Lincoln Journal Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • 17

ll'FSnAV, JANUARY 8, 199 LINCOLN, W. JOURNAL OilAKSO D0VJL I 117 9 Cane defense limits A. fS minimum Tayhrs scrambling to harmless 1 'AVC i 1 fcm.llll riniiiiiiiiiiniKmimiM Miami's Leonard Conley (28) breaks loose for another nice gain against Nebraska Monday night In the Orange Bowl. By Ryly Jane Hambleton Journal Sport Writer MIAMI The Hurricane defense was single-minded In Its approach to the Orange Bowl matchup with Nebraska, Stop Steve Taylor. "We were concerned with Taylor's scrambling," said Miami Coach Jimmy Johnson.

"We've had trouble with that kind of quarterback. "And a four-man front would have allowed him too much time and space to scramble. We wanted to take away his seams." Johnson said the key to the Hurricane defense holding Nebraska to 135 total yards was an aggressive game plan. We brought five or six people a lot -and brought the wide ends in to corral him. We blitzed more tonight than we usually do but it was part of our defensive package." Johnson said the blitzing package was developed after studying several professional teams' blitzing methods.

It led to a performance in which the Miami defense tackled Nebraska players behind the line of scrimmage 10 times for total tosses of 55 yards. That total included five sacks of Taylor. "We practiced containing Taylor all week long because we felt that was the key," said defensive lineman Greg Mark. "Our defense Just got off the ball real quick tonight and beat the Nebraska line to the punch. Tm very proud of the effort we gave tonight" Mark, who sacked Taylor twice in the second half for 18 yards in tosses, said the goal was to limit Taylor's scrambling abilities.

"He's dangerous when he gets loose, so our main goal was to get people up-Held to keep him in the pocket," Mark said. "And the fact our defensive backs had their receivers so well-covered did-nt give him any options." Johnson said the 'Cane defense kept Nebraska off-balance. "We pretty wen were zeroed in on their offense and dominated the line of scrimmage," be said. "We've got a strong defensive front and when you dominate the line of scrimmage, they will have second-and-long a lot of the time." Johnson said he still doesn't care what the polls may say. "We might not be No.

but at this time, we're the best team in the country," he said. "We probably gave Notre Dame No. 1 when we dldnt kick the extra point (to earn a tie)," he said. Miami lost to Notre Dame 31-30 at South Bend, Ind, earlier in the season. "We're usually not that generous.

So we came out tonight to prove to the country that we're the very best team." Johnson said despite the way the potts may turn out, he doesn't regret the decision to go for a two-point conversion and the win against Notre Dame. "That's the only way we play the game you go for the win every time," he said. That was the goal Monday, and the Miami defense made it possible for the offense to capitalize. Quarterback Steve Walsh was named Miami's most valuable player in the game after completing 21 of 44 passes for 277 yards and two touchdowns. There was some speculation before the game that the Miami players might suffer a letdown if Notre Dame won and eliminated any chance of the 'Canes winning the national championship.

But the players said that wasnt a factor. "We always get up for big games like this without any problem," Mark said "The Notre Dame game made us a little mad because we knew the polls weren't in our hands." The effort of Miami's special teams gave credence to Mark's observation. Robert Bailey and Kevin Harris nearly blocked two of Nebraska punter John Kroeker's kicks. Finally, on the Huskers' last punt of the first half, Bubba McDowell broke through to get his hands on a punt from the NU 25-yard line and give Miami the ban on the Huskers' 1L "The punter is a slow stepper and takes his time punting the ball," said McDowell, a senior defensive back "We knew we could get one of his punts. The upback was turning on me and concentrating on me and leaving the ends unblocked.

