Lincoln Journal Star du lieu suivant : Lincoln, Nebraska • 16

m-'wM' i'-T'' wm i i'h" i6Cz3(iuomznG TUFSOAYlJANUARY 2, 1 LINCOLN, NC. JOURNAL deficit Nebraska Wy H' nt-m i mumover dooms J. jf A I ByMikeBabcock Journal Spoilt Writer Ariz. Take away the turnovers and the outcome of the Fiesta Bowl probably wouldVe been different, according to Gcage Darlington, Nebraska's secondary coach. "The big difference In the ultimately, got down to the fact we had five turnovers and they didnt have any," Darlington said, The Cornhuskers lost three of five fumbles and had two passes intercepted in their 41-17 loss to Florida State Monday afternoon, "You cant win a big ballgame and have a (turnover) deficit of 0-9," said Darlington.

"Had it been the other way, we probably wouldVe won by about the same score they won." Darlington's biggest concern in that area was Nebraska's inability to inter- enough variety, and I think, at times, we got good pressure. With three-step, drop back guys, you're not going to get (much) pressure. "We gave them two touchdown passes on things we spent an inordinate amount of time preparing for and just didnt make the plays." If the Cornhuskers dont improve defensively against passing teams like Florida State, they! continue to have problems in bowls, according to Darlington. Tve told the kids the last two years and I really believe this we're always going to get matched up with a Florida State or a Miami in a New Year's Day game, or at least a good percentage of the time. And we have to do a better job of being able to combat these types of offenses in order to win the national championship," he said.

Still, the disparity in turnovers was the key to Monday's game, Darlington said. Given a similar disparity, "there were four or five games we could have lost this year. Nebraska lost to Florida State 31-28 in the Fiesta Bowl two years ago, a game in which Seminole quarterback Danny McManus completed 28 of 51 passes for 375 yards and three touchdowns. The latter two totals were the records Willis broke Monday afternoon. McManus was intercepted once.

"The real disappointing thing to me is, we've had two years against these people and we've had one interception," Darlington said. "I dont think we can beat a team with as good a concept as Florida State without coming up with some interceptions. You cant allow a team to throw the ban 40 times and not get an interception. You're not going to stop them without some stoppers." -fit-? rVti Witt rtnftftWiiliiiiiiiiiiir -iri -y Mil Florida State ball carrier Dexter Carter is brought down by the Husker defense, consisting of, from (74), Jeff Mills (42), Pat Engelbert (97) and Marvin Sanders (26, on ground). a7 for Huskers 3, the ball held up in the air forever and they outjumped our pys for the ball "When I passed, it seemed like I have seven seconds sometimes and other times Fd have someone in my face as soon as we snapped the ball "Our offense and defense were not in synch after the first quarter, and Florida State had a lot to do with that" Doug Glaser, Nebraska's All-America offensive tackle, expanded on Gdowski's analysis of the game.

"We were prepared. We worked hard to get ready and we were in the right frame of muid," he said. "And we had a good start, too. "But everything changed with our turnovers and before long we were playing for pride and trying not to get blown out of the stadium." Glaser especiany bemoaned the turn-, overs. "Our job was to keep the ball out of their hands and control scrimmage so 4 f(f Everything goes wrong By Ken Hambleton Journal Sporta Writer TEMPE, Ariz.

The frustration settled in and was quickly dismissed by Nebraska quarterback Gerry GdowskL "You can find a bunch of things that can go wrong in a football game, and they almost all did for us today," he said after Nebraska lost to Florida State. "We hadn't put the ban on the ground or turned it over but three times in our last four games. Today, we did that in the first half," GdowsW said. "That put our defense in some tough positions and then Florida State took advantage of almost every opportunity and we got beat Beat badly." Gdowski, who set 11 NU quarterback records this season, passed for 154 yards, but Florida State equaled Gdow-ski's interceptions for the season with two pickoffs Monday. Gdowski was held to a season low of a net 1 yard rushing.

"We didnt get the job done," Gdowski said. "When they passed, it seemed like Photos by: Gail Folda Ted Kirk Harald Dreimanis 1VJLU1 Uliy 5 JLiit litiVS ml CHERYL EVAN38PEOAL TO THE JOURNAL left, Tyrone Byrd (8), Mike Murray over they wouldnt have the chance for big plays," he said. "The turnovers led to some scores and them taking the lead. That led to our haying to change our game plan and that didnt help." Glaser said the Cornhusker mistakes were a key, but he credited Florida Stale for earning the victory. "We helped them out, but they are a really great team," he said.

