Lincoln Journal Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • 31

N0VFMPCR3 i9BS SI INQAY JCHJff NAL-STAH FulWatek Rathman still getting sweeter, running like I-back 1 if, IMA -'4' If. '-y -taJhitW By Ken Hambleton MANHATTAN, Kan. 'Nebraska wl-back Paul MUes said that fullback'Tom has all the right ingredients to a member of the club. n- "He likes to think he's an I-back and he certainly runs like one," Miles said. "But he needs a little more sweetener.

He wears the sweetness towels in prac-'tice and aD, but he's still got some i. "Otherwise, he's a full member of the club," MUes said with a smile. For the second straight year, Rath--man rushed lor a pair of touchdowns and picked up the slack when the Jlusker running game was stymied by the Wildcats' defense. lA year ago, Doug DuBose was held to less than 100 yards, marking the first dime in 20 games that no Husker back IJiad gained 100 yards rushing. Cats swarmed to l-backs The Wildcats geared up for the NU "I-backs again, allowing DuBose 82 yards on 18 carries and MUes 83 yards on 11 "They were sending a defensive back "on the I-back every play," MUes said.

had a pretty good defensive plan Tand they made us really work and struggle for everything we got" Quarterback McCathorn 1 Clayton agreed that the K-State defense was to take away the option and over the pitch. had to keep every option and we ried a couple of different things," he "The thing that helped break things ioose were the plays to the fullback -Rathman." The only running play that went for vinore than four yards in the first quarter was a trap play by Rathman that was -good for 37 yards and the first touch-' down of the game. In the second quarter, Rathman broke a trap play for 11 yards and the only run longer than seven yards In the penod was a 21-yard touchdown run round ten end by Miles that put NU Shead 14-3. MUes' touchdown run followed a lutch, 22-yard screen pass from Travis burner to Rathman. $JO builds lead Rathman scored on a 5-yard run on ihe next drive to give the Huskers a 21-3 three runs for 19 yards helped set Dale Klein's 50-yard field goal in the lard quarter "We had to go to the fullback plays $hd they Clayton sail "In the Jecond half, the pitch plays worked." Husker left guard Brian Blankenship, who suffered from the flu early in the game, said off-guard plays to the fullback worked welL "They had the outside covered pretty well and we had to get the yards inside," he said.

"Rathman is a good.runner and iff 4 i he's learned to play right in behind the blocks." DuBose rushed for 23 yards on a pitch play in the third quarter to set up a 52-yard field goal attempt by Klem that missed. "They might stop the "'ck stuff -some, but they couldnt stop both the I-backs and the fullback," MUes said. "It's a one-or-the-other thing, and it's a compliment to Rathman that he's doing the job. "The line did a great job, but we all had to earn our yards against K-State's effort." Rathman, who broke away for an 84-yard touchdown to break open the Colorado game a week ago, credited his achievements to his line and confidence in himself. "I don't think I'm a breakaway threat without the blocking.

Nobody can be," Rathman said. Cured of fumble-itis "They're making the holes, and because I'm not so worried about hanging onto the ball the way I was last year, I nave more time and more concentration on reading the holes. "Last year by irudseason, I was having troubles with fumbles and holding onto the ball was my primary concern. It still is a concern, but I can run better without the worry about fumbles." The change is evident in that the senior from Grand Island has 598 yards this season, only 32 fewer than MUes and 29S fewer than DuBose. Rathman has six touchdowns this year, the same as DuBose and one more than MUes, and he is just three TDs short of the season scoring record for fullbacks and two short of the career scoring record for fullbacks at Nebraska.

He is 121 yards short of the season rushing record for fullbacks. "I think Coach Osborne has more confidence in me this year because I'm run-rung better and I'm not fumbling," he said in an effort to explain his success. "I had one fumble in the Florida State game, but since then, no problems. "We have a team goal about leading the stats in turnover ratio and we have an edge of 14 now and that's high nation aDy," he said. Linemen doing job "The big gains have to happen up front with the blocking.

If we take care of the baU and take advantage of what the line gives us, we can get the yards and get the scores. "The offense is improving. We had a lot of trouble the last two games getting the ball into the end zone when we get in scoring territory," Rathman said. The Huskers had just two touchdowns and eight field goals in 14 drives Inside the opponent's 35 in the last two games. However, Rathman pointed out, "When we don't stop ourselves, we can do a lot" lip.

DuBose took three stitches in the Up Offensive tackle Tom Welter re-sprained his right ankle that he sprained last week against Colorado. Tight end Todd Frain suffered a bruised right shoulder and split end Rod Smith had a bruised left knee. 4Mt s. 4k' v. jh liii.iiilb.mil Rathman rambles again For the second straight week, Nebraska fullback Torn Rathman scored on a long touchdown run, going 37 yards on a trap play Saturday against Kansas State.