So I switched to the right side and the upback didnt pick me up." It was McDowell's 10th punt block of the season, tying the school record. iami team helps QB Walsh shine "I haven't been thinking about it (turning pro) recently," Walsh sail "I'm going to take some time off and talk to Mom and Dad to get their feelings. I win take a lot of things into consideration and look at what teams are Interested in me -that is very important. "The way I played tonight, though, I'm not sure any of them win be interested in me." For the time being, Walsh was more concerned with the Hurricanes' final ranking. Like Miami Coach Jimmy Johnson, Walsh said he knew the national championship poU was out of their controL "Actually, Notre' Dame winning got us fired up," he said of Notre Dame's 34-21 win over West Virginia in the Fiesta BowL "We knew the voting on the poU was out of our reach so we just wanted to prove we were the best team." Because of the strong defensive performance, offensive players said they had to hold up their end of the bargain, "The defense gave us time to get going," said Walsh.

"On the first touchdown (22 yards), Leonard (Conley) just got in the open and found the seam in their Conley, who finished the night with 40 yards rushing and 94 yards in receptions, including touchdown catches of 22 and 42 yards, said he knew he needed to have a good performance. "I knew I could have a good game because they would be keying on (fullback) Cleveland Gary," he said. "I had to have a good performance. "I really think Nebraska has a good defense I know they have a lot of talented players on defense." But that didnt mean the Hurricanes wouldnt press the Husker defense. "We just did what we had to do tonight," he said.

"We knew Nebraska flowed to the ball well but they also miss a lot of tackles. We just wanted to make them miss tackles tonight." Conley's second touchdown gave Miami a 17-0 lead in the second quarter. "It was just a dump pass over the middle and I could feel the defensive player on my back," he raid. "I made a pretty good move and got a couple of real good blocks from Randal (Hffl) and Dale (Dawkins) and that set me free." By Ryly Jane Hambleton Journal Sporta Writer MIAMI Steve Walsh erased an Orange Bowl record set by Joe Namath, another set by Steve Sloan and was within striking distance of a Bernie Kosar mark. So it wasnt unexpected that the Miami junior quarterback was named the Hurricanes' Most Valuable Player after a 23-3 victory over Nebraska in the 1989 Orange Bowl But Walsh said he should share the spotlight with halfback Leonard Conley and the Hurricane defense.

"I think there should be an asterisk after my name," he said. "Leonard Conley played an incredible game today with two touchdown catches. And it was unbelievable the way the defense stopped Nebraska." Walsh attempted 44 passes, erasing Namath's mark of 37 from the 1965 game. He completed 21, surpassing Sloan's 20 from 1966. And Walsh threw for 277 yards, Just 23 shy of Kosar's record from 1984.

But Walsh wasnt that pleased with his performance, referring to it when asked about his future plans. Scoring Tim left How scored FIRST QUARTER Conley 33 pott from Walsh Drive: 33 yards In six plays. Highlighted by Conley 8 run on thlrd-and-7. Conversion: Hoerta kick. 8:58 5:49 2:28 9:06 7:32 1i i mil rTw totf JF I SECOND QUARTER Huerta It field goal Drive: 49 yards In eight plays.

Set up by Crum Interception of tipped Taylor pass. Highlighted by Walsh 20 pass to Chudzln ski. Conley 43 pass from Walsh Drive: 60 yards In four plays. Highlighted by Walsh 18 pass to Chudzlnskl. Conversion: Huerta kick.

Huerta 37 field goal Drive: minus 9 yards In four plays. THIRD QUARTER Barrios SO field goal Drive: 4 yards In five plays. Set up by Lewis 31 return of Interception to Miami 37. Highlighted by Clork 14 run. FOURTH QUARTER Huerta 37 field goal Drive: 46 In 11 plays.

Highlighted by Walsh 15 pass to Gary, Walsh 17 pass to Conley on thlrd-and-10. 'I 4 i I 23-3 No need to ask how the game is going. Late in the fourth quarter Nebraska linemen ponder what for them is a sad story. Cornhusker notes, quotes Barrios prevents shutout Statistics StiU, Barrios got to play. Not only that he prevented Nebraska from being shut out for the first time since a 27-0 loss to Oklahoma In the final game of the 1973 regular season, Tom Osborne's first as head coach.

