Lincoln Journal Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • 38

HuHf UJTmi iiiin-' ini" ill Ml Ml 111 Mil 1 iiT- mi TrrrHrwrvrrrrrr 8DE NOVTMHFR 4 19fi4 SUNDAY JOURNAL-STAR 1 HUSKER HIGHLIGHTS. pyclooes dazed and coiiiui By Chuck Sinclair rAMES, Iowa Contrary to what the final score of 44-0 might indicate, Iowa State Coach Jim Criner did not award red helmets to eight Cyclone defensive players prior to the game so they could hide their embarrassment over the decisive Nebraska victory. red helmets, signifying all-Big Eight caliber players in the eyes of Criner, told the He had awarded eight defensively, and only two offensively. The rest of the team wore the customary yellow headgear. Iowa State's defense was not embarrassed in the rout Iowa State's offense was.

Dazed and slowed, ISU quarterback Alan Hood was trying to remember the license number of the truck that hit him. Tracy Henderson, the nation's third leading receiver, was hoping to recall what it was like to look back and see a pass coming his way. I Neither could remember. "It seemed like they (Nebraska's defensive line) were beating me back to set up for passes," Hood said. "I'd make a fake, and there they were.

I'm hurting. I don't even remember when ithappened." Henderson, who was limited to just two receptions for 11 yards, agreed that Hood's lack of time hurt the offensive. -No time "He wasn't getting any time. We had to cut our routes short because he didn't have time. He can't get us the ball if he doesn't have the time," Henderson said.

"When I turn around, I never see him anymore." Criner was trying to remember what it was. like to move the football something the Cyclones had done with regularity the previous two weeks in a narrow 12-10 loss to Oklahoma and a 14-14 tie with Missouri. The Cyclones were limited to just 53 yards total offense, 16 rushing and 37 passing. "That was a tough, dad-gummed football game to end up the way we did," Criner (, said. "I thought our defense and our special teams played pretty well for three quarters, but offensively, there's no question about the fact that Nebraska is a much better defensive football team than we are an offensive football team.

"I was very, very disappointed in our execution and the fact that we weren't even close to being as physical as they were. "But defensively I felt very good about way our kids played. I think you take two plays out of the game and our defense played really well." Criner said he thought the Cyclones gave up 28 points in the fourth quarter, "mainly because of an inept offense. Offensively, I don't think we played with a lot of emotion and defensively we did." One of ISU's defensive players awarded a red helmet, tackle: Barry Moore, found the third-ranked Huskers overwhelming. "Everybody who rode that bus over here was talented," Moore said.

"It was frustrating (watching the offense), but I also felt sorry we had to put a freshman quarterback (Derek De-Gennaro) in there' to play against the No. 3 team in the country. "We played Oklahoma tough, we played Missouri tough, and I thought if we could play with Nebraska into the fourth quarter, we'd have a chance to win. We didnt NU equal to '83 Criner and Moore agreed that the 1984 edition of the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers was as good, or better, than last year's team. "I think because of their special teams and their defense, they probably are a better overall team," Criner said.

"They're just as good as last year," Moore said. "Their defense is much better than last year. And, offensively," I dont see any difference in their running backs, really." i Henderson could see a lot of difference between Nebraska and Oklahoma, a team that, barely escaped with its life from, Ames two weeks ago. There was a big difference," Henderson said. "Against Oklahoma, and Missouri, we controlled the line of scrimmage.

We got totally outmanned at the line of scrimmage today. "Our defense played well, but when you keep throwing interceptions at the 20, Nebraska is going to score. You might be able to stop some- i body else, but Nebraska is going to score." Henderson didn't mind making a prediction for the Nebraska-Oklahoma showdown, sven though the game is still two weeks away. "I'll go with Nebraska all the way," he said, "because their defense is there." Nebraska defense halts Henderson 'Grandpa Reeves does something big I r-v if fK SZ22 I V.n;;4 1 Clark had one of the Cornhuskers' four interceptions, picking off a pass intended for Henderson late in the first half. Earlier, Clark nearly had another interception on a similar play, but "I dropped it," he said.