"Their passing attack is really good. When you've got that much talent on offense, it's something to watch." Glaser said before the game that a year ago Nebraska's problem in the Orange Bowl against Miami was a problem of speed in the NU offensive line. He said he did not think that was the problem this year. "We had to outrun them some, but I dont think speed was as much of a problem as turning the ban over and their receivers making great catches against our coverage, which wasnt that bad most of the time." Time left 11:19 13:42 12:15 00:24 5:59 3:37 00:02 1:15 7r cent Seminole quarterback Peter Tom Willis, who completed 25 of 40 passes for 422 yards and five touchdowns, both Fiesta Bowl records. "If you let a guy throw 25 of 40 with no interceptions, you're going to be hard-pressed to win," he said.

Willis completed 61 percent of his passes this season, so his effectiveness came as no surprise, according to jmgton. "Willis is an excellent passer and we expected him to throw that wen. We just expected to make three or four interceptions off him," he said. Nebraska's scheme for dealing with Willis and Florida State's passing attack was essentially sound, Darlington said. "It's just a matter of getting better at what we're doing.

"We had two busts (in pass coverage) in the ballgame. Otherwise, we had people in position to make the plays. We had Cornhusker notes, quotes Nebraska Coach Tom Osborne said NU's fake punt pass thrown by punter Mike Stigge to Mark Dowse for a 41-yard gain early in the game was a planned play. "We practiced that play because they usually came with 10 peo-. pie on the punt rush," Osborne said.

"If they had come with 11, as they often do, Dowse would have been an alone." Nebraska scored its first touchdown after the play. Although the Fiesta Bowl field was painted green because of the lack of grass, and there was simply dirt on most of the middle of the field, none of the Cornhuskers complained about the surface. "I dont think anyone slipped because of the lack of grass," said NU quarterback Gerry GdowskL This was Nebraska's only game this year that was played on grass. 1 When asked it he felt Florida State was the best team in the country, Gdow-. ski said, "Anybody would have a hard time finding a beter team." For the first time since 1968, Nebraska finished the season without a vie- v.

tory over a Top 20 team. The Cornhuskers lost to then-No. 2 Colorado and fell to No. 5 Florida State. Nebraska All-America center Jake Young was named winner of the '-bowl's Art Bodine Sportsmanship Award NU's Steve Forch won the 'award in 1988.

Nebraska Is in the Fiesta Bowl, losing to Arizona State 17-14 in 1975, to Michigan 27-23 in 1986 and to Florida State 31-28 in 1988 and 41-17 in 1990. Ne-' braska is 8-9 in bowl games under Coach Tom Osborne. FSU has a 4-2 overall record against Nebraska. -Florida State's Peter Tom Willis, was named offensive player of the game and (Well Haggins was named defensive player of the game. NUwlngback and receiver Tyrone Hughes, who had a 62-yard kickoff re-.

turn to set up Nebraska's field goal, said he followed Leodis Flowers and raced up the field. "Leodis was leading the way, and when I got some open field I let loose. I cant believe the kicker got me on the angle," he said. The top five individual passing totals against Tom Osborne-coached Nebraska teams prior to Peter Tom Willis performance in the Fiesta Bowl Monday were: Danny McManus (Florida State), 1988 Fiesta Bowl, 28-51-1, 375 yards, 3 Ronnie Williams (Oklahoma State), 1985, yards, 2 IDs. Randy Essington (Colorado), 1982, 24-.

51-2, 361 yards, 1TD. David Archer (Iowa State), 1983, 26-46-0, 346 yards, 1TD. Bemle Kosar (Miami), 1984 Orange Bowl, 19-35-L 300 yards, 2 TDs. (Kansas quarterbacks Frank Seurer and Mike Ortb combined tor 18-41-3, 320 yards, 2 TDs in 1981, and Oklahoma State quarterbacks Mike Gundy and Earl Wheeler combined for 1643-1, 305 yards, 2TDsinl9S9.) Scoring story Howscored NU-FSU Nebraska Coach Tom Osborne (center) and assistant Ron Brown (right) seek help from the playbook in the second quarter. Also pictured are players Mickey Joseph (2) and Gerry Gdowskl (14).

FIRST QUARTER 7-0 Gregory 9 pass from Gdowski Drive: 69 yards In seven plays. Highlighted by Dowse 41 pass from Stigge on fake punt and aided by 15-yard roughlng-the-passer penalty. Conversion: Barrios kick. SECOND QUARTER 7-7 Anthony 14 pass from Willis Drive: 31 yards In 2 plays. Set up by Haggins recovery of Gdowski fumbleat NU 31.

