth time in six games, the Cornhuskers kept an opposing jedm under 100 yards rushing. The Black Shirts limited Texas Tech Saturday to just 17 yards, a season best during No. 2-ranked Nebraska's 29-0 victory at Memorial Stadium. "We're playing good football fight, now," Nebraska senior rush endtGrant Wistrom said. "We pride ourselves in stopping the run.

When we're able to do that we can focus on the pass." Nebraska's defensive play was reminiscent of games against Central and Washington, where the Blackshirts zeroed on the passing game after shutting down the Central Florida gained 47 yards on the ground, while Washington mustered just 43. IAN DOREMUSLinegln Journal Star Nebraska linebacker Carlos Polk (13) celebrates a sack with the help of free safety Mike Brown (21) in the third quarter. Polk dropped Texas Tech quarterback Zebbie Lethridge for an 18-yard loss on the play. Nebraska defenders said a big buckle down," Peter said. "The third difference was the Huskers' defen- quarter has been the weakest quar- sive play in the third quarter Texas ter for us as a football team this Julrter year, and we really didn't give them "Coach McBride told us to really anythin" Hessler sparks CU past Kansas BOULDER, Colo.

(AP) Embattled quarterback John Hessler passed for two touchdowns and ran for another, sparking Colorado to a 42-6 rout of Kansas on Saturday night Kansas plays host to Nebraska next week in a televised game that will start either at 2:30 p.m. or 6 p.m.'' Hessler, in danger of losing his starting job after throwing 10 Siteri-ceptions compared to just three touchdowns in the first five games, summoned his best performance of the season. He completed 15 of 19 passes including his last eight -r for 188 yards with no interceptions. Marlon Barnes rushed for 129 yards and two touchdowns for Colorado (3-3 overall, 1-2 in Big 12). In a matchup of teams suffering from offensive ineptitude this season, Colorado generated 434 yards to 177 for Kansas (4-3, 2-2).

Colorado, which had lost three of its previous four games, put the game away with three touchdowns in a span of 4:55 of the third quarter for a 35-6 lead. Hessler threw a 17-yard scoring pass to Marcus Stiggers with 7:23 left in the period. Less than two minutes later, cornerback Marcus Washington stepped in front of in tended receiver Michael Chandler and intercepted Zac Wegner's pass, returning it 25 yards for a TD. Three plays later, Kansas fumbled" near midfield, and Hessler capped a 46-yard drive, keeping 16 yards on ah option play for another TD with 2:28 left in the quarter. Backup quarterbacks Jeremy Weisinger and Adam Bledsoe saw action on Colorado's final three se ries, with Weisinger at the controls on a drive that ended with Barnes 2-yard TD run with 2 54 to play.

Kansas' lone scores came on 32 and 33-yard field goals by Joe Garcia in the first half. Cornhuskers extend their home vinning streak to 40 games Nebraska notes Nebraska won it's 40th home game in a row; it's 29th consecutive Homecoming game; its fifth straight against Texas Tech, iVs 43rd straight victory in October, and 34th consecutive conference regular-season game. Nebraska reported no serious injuries. Tom Osborne coached his 300th game, and is now 248-47-3 (winning percentage of He was unimpressed. "I didn't know it "was my 300th.

It's a lot of games. I guess I have enjoyed most of them, but there have been a few I wish I could forget" Rush end Grant Wistrom passed Trev Alberts for the school career record for tackles for loss (45 from 1990 to 1993). He now has 47.5 for 201 yards in losses. He is 10.S sacks behind Alberts. McBride said he was Impressed with freshman cornerbacklinebacker Joe Walker, who got his first start as a Husker.

"When Texas Tech used the fullback we were in our regular linebacker set with Brian Shaw in there. When they were in single-back and using four wide outs, we put in Joe Walker as a nickel back. So we ask him to play strong safety and then linebacker and he's getting moved around a lot. But he's playing good." He said defensive tackles Loran Kaiser, Steve Warren, rush end Kyle Vanden Bosch and middle linebacker Carlos Polk are making improvements. Ahman Green moved up to fourth on the NU career rushing chart with his fifth consecutive 100-yard-plus game.

He has 2,873 yards on 423 carries and 31 touchdowns. Nebraska had two drives inside of the Texas Tech 20-yard line that did not produce touchdowns. Osborne said, "It was more often that we made a bad play. Sometimes I don't think I called a very good play and sometimes a guy would blitz and somebody would miss a block. One three of our occasions we had a first down inside the 10-yard line and we came away with no gain or something happened." NU center Josh Heskew said he thought Texas Tech's defense played better the closer Nebraska got to scoring.

"They were more physical than Washington and they really hit hard on every play. We figured out if we picked up the pace we could wear them down and that's how we got the two touchdown drives in the second half." Nebraska set season highs with 69 rushing attempts and time of possession (36:35) and a season low for points allowed and penalties (none). Nebraska defensive coordinator Charlie McBride said the game, was one of defense. "I know Spike Dykes pretty well and when he says their defense is good, I get nervous. I think their defense, like the Washington defense, could see where Washington made mistakes.

But our defense played better than their defense. In a game like this your defense plays their defense in a way. I'd like to think we have the great defense it takes to win any championship.".