Nebraska's other interceptions were made by cornerback Dennis Watkins and ends Gregg Reeves and Bill Weber. Weber's interception and 25-yard return came with 7:03 remaining in the third quarter and the Cornhuskers clinging to a 10-0 lead. "That had to take something out of them," said Nebraska fullback Tom Rathman. It was all very basic in the Cornhuskers' first shutout since a 52-0 victory over Kansas in 1982, a stretch that included 26 games. "We ran 'slant-strong 57 all day," Cornhusker secondary Coach Bob Thornton said.

"We never blitzed, no man-under coverage at all." Nebraska had a plan for containing Henderson, "and if it came to the point where he was getting open, we could have run that defense," said cornerback Neil Harris, who started for the first time since the Oklahoma State game. Henderson rarely got open, and even when he did, Hood was too busy trying to avoid the rush to find him. "The rush is everything in stopping the passing game," Weber said. By Randy York Assistant Sports Editor -AMES, Iowa There were a lot of happy Huskers in the visitors locker ropm Saturday after their 44-0 victory over Iowa But none was happier, or prouder, than Gregg Reeves, the 6-3, 215-pound junior defensive end from Wahoo i "Grandpa" finally did something big. "I call him Everybody calls him grandpa," said Nebraska defensive end Coach George Darlington.

"He's got two kids and a he even looks old." Reeves intercepted a pass with 12:54 remaining and returned it 23 yards to the Iowa State 13. Darlington wishes Reeves had scored. "His football career almost ended last year. His youngest kid had a tumor on his leg. He almost had to give it up," Darlington said.

In a joyous locker room, Reeves acknowledged that fact About gave up football The father of 2-year-old Melissa and 1-year-old Mitch Reeves was ready to give up football "On the Saturday night before the Sunday we were supposed to report last year, we had to rush Mitch to the" hospital," Reeves recalled;" The eight-month-old baby had been with a hemangeoama, a blood-vessel tumor about the size of a golf ball on his left leg. "Until he was eight months old, we had to check him every On that particular Saturday night "the blood had soaked through the mattress on the crib and all the way through to the floor," Reeves said. The situation was life-threatening. "We didn't know what to do," Reeves said. "Our pediatrician said not to operate.

And the surgeons were saying yes. It was pretty complicated." Finally, "Coach Osborne called In a specialist and after a long time, we decided to wait," Reeves said. In the interim, "I almost tossed it in," Reeves said. "I had to give Mitch a pint of blood that night at the hospital." Life more important To Reeves, his son's life was infi nitely more important than football "Grandpa" gained his reputation as a farmer with his wife, Lori. The couple spent most of their time on her farm near Weston.

By next spring, they hope to live in a house on their own farm. Even by that time, Reeves will not live down the touchdown he should have scored at Iowa State. "All he had to beat was the quarterback," said Husker fullback Tom Rath-man. "I can't believe that We're going to have to get him with the running backs, so he can work on agility." Derek DeGennaro, the Iowa State freshman quarterback who. threw the interception, blocked Reeves' path to the end zone.

Reeves, was a popular target In the dressing room. I Scott Strasburger, Nebraska's starter at the opposite defensive end, also jabbed Reeves. 'z Threw ball up for grabs "I know they weVe throwing it up for grabs, if Reeves got an interception," Strasburger said. Reeves returned! the back-handed compliment, good-naturedly, of course. "I owe the interception to Strashurg er," he said.

"He's dropped so many this year, we have to practice catching the ball 10 minutes afteri.practice every night." i In a more serious vein, Strasburger called Nebraska's defensive perform-' ance Saturday "the best in the three years I've played on the varsity. "We held them to 53 total yards," he 'said. That's considerably down from the 503 thef Cyclones gained against the Huskers last year "The coaches talked about that a lot this week," Strasburger said. "Those stats were Included in the scouting report Monday afternoon. Very rarely does that happen." i' And very rarely does Nebraska get an interception by a defensive end.