Rathman (26) looks for an opening as tackle Tim Roth (65) sets his sights on a defender (1). Roth and guard John McCormlck (61) open the hole (2) and Rathman breaks -into the secondary The Ne-' braska delegation (4) cheers the first Husker touchdown. Last week against Colorado, Rathman sped 84 yards, for a touchdown in Nil's 17-7 victory. lol Huskers By playing against Ellsworth, Taylor would run the risk of injury. "What weT trying to do is get Steve ready to play as much as he can down the road," said Osborne.

That doesnt mean Osborne has written off senior Travis Turner and sophomore McCathorn Clayton, who played most of Saturday's game, or even sophomore Gete Blakeman, who's No. 1 All four quarterbacks did some good things Saturday, according to Osborne. Passing wasn't one of them, however. "We didnt throw the ball as wen as rd like to see," herald. Nebraska completed six of 17 passes for 75 yards.

Turner and Clayton each threw an interception. Defense clawed 'Cats Kansas State attempted twice as many passes with little additional sue-, cess. The Cornhuskers Intercepted three KSU passes, one each by Mike Knbx, Mike Carl and Brian Davis. But "our main goal was to stop the run, and we did that" said Knox, who was credited with seven tackles. Kansas State finished with $8 net 'if A rushing yards, a total significantly af: fected by five quarterback sacks, three of which were credited to senior tackle Jim Skow for losses totaling 37 yards.

Broderick Thomas, a freshman defensive end, sacked Wildcat quarterback John Welch for a 12-yard loss and finished with a team-high nine tackles, five of them unassisted. Thomas, like Taylor, has been projected for future stardom, and his performance was worthy of conjecture. Nebraska's immediate concern now, however, is Iowa State, which visits Memorial Stadium Saturday. By then, the Cornhuskers probably wUl have moved closer to the top of the national rankings. They went into the Kansas State game rated third by United Press International and fifth by the Associated Press.

"Well take whatever comes. I hope' we might move up a notch or two," said Osborne, As for the beach, that'll have to wait "We're going to have to be very good to beat Oklahoma," Osborne said, adding that Iowa State and Kansas wont be pushoversither. Four, Huskers huirt in KSU contest Klein gives Huskers points" on fourth-and-long plays Four Nebraska Dlavers suffered in juries in the Huskers win over Kansas State and their status for future games is uncertain. U-Back Doug DuBose suffered a punc-' tured upper lip on an option play when he-was hit, forcing a tooth through his Cornhusker quotes Linebacker Mike Knox en Us pass Interception: "It was kind of a fluke, tt bounced, around up in the air and I just kind of dove for it Final score: "We wanted a shutout But limiting them to three points was pretty good. Chances of a national title after lewa lost: "We cant depend on who loses.

We just have to go out each week and play the bestjame we caa Hopefully, by the time the bowl game comes around, well be In a position where we have chance to win it" Quarterback Travis Turner, after his second start of the season: "I'm happy as long as I'm still walking at the end of the game and we won. ,1 thought K-State came out and played us tough and gave us a good fight By Ken Hambleton MANHATTAN, Kan. Dale Klein added a whole lot more than two field goals to Nebraska's 414 victory over 'Kansas State Saturday afternoon at KSU Stadium. Klein's 39-yard field goal in the second quarter and career-best 50-yard field goal in the third quarter helped the Huskers convert fourth-and-long situa-tlons into points. But the pair of field goals also boosted his season total to 12 in 18 attempts, lying uie nu scnooi record for most field goals in a season set by Billy Todd (12 of 18, 1978) and Dean Sukup ri? of 16, -1979).

The fact he missed a 52-yard attempt with 8:36 left in the third quarter and then was given a chance at a 50-yard attempt Just five minutes later shows the increased confidence the coaching staff and Klein himself have In the sophomore's kicking. "I was disappointed to miss the 52-yarder," Klein said. "I have the ability to make those, even though I've only had one over 45 yards and that was last week. "I had enough distance on that kick 'but I twisted a little too much because was trying a little harder than usual," he said. "When we got to fourth-and-seven on our next series I saw Coach Osborne look over for Coach Clete Fischer and say 'field But he caught my eye first and I said first and I said 'sure "I like the climate here.

Here, at Missouri and Oklahoma State there was no wind. At Nebraska, tt always seems like the, wind is swirling." Klein said. "I didnt know about the record and it really doesn't matter much. What matters is being able to help the team have them being able to count on me," he sail' "I'm glad they feel they can the chance." Journal-Star photos by Ted Kirk, Harald Dreimanis.