Just over five minutes into the second half, Barrios kicked a 50-yard field goal the longest of his career. "I was hoping I'd cause a spark, lift the team up a little bit gat something going," he said. "But I guess it was too little, too late." MIAMI Gregg Barrios stood on the sideline Monday night wondering if he'd get in the Orange Bowl game. The longer the game went the less likely it seemed to Nebraska's redshirt sophomore place-kicker. It became painfully apparent the odds against Barrios' having an opportunity to attempt an extra-point kick were high.

The Cornhuskers would have had to score a touchdown for that And they never did. They never came very close, in fact Hurricane notes, quotes Nebraska Offense Rushing No. Yds. Ave. Clark 14 36 2.6 Carpenter 5 15 3.0 Bell 1 13 13.0 Taylor ...................17 12 0.7 Gdowskl 1 4 4.0 Passing No.

Co. Yds PI Taylor ..............21 8 55 2 Gdowskl 1 0 0 1 Receiving No. Yds. Bell ..........2 39 Bane 12 Turner 1 6 Mllllkan 1 5 Worden 1 5 Brlnson 1 -4 Carpenter 1 -8 Punting No. Yds.

Ave. Kroeker. 8 335 41.9 0 0 Klckoff returns No. Yds. Bell ........................5 74 43 Interception returns No.

Yds. 1 31 Frvar ............................2 0 Ave. 4.6 4.3 5.0 0.3 7.0 PI 3 0 Yds. 94 81 47 29 12 8 7 7 Ave. 394 Yds.

24 14 9 Yds. 21 18 Yds. 0 0 0 Jimmy Johnson said the desire of this Miami team was the key to a successful season. "I told the players after the game that I dont believe I've ever had a team that committed as much from themselves for the success of the team," he said. "And Steve Walsh is a good example of the commitment to be the very best you can." When asked if this victory helped atone for his 0-5 record against Nebraska while at Oklahoma State, Johnson said, "We (OSU) were trying to bund a program against that juggernaut in the Big Eight Conference.

That's a whole different thing." NBC television commentator Bob Trumpy criticized Miami for passing near the end of the game. Johnson said it is part of the Miami offense. "People surely have to understand our offense. If they line up to blitz, our quarterbacks are ordered to audible to a pass," Johnson said. "If they dont want us to throw, then they shouldn't line up tobUtz." Miami Blazek, on the other hand, would vote for Notre Dame.

"Regardless of what you think, Notre Dame beat Miami, and that's what it ail comes down to," Blazek sail "Notre Dame should be No. 1." Whether or not they deserve to be ranked No. the Hurricanes earned the respect of Nebraska offensive guard John Nelson. "We could have used a little luck tonight," he said. 1 TheCornhuskerscameoutofthe game without any significant injuries, according to assistant trainer Jerry Weber.

Quarterback Steve Taylor suffered a severe thigh bruise near the end of the first half. Defensive tackle Kent Wells pulled a hamstring early in the game. And I-back Ken Clark was bothered by a hip pointer. .1 Nebraska wide receiver Morgan Gregory said, "This was the toughest The loss to UCLA wasnt as tough because we had a few errors you could pinpoint and that was such a weird game anyway. And, we felt at halftime like we were stiU going to win that game," he said.

The problem against Miami was the spirit and effort were still there, but there wasnt much to build on, Gregory said. "We receivers were getting open. We got open a lot But I know Steve (Taylor) didnt have time to throw. I dont know if be had time to throw even on a three-step drop," he said. "If there ever was a time we had the time to move the ban, I dont remember it Miami's defense was just that much better than we were tonight" 1 Nebraska wide receiver Morgan Gregory said Miami usually sent eight men at quarterback Steve Taylor and played Nebraska's receivers man-toman.