I'We had one all last year (from Strasburger) and one this year from Brad Tyrer," Darlington said. I was happy to see Bill Weber (who returned his third-quarter theft 25 yards) and 'Grandpa' come through." For Reeves, "it was a dream come true," he said. "I've been dreaming about this forever." NU's Bret Clark (10) breaks up a second-quarter pass intended for ISU's Tracy Henderson (89). From Huskers By Mike Babcock iAMES, Iowa Sometimes, the basic stuff is the best. Nebraska's Black Shirt defense had a special plan for containing Iowa State split end Tracy Henderson, the nation's third-ranked pass receiver.

The Cornhuskers worked on that plan iii practice every day last week, and it might have been effective, if they had used it But they didn't, mainly because they didn't need to. "We probably used 10 defenses today, all basic stuff," Nebraska cornerback Dave Burke said after Saturday's 44-0 victory over Iowa State at Cyclone Stadium-Jack Trice Field. used the defenses we've been running since 'Day just went out and played defense," said Henderson, who caught two passes for 11 yards. His first reception came with 1:55 remaining in the first quarter and lost one yard. His second catch was good for a 12-yard gain early in the second quarter.

Henderson's lowest totals Not only were those Henderson's lowest totals of the season, but they also were in dramatic contrast to his totals against Nebraska a year ago, when he caught 10 passes for 136 yards. Last season, Iowa State used Henderson differently, Cornhusker safety Bret Clark said. Henderson would line up at tight end and run his "12-or 15-yard" routes to the inside or the outside, "according to the defense." In Saturday's game, Henderson was usually split wide, and he was rarely in the play, even when he could work his way free from the coverage. Cyclone quarterback Alan Hood never had time to find him. "Then quarterback was worrying about our line and not concentrating on where his receivers were," said Burke.

Nebraska's pass rush "made all the difference in the world," he said. ISU had 37 yards passing That difference translated into 37 passing yards for Iowa State, which ranked ninth in the nation in passing offense going into the game. Hood completed nine of 19 passes and had three intercepted. Derek DeGen-naro threw one pass; it was intercepted. "Out line did a fantastic job of getting to the passer," Clark said.

"They were in on him all day long. I don't think there was ever a time where we had to be back there (on a receiver) for. more than three seconds at the most. "The defensive line stacked everything up. They ate up Iowa State's offensive line." To 'compound the problem, the Cyclones never established a running attack to take the pressure off their quarterbacks.

Iowa State finished with a net of 16 rushing yards. For the game, the Cyclones picked up five first downs and averaged one yard per offensive play. The shutout was their first in 41 games. Black Shirts motivated A year ago in Lincoln, Iowa State gained 503 yards against the Cornhuskers in a 72-29 loss. Those memories motivated Nebraska's defense.

"We didn't want to be embarrassed again," Clark said. Two Cornhuskers bruised at Ames AMES, Iowa Nebraska came away almost totally unscathed from its football battle with Iowa Stale here Saturday. "About the only thing we got was a thigh bruise to (freshman defensive back Brian) Washington," Nebraska trainer George Sullivan said. "Smitty (I-back Jeff Smith) had a bruised a rib, so We held him out most of the second half," Sullivan added. It was pointed out to Sullivan that Smith appeared to limp off the field after his final rushing carry on the third play of the second half.

he didn't have any problem with ond after sending everybody, right while i he bootlegged the ball left Husker reserve defensive end Gregg Reeves got in the interception act a couple of minutes returning the ball to the ISU 13. Quarterback Craig Sund-berg hooked up with tight end Brian Hiemer from that spot to make it 37-0. The final touchdown came on a quick two-play drive with 8:22 left in the game. Sundberg started around left end on a keeper play. He had already gained about nine yards when the Cyclone defense closed in.

