The Lincoln Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • 40

4E Oct 3, 1982 Uneoln, Sunday Journal and 8tar lfc.V."VJltWy"llJ. 1 i II I i' 4 1 I 1 SMC: I 4 II i I i-i A 1 1. il 1 NU quarterback Turner Gill drops It's what's up front that counts! back to pass (above) and gets protection from fullback Mark Meravec kuhler moves back to block out a flying Vernon Blackard (90). But Auburn quarterback Clayton Beauford luxury of such protection (right) and is sacked by Nell Harris (11). Secondary adjustments crucial (40) while Dean Stein- (11) isn afforded the si s.

i 0 tuti NU passes wishbone test VHk A From Page By Mike Babcock Statt Sports Writer AUBURN. Ala. Nebraska safely Bret Clark shouldered the blame for Auburn's rushing success in the first half of the Cornhuskers' 41-7 victory over the Tigers on Saturday afternoon. "I wasn't reading the 'arc options' and load options' right," Clark said. "I didn't get to the 'alley' when I was supposed to." Put simply, Clark had two main responsibilities when it came to dealing with the options in Auburn's wishbone offense.

On some plays, he was supposed to take the quarterback; on others, he wasn't. In those situations, the "arc options," he was assigned to help contain the pitch man. In Saturday's first half, however, "I was going for the quarterback on every play, and our linebackers were gelling caught inside," he said. "About all their big plays were on arc options. If I'd have read them right.

Auburn probably wouldn't have gotten anything," said Clark, a third-year sophomore from Nebraska City. Clark is one of three sophomores playing regularly in Nebraska's secondary this season. The others are cor-nerbacks Neil Harris and Dave Burke. Husker running back Doug Wllkenlng (34) breaks through tne tackle for an eight-yard loss. In all, Nebraska recovered three Auburn fumbles and intercepted one pass, that by Lyday with 5:50 remaining in the game.

Clark and Stuckey were among those deferring a wishbone for the first time since high school, and "we were less tentative, more sure of ourselves in the second half," said Stuckey, a third-year sophomore from Lexington. "We came off the ball with more authority in the second half," he said. The first half "it was more a matter of feeling them out." Nebraska's coaches didn't use dramatic locker room speeches at half-time to motivate players like Stuckey, who said: "We knew we had to play tougher defense. It all boiled down to us coming through in the second half." Saturday's effort was a big boost to Nebraska, which opens conference play next Saturday at Colorado. "I know we'll have a lot more confidence going into the Big Eight now," Stuckey said.

He wasn't discouraged by Auburn's strong start. "When they popped that first touchdown, we knew we just had to suck it up. I didn't expect it to be like this. It's tremendous." Huskers second touchdown, a 12-yard sprint around left end with just four minutes gone in the final frame. "And I don't know how he ever made it," Osborne said.

"We had given up trying to audible (change the play called in the huddle at the line of scrimmage) because of the crowd noise. Turner had told me early in the game that nobody could hear him. One time he changed to a pass play and none of the receivers heard him and nobody went out Another time he changed to a run and none of the backs could even hear him. "So, prior to the play that produced the touchdown early in the fourth quarter," Osborne continued, "we called two plays. We had HI sw ing pass to the right' as the primary play.

But, we were afraid they might try to blitz. If they did, we were sup posed to change to '41 pitch left' Turner aaw the blitz coming and changed to the run. But everyone on the team except Roaer went right. He look the pitchout ft After three weeks of defending against pass-oriented teams, they were confronted with an Auburn wishbone geared to the run. "We went from one extreme to another, and all the pressure was on the secondary," NU defensive coordinator Charlie McBride said.

According to McBride, Clark, Harris, Burke and seniors Kris Van Norman and Allen Lyday handled it well. The defensive backs were hesitant about run support in the first half; they were overly-cautious about stopping Auburn's passing. But in the second half, they relaxed and made some big plays. Nebraska's defense took advantage of the wishbone's foibles throughout the contest, ending more than one Tiger scoring threat with a big play. Midway through the first quarter, a Harris hit caused Auburn fullback Ron O'Neal to fumble at the NU 21-yard line, here Clark recovered.

With 4:53 left in the third quarter, and Nebraska leading 21-7, defensive end Bill Weber recovered an Auburn fumble at the NU 14-yard line. Four minutes and 36 seconds later, Cornhusker defensive tackle Rob Stuckey thwarted the Tigers on a fourth-and one at Ihe NU 35-yard line by throwing quarterback Randy Campbell the kids do what you tell them." Did Osborne expect a great comeback after the loss to Perm State? "To be honest," he answered, "I was a little worried just before the game started Our kids weren't jumping around out there. In fact, they didnt seem very emotional But we told our defense at that they would stop Auburn at the the second half to them gelling a 14-14 Osborne said. "And we offense it would be for them to score time they got the key was to go out do it You look like smart coach when 1 of Doug Smith ana Bob Hams. 1E and they played well especially the defense in the sec-, ond half.

That kind of a performance will give them confidence and be a big help down the road" Down the road tsnt very far away. The Huskers open the Big Eight season net Saturday with their third away game in a row -f all week against Colorado In Boulder. i and somehow got into the end zone." With the score up to 28-7, ebraska dominated the play the rest of the way. Fullback Mark Schellen broke loose up the middle and powered his way 41 yards for another TD with 7:27 left and 1-back Tim Brungardt produced the final count on a 13-yard run at the 1:24 mark. s4 4 i "We halftime have to outset of prevent tie," told the important the first bull.

The there and a pretty had good practices i Mike Rozier cut past Tim Drinkard (18) who slipped to the turf, and raced 12 yards for a touchdown. NU trainer Sullivan questions safety of natural turf ACBURN. Ala. Don't try to convince Nebraska trainer George Sullivan that playing football on natural grast if safer than on an artificial surface. "After two games in a row on natural grass, we're as beat up as I've ever seen us," Sullivan laid after Nebraska's 41 7 victory over Auburn here Saturday.

"Irving Fryar win be the ntS. questionable for next week. He sprained his ankle real dm with nobody near him. He wu cutting for a past and his cImU caught In the grass. fered against Pens State, came away with a thigh bruise this time, while quarterback Turner GUI wound wita bruised ribs, Bruised shoukteri were the most common.

Reserve quarterback Nate Mason, fullback Doug likening, winghacfc Shane Swanaon and offensive tackle Jeff Kwapkk aO had Ice packs taped on their snouMen. Sullivan said that I -back Roger Craig, who aWt make the trip because of a thigh bruise, will be able to retari to action against Colorado next Saturday. Nebraska's Jeff SmKh (28) lost the baft when Jeff Jacknon (42) pulled him down. Auburn's Tim DriraV rd (1 1) tried to get back to the loose ball, but Dean Sletnkuhler (71) beat him to it to recover for th i Huskers. -i I 4 0rrrtck Allen Lyday, recovered from a knee injury sul- IF.