The Lincoln Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • 29

Lincoln Journal-Star SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1992 T- eoeYiieci 4 i I (Mitts? 4i; 7 Scoring, team stats Arizona State 0 10 14 0 24 Nebraska 10 14 14 7 45 NU Grant 5 run (Bennett kick) NU FQ Bennett 37 ASU Ryder 15 pass from McGee (Rl-cheyktek) NU Armstrong 7 pass from Grant (Bennett kick) ASU FG Richey 37 NU D. Brown 9 run (Bennett kick) NU C. Jones 24 run (Bennett kick) NU B. Moore 54 Interception return (Bennett kick) ASU Bates 6 run (Richey kick) ASU Bates 9 run (Richey kick) NU Lewis 50 run (Bennett kick) By Ken Hambteton Lincoln Journal-Star How does that saying go? The best defense is a good offense? Nebraska's prevent offense yes, offense and a spirited defensive final flurry helped the Comhuskers hang on yes, hang on for a 45-24 football victory over Arizona State before 76,138 fans Saturday at Memorial Stadium. Relief overwhelmed joy for the victors.

"The players are embarrassed, and the coaches feel terrible," said NU defensive coordinator Charlie McBride. "Their offense was great, and we got a big, big play from Bruce Moore. But we were one or two more bad plays away from big-time trouble and the most embarrassing game ever." i I Travis Hill. "It's weird to win by 21 points and not feel great. It's good to win.

It's not good to give up all those yards." Nebraska head coach Tom Osborne said he was a little queasy in the victory as well. "We were hanging on in the last quarter and a half, and I don't like that feeling," he said. "I dont like to play football like that We were back on our heels at the end of the game. "If our defense had been stuffing them, we'd been able to open up more offensively. But when you see the lead we had, it would have been crazy because we had to maintain ball control and put the game away." In the second half, Nebraska's defense didn't stuff anything and the NU offense was starving with only 96 yards between its first drive of the second half and its last possession of the game.

Led by tailback Mario Bates, who gained 118 yards and scored two touchdowns, Arizona State dominated the second half. After Nebraska opened the second half with a 50-yard scoring drive in five plays, that Calvin Jones topped with a bobbing and weaving 24-yard touchdown run, the Sun Devils outgained NU by 201 yards until the final two minutes of the game. See NU on page 4D The 3-1 and No. 15 Comhuskers led ASU NU 23 22 53-251 54-319 263 50 514 369 -1 54 19-28-3 6-14-1 6-445 3-2 1-0 12-92 6-27 30:53 29:07 6-13 5-14 1-3 1-1 First downs Rushes-yards Passing yards Total yards Return yards Passing Punts Fumbtes-tost Penalties-yards Time of possession Third-down conversions Fourth-down conversions by as much as 38-10 in the second half and admitted they struggled to maintain the lead. Nebraska's defense, which was celebrated in a loss at No.

2 Washington a week earlier, was tagged for 514 yards the third-most given up by the Comhuskers since 1982 and the seventh-most all time. The same defense came up with it Color picture page. Page 1E. two fumbles, including a hobbled punt return that set up a 9-yard NU touchdown run by Derek Brown. "We were hanging on, and we were a little scared.

It became a matter of pride," said NU outside linebacker enough big plays to offset a lot of the damage with five turnovers. Nebraska grabbed three interceptions, including Moore's 54-yard return for a touchdown. The Comhuskers covered TED KWKUNCOm JOURNAL-STAR Nebraska l-back Calvin Jones is brought down by Arizona State defender Brett Wallerstedt after a 15-yard gain for a first down on the Huskers' first possession. The Sun Devils' Justin Dragoo is at right. ushers looked more like Big Eight favorites in loss Mike Babcock Columnist in turn, will have positive implications throughout the defense.