At the last instant he pitched out to freshman I-back Keith Jones, who zipped down the left side-i lines to complete the 47-yard play. Nebraska travels to Lawrence next weekend to meet the Kansas Jayhawks, a team that stunned Oklahoma a week ago and edged Colorado on the urday. A victory will likely assure the Cornhuskers, unbeaten in conference play, of a fourth-straight trip to the Orange Bowl. Oklahoma State has lost just once, but that defeat came at the hands of Nebraska, while Oklahoma has the blemish against Kansas on its record, plus games remaining against both Nebraska and Oklahoma State, and third quarters) and to keep them from scoring when they had the wind advantage. "The way they played against Oklahoma a couple of weeks ago and Missouri last week," Osborne said, "we felt it would be every bit as tough a game as we had against Oklahoma State, Missouri and some of the others we've played this season.

I was really surprised the way it ended up. Osborne said "the tragic thing for Iowa State is that you look at that final score and it looks like they didn't play. Yet they played pretty hard. They have a fine defense, but momentum, turnovers and good field position for us was the difference." Field position came into play early. The second time Iowa State had the ball, a short punt into the wind gave Nebraska possession at the ISU 42.

A 20-yard rug by Jeff Smith helped get the ball down close. Although the drive sputtered at the ISU 3, Dale Klein came on to kick a chip shot field goal for a 3-0 lead. The next time ISU had the ball the punt into the wind was even shorter 10 yards. Starting again on the Iowa State side of midfield, the Huskers drove 46 yards in 10 plays to score. Quarterback Travis Turner covered the final yard on a sneak.

Close after 3 quarters Iowa State still trailed by the same narrow 10-0 count midway through, the third quarter. But defensive end Bill Weber got the first of four interceptions by Nebraska and returned it 25 yards to the Cyclone 6. On the next play, I-back Doug DuBose, who led Nebraska with 134 yards on 12 skipped in for the touchdown and a 16-0 lead. Klein missed the extra point "Bill's interception was certainly a big play," Osborne said. "In the third quarter we didn't have very many yards.

At that time, Iowa State was certainly still in the ball game. And they had the wind. That interception was kind of a back-breaker." The flood gates really opened In the final frame. Iowa State punted on third down at the end of the third quarter to take advantage of having the wind at its back. Punter Jim Thompson, who had the 10-yarder into the wind, boomed the ball 75 yards to the Nebraska end zone.

But, on the first play of the fourth quarter, DuBose took a pitchout left cut back up the middle and went 80 yards to boost the score to 23-0. Watkins intercepts Two plays later the Huskers had the ball again following a pass interception by cornerback Dennis Watkins. A pass interference penalty against ISU put the ball on the 8. Turner then matched Du-Bose's two-TD effort by getting his sec- Statistiqs Reinhardt Nebraska 2 2 Tvrer, 1 1 2 Carl 11 Tucker. Offense Rushing No: Yds.

14 58 1 0 1 Iowa State Offense Rushing i I No. Ave. 4.1 5.8 3.0 11.1 2.6 2.0 6.5 5.0 0.5 1.0 14 Hood .4 .8 46 14 42 12 134 Porter ....3 8 Sundberg ..4 -A' 2 10 65 1 5 Blakeman 2 1 .1 1 Passing No. Co. Yds ,.7 2 24 Sundberg 5 3 25 Watson 3 Posey 3 York From pag1D PI 3 1 PI 0 0 Passing No.

Co. Yds ,19 9 37 DeGennaro 1 0 0 Receiving i Henderson 2' Hanson 2 i 3 Minor Punting Receiving No. Gamble. 1 Kimball .,..1 Hiemer Porter Punting Yds. 169: Punt returns No.

2 1 1 Interception returns Yds. 11 19 -1 3 5 Ave. 40.4 Yds. 0 Yds. 44 25 Yds.

14 14 23 -2 Ave. 33.8 Yds. 13 15 -1 Yds. 6 25 11 23 No. Yds.

444 Punt returns A No. AAcCue Kickoff returns No. :.....,...........2 2 Defense'! NO. Scoring NU-ISU How scored Time left FIRST QUARTER 3-0 Klein 20 field goal 2:52 Drive started at the ISU 42 after a 10-yard Iowa State punt into a stiff wind. Highlighted by Smith 20-yard run.