"That's the same kind of thing Missouri and Texas did to us. The dif-ference was, we won those games and we lost this one," he said. "The reason for that is Miami played such good foot-ban an night that there was little to get excited about for our offense." Nebraska Is 1-2 against Miami in bowl games, having lost to the Hurricanes on Monday and on Jan. 2, 1984, 31-30, in the Orange BowL NU beat Miami in the 1962 Gotham Bowl 3M4. Miami Coach Jimmy Johnson, who was 0-5 against Nebraska when he coached at Oklahoma State (and 0-5 against Oklahoma) is now 1-0 against Nebraska and 34 against OU since taking over at Miami five years ago.

Nebraska Is 14-13 in bowl games, 8-8 under Tom Osborne and 5- in the OrangeBowL Nebraska quarterback Steve' Taylor said he wasnt bothered too much by.the crowd noise. "We had a few times where we couldnt get the audibles out to the receivers, but that wasnt as much of a problem as Miami's defense. They were the better team tonight" Vf Nebraska safety Reggie Cooper said the two Miami touchdowns came on mistakes by the NU defense. The first one we didnt get the rotation of co verage and they popped that one in on us? The second one was just a missed tackle and we didnt make up for it" Nebraska sacked Miami quarterback Steve Walsh twice. Coming into the game, he had been sacked just four times.

Comerback Lorenzo Hicks sacked Walsh once for an 8-yard loss and NU An-America outside linebacker Brnderick Thomas sacked him once, also for an 8-yard loss. Nebraska defenders also broke up five passes and intercepted three, the best any defense had done against Miami and Walsh an season. Cornhusker offensive guard Andy Keeler and safety Mark Blazek came away from Monday night's game with different opinions on which team should be ranked No. 1 in the final pol If he had a vote, Keeler' would cast it for Miami Offense Rushing No. Yds.

Conley ...................10 40 Crowed. ....5 23 4 17 Dawkins 1 5 Gary 6 -2 Walsh 2 -14 Passing No. Co. Yds Walsh 44 21 277 Erlckson 4 2 8 Receiving No. Conley 4 Chudzlnskl .....................5 Gary ..............................5 Hill 2 Dawkins ........................2 2 Bethel .....1 Punting No.

Yds. Kalal. 4 158 Punt returns No. Spencer .........................2 McDowell ......................1 Smith 1 Klckoff returns No. Hill 1 Spencer 1 Interception returns NO.

Crum 1 Pharms 1 Defense Tackles UT AT 10 1 Crum 7 2 6 2 Hawkins 3 2 5 0 4 0 3 1 Ellis 3 1 Mark 3 0 McDowell 1 1 James 1 1 1 0 Harden 1 0 Curry 1 0 0 1 1 0 Miller 1 0 Babcock 13 P9 12 Defense Tackles UT 7 Frvar 6 Jackson 4 Thomas 3 Blazek 5 Cooper 4 Griffin 4 Croel 2 Wells 2 3 2 2 1 Callendo 0 Jobman 1 1 0 Buchanan 1 1 Ferguson ........1 0 Walsh doesnt by-pass bis senior season in favor of the NFL The prospect of a better Miami in 1989 might be a good reason for allowing the Orange Bowl Committee to pick a non-Big Eight team next year if Oklahoma wins the conference title and if the Hurricanes decide to stay home again for their bowl game. One year of recruiting isnt likely to close the gap. Devaney must have felt the same way Monday that he felt late on the night of Jan. 2, 1967, after his Cornhuskers had lost to Alabama in the Sugar BowL 34-7. The difference was quickness that night too.

been tempted to switch their television sets to the Sugar Bowl by halftime of the Orange BowL Some probably did. The Cornhuskers bad two first downs at that point the first with the aid of a 5-yard penalty, the second after punter John Kroeker was roughed. AU but the staunchest Nebraska fans had to have been watching Florida State beat Auburn by the end of the Orange Bowl's third quarter. Miami did to Nebraska what Nebraska was supposed to do to Miami in the 1984 Orange Bowl game. What's really scary is, the Hurricanes were supposed to be rebuilding this season.

They should be better a year from now, providing quarterback Steve AT 5 1 1 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 1.