Regardless of Arizona State's impressive offensive statistics, the Comhuskers won, decisively based on the score. Plus, there shouldn't be any complacency on the part of Nebraska's defense now. That's a positive for the Comhuskers. Complacent defenses aren't likely to be successful, as evidenced on Saturday. McBride was disappointed but not discouraged.

"Are the mistakes correctible or are they physical?" he asked, rhetorically. "My inclination is, they're correctible." If McBride's inclination is right, then I'll stick with my assertion that Nebraska has a good enough defense to win the Big Eight. I'm just not as convinced as I was a week ago, after a loss. And I continue to reserve the right to change my mind. this season.

But Arizona State did some things offensively for which the Comhuskers weren't prepared for example, lining up with two tight ends in sets typically used in passing situations. That meant, at times, Nebraska had "dime" defensive players, who are most effective against the pass, trying to stop a running play on which the Sun Devils had an additional tight end blocking. There were other factors contributing to the Comhuskers' defensive breakdowns on Saturday, including the absences of free safety Tyrone Byrd, who was sidelined by a hamstring injury, and tackle Jamie Liewer, who suffered a broken leg in the Washington game. Byrd should be back when Nebraska opens Big Eight play against Oklahoma State at Memorial Stadium in two weeks. Hell make a significant difference in the secondary, which.

probably had something to do with Arizona State's offensive success Saturday afternoon. Cornhusker Coach Tom Osborne duly noted that, as did defensive coordinator Charlie McBride. Defense is played with emotion, and against Arizona State, "I didnt think we were all that wired up," McBride said. Add a fast start, which found Nebraska jumping to a 10-0 lead less than eight minutes into the game, and you've got the potential for a mental as well as an emotional letdown. That's a bad combination against a good team, as the Comhuskers learned.

"Mentally, that was probably the worst game we've had since I've been here," said McBride, who's in his 16th season. Arizona State had his defense off-balance all afternooa The Sun Devils were equally effective running and throwing, gaining roughly the same number of yards each way. But it was A week ago, the Nebraska football team looked like a favorite to win the Big Eight, despite a 29-14 loss against Washington. Saturday afternoon, that impression changed, even though the Comhuskers won, defeating Arizona State 45-24. Fickle, you say? Consider the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson: "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds." I'm hedging now because Nebraska's defensive play in defeat at Washington was more impressive than its play in victory against Arizona State.

And, ultimately, the conference championship will be decided by defense. Am I making sense yet? Let me put it another way. Arizona State gained 514 yards against the Comhuskers 251 on the ground, 263 through the air. Is that a positive way to enter Big Eight play? I think not. In defense of Nebraska's defense, last Saturday's game against Washington Arizona State's ability to run the ball that most concerned McBride.

"We got pushed around in there," he said. McBride was disappointed by that, but he wasn't surprised. This isn't something we weren't worried about," he said. The Comhuskers have invested considerable time and effort into developing a defense capable of holding its own against pass-oriented offenses, perhaps at the expense of defending the run. That made sense given Nebraska's first three opponents Pirates blast Mets, clinch at least a tie .1 JTW mK Mil MVP award in three years.

He hit a two-run homer in the second, added an RBI double in the fourth and now has 32 homers and 100 RBI. He's the first Pirate since Willie Stargell from 1971-73 with three consecutive 10O-RBI seasons. "I just hope I stay this hot," Bonds said. "Even after we clinch it, I want to play every day, get my at-bats and stay hot for the playoffs." The Pirates won't get much hotter than this. The 19 runs were the most they've scored at home since moving into Three Rivers Stadium in 1970 and the club high since a 22-0 victory in Chicago on Sept 16, 1975.

The Mets hadn't allowed so many runs in a game since a 26-7 loss at Philadelphia on June 11, 1985. The Pirates batted around in each of the first two innings, scoring six in the first inning on McClendon's second career grand slam and starter Bob Walk's two-run double. They added six more in the second as Bonds homered and Jose Lind, Gary Redus and Jay Bell also drove in runs. Mets starter Eric Hillman shut out the Pirates on six hits over eight innings in his major league debut on Aug. 11, but he retired only two hitters before departing after allowing six runs on three hits.