Drive stalled at the ISU 3. i SECOND QUARTER 10-0 Turner 1 run 12:28 Drive: 46 yards In 10 playsHighlighted by 12- yard Turner run and 11-yarder by DuBose. Con- version: Klein kick. THIRD QUARTER 14-0 DuBose (run 7:00 Drive: (yards In one play following Weber pass interception and 25-yard run. Conversion: kick failed.

FOURTH QUARTER 23-0 DuBose 80 run 14:48 Drive: 80 yards In one play. Conversion: Klein kick. 30-0 Turner 8 run 13:48 Drive: 8 yards in one play following Watkins pass In-terception and 15-vard penalty. Conversion: Klein kick. 37-0 Hiemer 13 pass from Sundberg Drive: 13 yards in four Plays following Reeves pass Interception.

Con- version: Klein kick. 44-0 Jones 47 run 8:22 Drive: 45 yards In two plays after a two-yard loss on first down. Conversion: Klein kick. Nebraska 3 7 28 44 Iowa State 0 10 8 8 Tackles And this was one pass he should have thrown left-handed It changed the the game. Turnovers turned it around.

Suddenly, a relatively boring game looked like a ping-pong match and the Huskers had all the slams. "We have a goal of getting three or four turnovers a game," Weber said. "But we've fallen short 90 percent of the time." Saturday was different An extremely effective defense became extremely opportunistic. Nebraska's last five touchdown drives took a combined 10 plays, while the Huskers" first two scoring drives took a combined 19 plays. Turnovers were a dramatic difference.

"We've done a good job defensively this year. But we've still been minus eight in turnovers (2749)," pointed out George Darlington, Nebraska's defensive end coach. "That's unusual," Darlington said. "A great defense will usually be plus turnovers." For Nebraska, which will become the No. 1 defensive team in the this week, the turnover ratio is now minus four (29-25).

Here's a prediction by the end of the Oklahoma game, the Huskers will be plus-turnovers. A great team was born Saturday. And Weber is proof positive. You might say there is no such thing as a turning point in a 44-0 game. But Weber turned this one around with 7:03 left in the third quarter.

Fifty-eight seconds after Scott Livingston boomed a 45-yard punt into a 30-mile'-an-hour wind, Weber pirated a pass and returned it 25 yards to the Iowa Stale6. Oh the next play, Doug DuBose scored and the nail-biter started to turn into a rout. "They still had the wind at their backs," Weber said. "I was worried that one play could get 'em back in the ball game." Unfortunatelyv one play just as easily took the Cyclones out of the ball game. Weber, who led the Huskers with five solo tackles, noticed Iowa State had a man in motion when he dropped back in his zone.

"That's a good indication that hell try a crossing pattern," Weber said. "I saw the receiver out of the corner of my eye. I knew the quarterback had no idea where I was," Weber sail "So I just kind of sat there and waited till he threw. He hadnt seen me. He threw it right to me." ISU quarterback Alan Hood writes with his left hand and eats with his Lii hand.

He does everything left-handed except throw. 1 TT UT 5 Everett 1 ...2 Liter ...3 3 Barthusen 4 Luebbers ,...,.6 Laures 2 Gibson 3 Defense Tackles ut 5 1 Spachman 4 1 0 Noonan 1 Shead. ...2 Braswell T9 10 2 -i 1 Stuckey Skow Strasburger. Daum. Doffer ...0 ...2 ....4 ....1 ,..1 Iversen Richards Williams Tucker AT 0 .1.1 0 0 3 0 4 4, -0 I 1 0' 1 2 0 0 0 1 Munford 3 1 ...1 Burke Watkins AAcCashland his ankle at all" Sullivan "That was just habit, I think.

It doesn't look like we had any other problems, although we might find a few more when they report to the training room on Sunday. But I don't expect anybody to miss the Kansas game next Saturday because of injuries from this game." .3 5 Matuscak Davis 4 2 Hevn 1 2 0 Clark Kaelin. Zierke. 1 2.