The Lincoln Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • 52

1 1- i 3 A 1 SCI1APER rs. v-fy rrt Al 4 A COLOif TED KIRKLINCOLN JOURNAL-STAR NU's Lawrence Phillips (1) breaks out of a tackle with the help of Zach Wiegert (72) on his 60-yard gain in the third quarter. The play set up Clinton Chitds' touchdown two plays later. OA rakers' line dunks BY CURT MCKEEVER Lincoln Journal-Star minimm i b-' After, being named by ABC-TV as Nebraska's most valuable player in the Cornhuskers 49-21 victory against UCLA Saturday afternoon, offensive tackle Zach Wiegert jokingly asked for the keys to his Chevrolet Blazer. TED KIRKUNCOLN JOURNAL-STAR Nebraska's Christian Peter (55) crashes into UCLA punter Darren Schager in the third reier was canea ior rougning ine punter, extenamg tne Brums touchdown drive.

Against the Bruins however, Wiegert and the NU offensive line drove UCLA's defense into the ground under their own power. "I think pretty much all our running stuff was working today," the 6-foot-5, 300-pound senior from Fremont said. 3 pi Zach Wiegert Nebraska, the top rushing team in the country, added another 484 yards to its season total Saturday, averaging 7.4 yards per carry. "They feel a great deal of accomplishment when they can mow people down," offensive line coach Milt Tenopir said of his group, which consists of tackles Wiegert and Rob Zatechka, guards Brenden Stai and Joel Wilks and center Aaron Graham. TEO KIRKUNCOLN JOURNAL-STAR Damon Benning (21) vaults head-first into the end zone on his 2-yard touchdown run with 3:33 remaining to play in the second quarter.

is a lot more that I "He said I was player of the game. I brawn. "I'd just as soon watch an inside trap block But our kids like that (counter sweep) play. And it's not so much that we're out there. The backs have to help you.

Milt Tenopir Nebraska's effectiveness running the "That offensive line is comforting to have. Unless you have turnovers, you're going to move the ball most of the time," Coach Tom Osborne added. "They're pretty good athletes for people that big." Wiegert, Stai and Wilks all can dunk a basketball. Zatechka can't, but he's the quickest of the starters. 'Tm the best dunker of all.

You can ask any of them," Wiegert said. "But my hands aren't big enough to palm a ball, so I've got to do it two-handed." Saturday, the Bruins had their hands full of Wiegert and company. "I think it's the best line since I've been here," Wiegert said. "Some years we've lacked size. Some years we've lacked experience.

This year we've got both. "It's not so much that we're bigger and stronger, it's knowing where to go and not wasting any time getting there." Wiegert displayed that on numerous counter sweeps that illustrated his ability to run outside and downfield. "I think that's always been a favorite play of mine," he said. "It gives you a chance to chase little guys around. It really was effective today." As Tenopir pointed out, that play further illustrated that "offensive line play was in shock," Wiegert said.

"I didn't think I played that great of a game." Apparently, Wiegert isn't the first first Nebraska offensive linemen to earn TV player of the game honors against UCLA. Tenopir said former guard Harry Grimminger got a similar award for his play in 1984. I-back Clinton Childs said the entire offensive line deserved the award. Defensive tackle Terry Connealy was glad not to be a Bruin. "We haven't faced an offensive line that compares to our guys.

I'd hate to play a full game against them," he said. UCLA stopped Nebraska's first possession after three downs, but the Cornhuskers had touchdown drives of 60, 89, 80 and 50 yards on their next four possessions. "We play a style of football to wear people down, and the physical play takes its toll," Wiegert said. "They played the first series hard. After the second series, they looked like they were playing on their heels.

You can't play defense that way in this part of the 0 counter sweep paved the way for I-back Lawrence Phillips' career-high 178 yards rushing. It also allowed Wiegert and the linemen a chance to see a little daylight. "It's definitely one of my highest yard totals," Wiegert said, grinning. "I put in some serious yardage today, and I really didn't get too winded. "I think we did our job today.

The backs have to find the holes, but I think we all played well." ABC sideline reporter Lynn Swann was about the only person to slow down Wiegert Saturday, after Swann asked Wiegert for a post-game interview. I' 1 TED KIRKUNCOLN JOUHNAL-S1 AS Husker quarterback Tommie Frazier (15) pitches the ball as he's hit by UCLA defensive tackle London Woodfin (89) in the first quarter. OLQRi HEARTLA 1. tHUSKER If ir 1 I) 4 i -V. 4f TEO MRKAJNCOLN JOURNALIST AH ROBERT BECKSUJNCOLN JOURNAL-CTAH UCLA Coach Terry Donahue argues an early can.

The Huskers bring Memorial Stadium's 1 96th straight sellout crowd to its collective feet before kfckoff TtO KRKUNCOLN JOURNALS 1 At) NU's Tony Veland (9) intercepts a first half Li ci a.