PITTSBURGH (AP) Pittsburgh is having a good month, Barry Bonds is enjoying an even better one, and the New York Mets probably feel as if it took a month to play just one game. The Pirates clinched at least a tie for the National League East championship Saturday by burying the Mets 19-2 behind a pair of six-run innings, Lloyd McClendon's grand slam and Bonds' homer. "There were a couple of dunk shots in there, but basically they just whacked us around," Mets Manager Jeff Torborg said. "It just numbs you when the runs come like that." The next Pirates victory or Montreal loss will assure Pittsburgh of becoming the first NL East team to win three consecutive division championships since Philadelphia from 1976-78. The Pirates also won three in a row from 1970-72.

The Expos prevented the Pirates from clinching Saturday by beating the Chicago Cubs 12-0. "This was fun, but this team is looking to bigger and better things," said McClendon, on the verge of playing for his fourth straight NL East champion. He also played for the "89 Cubs. "This will be three in a row for us, and we've come out on the short end (in the playoffs) every Brewers pull closer. Page 2D.

Reds finally falter. Page 2D. time," McClendon said. "Now, we just want to get this over with and focus on taking that next step beyond." The Mets took a step backward, playing more like the '62 Mets than the $44 million team that was supposed to win the NL East They've lost 12 of 14 to the Pirates but never as badly as this. The Pirates led 6-1 after one inning, 12-1 after two and 16-1 after four, and the Mets finally threw in the towel by pitching infielder Bill Pecota in the eighth.

Pecota, the first position player in the Mets' 30-year history to pitch in a regular-season game, gave up a leadoff homer to Andy Van Slyke, but he got the next three hitters. "No, this wasnt fun because it's been a pretty sad year," Pecota said. "This is probably the first time I've had this many reporters talk to me in three months, and it's only because I pitched. That means it's a pretty bad year." It's been a big year for Bonds, who continued a stretch drive for a possible second National League fif lit I ij nr H-. i i i i i i ASSOCIATED PRESS Pittsburgh's Barry Bonds (left) greets teammate Lloyd McClendon after McClendon's first-inning grand slam.

NW9 Iowa defense smothers No. 6 Plainsmen COLO Arizona tugs cape, ed Raiders win NIAC debut can't ground lami "They had us well-scouted. We just couldn't get anything done. We couldn't run, and they were putting seven guys back, making it tough to pass. We couldn't do anything." Nebraska Wesleyan quarterback Jeff Lindquist U.S.

wins Davis Cup semifinal Page 3D By Mark Derowitsch Lincoln Joumal-Slar ORANGE CITY, Iowa Nebraska Wesleyan had a limited running game. No pass protection. No last-minute magic. And no victory. Northwestern College of Iowa made a sudden impact on the Nebraska-Iowa Athletic Conference as it blitzed, battered and bewildered Wesleyan Saturday, posting a 34-8 football upset before 1,000 spectators at De Valois Field.

It was Northwestern's first game in the NIAC and gave the Red Raiders a 3-0 record overall. The Plainsmen limited Northwestern to 87 yards of total offense, but the Red Raiders took advantage of special teams play and turnovers to hand the Plainsmen, ranked sixth in NAIA Division II, their first loss of the year against two wins. "They were very opportunistic," Wesleyan Coach Jim Svoboda said. "They found a way to get things done and make things happen." Wesleyan's offense sputtered all afternoon, scoring just once, on Jeff Lindquist's 20-yard touchdown pass to Darren Stohlmann in the second quarter. The Plainsmen rushed for 31 yards on 34 carries despite Shane Carr's 76 yards on 23 carries.