Conversion: Andrews kick. 10-7 Drennan 39 field goal DriV9.L7Jr5rcls 4 plavs- Set UD by Hughes 62 kickoff return and aided by personal-foul penalty. 10-14 R. Johnson 5 pass from Willis Drive: 68 1 yards In 3 plays. Set up after Drennan missed 49 field goal.

Highlighted by Willis 19 pass to Dawsey, 44 pass to Baker. Conversion: Andrews kick. 10-21 Carter 10 pass from Tf rd5ln 9 Hlohllghted by Bennett 30 nss from Willis, Carter 10 pass from Willis, Carter 9 run, Conversion: Andrews kick. THIRD QUARTER 10-27 Moore 1 run Drive: 44 yards In 8 Plavs. Set up after short NU punt.

Highlighted by Willis 9 pass to Lee, 11 and 20 passes to Anthony, 14 pass to Dawsey. Conversion: kick failed. 10-34 R. Johnson 8 pass from Willis Drive: 8 yards In 1 play. Set up by Davis block of NU punt.

Conversion: Andrews kick. 10-41 Anthony 24 pass from Willis Drive: 62 yards in 3 plays. Highlighted by Willis 37 pass to Lewis. Conversion: Andrews kick. FOURTH QUARTER 17-41 Joseph 2 run Drive: 6 yards In 3 plays.

Set up by Croel block of FSU punt. Conversion: Barrios kick. Buckley 6 0 6 Dinklns 5 0 5 4 1 5 Ostoszewskl 4 15 Hayes 3 1 4 Ross 4 0 4 Wyche 4 0 4 Ragans 3 0 3 Butler 3 0 3 Bassett 10 1 Carter 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 Freeman 0 11 Hall 0 1 1 1 0 1 Moss 1 0 1 Stallworth 0 1 1 Thompson 0 1 1 Individual statistics White 2 0 2 Anderson 1 0 1 Carpenter 1 0 1 Drennan. 1 0 1 Englebert 1 0 1 Gelken 1 0 1 Lewis 1 0 1 Mills 10 1 Ty ranee 0 1 1 Valladao 0 1 Hagge 1 1 Florida State Offense Rushing No. Yds.

Ave. D.Carter 13 72 s.5 Lee 2 6 3.0 Bennett 3 3 1.0 Moore 4 3 0.8 Willis 1 -8 Dawsey 1 -4 Passing No. Co. Yds PI Willis 40 25 422 0 Weldon 1 a 0 0 Receiving No. Lewis 5 106 T.Anthony 6 88 Dawsey 4 66 S.

Baker 2 49 D. Carter 3 47 Bennett 30 R. Johnson 3 '27 Lee 1 Punting No. Yds. Ave.

Wlmberly 3 107 35.7 Kickoff returns No. Yds. Dawsey 3 59 Interception returns No. Yds. Butler 1 23 1 19 Field goals No.

Yds. Andrews 1 39 1 37 Defense Tackles UT AT TT Carruthers 11 1 12 Dodge 8 0 8 Nebraska Rushing Offense No- Yds. Clark 86 Flowers 4 25 12 Carpenter 3 6 Rodgers 4 3 Bell 2 Hughes 1 -2 Joseph 4 -2 Washington 1 -4 Passing No. Co. Yds Gdowski 23 13 154 Joseph 2 1 12 Stigge 1 1 41 Receiving No.

4 Belf 3 Dowse 1 Bostlck 3 Garrett Carpenter 2 Hughes 1 Punting No. Yds. Stigge 3 103 Punt returns No. Hughes 2 Kickoff returns No. Flowers 4 Hughes 1 1 Garrett 1 Field goals No.

Drennan Defense Tackles UT AT Pickens Croel 3 2 Byrd 5 0 2 2 Sanders 2 1 1 1 Reece 2 0 1 1 Leosette 2 0 Callendo 2 0 2 0 Ave. 5.4 6.3 0.1 2.0 0.8 2.0 0.5 4.0 PI 2 0 0 Yds. 67 46 41 27 15 6 5 Ave. 34.3 Yds. 5 Yds.

64 62 11 12 Yds. 39 TT 7 5 5 4 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 11 IIP illlliiSll IP '4j Wv illillillliS iiU' a-THi-tnilir-m-r -Afcaagasg Nebraska's Reggie Cqoper (left) and Florida State's Derrick Dodge shake hands after the game..