Lindquist was sacked seven times and lost 51 yards. "They had us well-scouted," Lindquist said. "We just couldn't get any- MIAMI (AP) For the second consecutive year, a missed last-minute field goal kept Miami in contention for the national football championship. The Hurricanes' shockingly slim 8-7 victory over unranked Arizona raised questions Saturday about whether the top-ranked Hurricanes are good enough to repeat "They think they put on their clothes a little differently and that they have an 'S' on their chest. Sorry, pal," Wildcats quarterback George Malauulu said.

"They're not the No. 1 team. If they were, they'd have blown us out." When Steve McLaughlin's 51-yard field goal attempt was wide right by 2 to 3 feet on the final play, Miami survived its closest call at the Orange Bowl since 1985. A year ago, Miami edged Florida State 17-16 on the road when the Semi-noles' Gerry Thomas missed a 34-yard kick wide to the right in the closing moments. Struggling against Arizona (1-2-1 and a 27-point underdog) could endanger the Hurricanes' lead in the rankings over No.

2 Washington. "I wouldn't be real impressed if I was a pollster," Miami Coach Dennis Erickson said. There are other threats to the Miami reign: next weekend's show- UCLA shuts down San Diego State. Page 50. Iowa State upset.

Page SD. down at home against No. 3 Florida State, followed by a game at No. 9 Penn State on Oct. 10.

"I havent been around a team in eight or 10 years that scored just eight points," Erickson said. "If we play like that against Florida State, we're not going to get a first down." Miami's only touchdown and the game's final points came on Gino Torretta's 2-yard pass to Dietrich Clausell with 3:50 left in the third quarter. "If you take too much consolation in coming close, you just come close," Wildcats Coach Dick Tomey said. "Right now, none of us feels very good." Neither did the Hurricanes, partly because they lost standout defensive end Rusty Medearis in the third quarter to a knee injury. He'll undergo surgery today and likely will miss the rest of the season.

Miami narrowly extended winning streaks of 21 consecutive games (longest in the nation), 47 in a row at the Orange Bowl and 53 straight over unranked teams. Peru State rallies, defeats Chadron State. Page 6D. thing done. We couldn't run.

and they were putting seven guys back, making it tough to pass. We couldn't do anything." Northwestern's offense didn't fare much better. Wesleyan held the nth-ranked Red Raiders to 36 yards rushing and 51 yards passing. But Northwestern took advantage of Wesleyan mistakes. The Red Raiders took a 13-6 halftime lead thanks to a Wesleyan fumble and a long punt return.

Lance Baatz scored on a 2-yard run, one play after Scott Sippel returned a punt 44 yards to the NWU 2-yard line early in the second quarter. The Red Raiders scored again in the second when Adam Tyrrell hit Wade Heemskerk on a 21-yard touchdown pass. The score came two plays after Steve Snyder recovered an Aaron Semm fumble at the NWU 20. Northwestern took the opening kickoff of the second half and marched 61 yards on six plays to take a 19-6 lead. The drive was capped on Baatz's 2-yard run.

The Red Raider defense then made its presence felt. On Wesleyan's first possession of the third, B.J. Enger intercepted a Lindquist pass and returned it 28 yards for a touchdown. The two-point conversion made it a lead with 11 51 to go in the third. Wesleyan's defense gave the offense two chances in the third.

Brad Winterstein intercepted a pass and Scott Klein recovered a fumble, but the offense wasn't able to take advantage of the opportunities. "Our defense has been pretty good all year," Northwestern Coach Larry Korver said. "We shut them down pretty good. Our defensive line dominated the game." The Plainsmen defense got into the act offensively as well. Jeff Wall blocked a punt out of the end zone to cut the lead to 27-8.

Northwestern's defense answered back, as Dan Rossell picked off a Lindquist pass and ran 40 yards for the game's final touchdown. 'This is as frustrating as I've even been as far as play calling is concerned," Svoboda said. "Everything we tried didn't work It was just one of those days." Scoreboard Page 2E All-City bowler loved the game Page 3E Conditions good for waterfowl start Page 4E C3 ES.