Lincoln Journal Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • 36

3 HUSKER FOOTCALL APHIL 87. 1998 SUNDAY JOURNAL-8TAW 1-QDC .7 Defense takes direct route in Spring Game By Ken Hambleton and the offense knew what was coming and that made a difference," Parsons sail "But because we made the big plays, the offense doesnt have to feel the complete burden of scoring now. "Our offense has an ability to score a lot quickly, and we won't necessarily have to have good field position all the time either," he said. Miller agreed "We have the potential to be one of the best defenses in the country. We only have plusses and no minuses in the defensive line, linebackers and defensive backs," he said.

"I feel that everybody knows their job and we're learning each other's abilities. Of course, taking those tests on the defense from Coach Darlington (defensive backs coach George) make us more aware of what we're supposed to be doing." Played as they should Miller did exactly what he was supposed to do when he blocked Craig Schnltzler's punt at the White 32-yard line the first quarter and recovered the ball in the end zone. "I put a head fake and went straight upfield," he said. "I hit the ball with my arm and saw it roll into the end zone. I thought I better get on it for the touchdown." yards for a touchdown.

"I think we can be extremely good because we have balance and experience," Davis sail "The defense can cause fumbles and turnovers and the offense Is so explosive. "The combination Is that the offense and defense offset each other so well, It makes for a combination with no weak spots." The No. 1 defense didn't play that much, but proved its point in the chances it did get, Parsons said. "We have the ability to make the big play. It's a sign of playing with a lot of Intensity and aggressiveness.

We got into the backfield and made a wreck a bunch of times," he said. "It's so great to see a flock of teammates around the ball when you make a tackle. Could be best defense "Barring that things dont fall apart, we have the talent and the speed our slowest defensive starter runs a 4.9 in the 40 to have the best defense Nebraska has ever had." Defensive tackle Danny Groskurth, defensive end Brad Tyrer, linebackers Parsons and LeRoy Eitenne all had sacks or solo tackles behind the line in the first two quarters. "We only played pur three most basic Davis explained his interception for a touchdown in much the same way. "I was In a deep coverage because it was late In the half.

I saw the ban was thrown a little high, I broke on it, caught it and went to the sidelines. I was a little concerned because of my injury, but my stamina was good on the run." Davis bad suffered an Injury to his quadriceps-and missed more than two weeks of the four weeks of spring practice. "It's been frustrating because I' missed so much the weeks I was out of practice-he said, "but this is icing on the cake. "We held back so much from what we can do as -a defense. But you can see this defense is going to be so much more aggressive.

Youll see a lot defensive pressure next falL" Jon Kelley, the leading rusher for the Red of-, fense with 91 yards on 10 carries, said he was con-' vlnced the first-team defense was good in all the spring workouts. "I saw some good things defensively because, we've had to play against that No. 1 defense all. spring until today. We're going to stop people," he said.

1 "When we're out there, we have so much confidence in each other (offense and defense) there's a good chance for that explosiveness on both offense1 and defense." The defensive battle has changed from one of east and west to one of north and south, and that will make big difference In the future, Nebraska linebacker Kevin Parsons said after the annual Red-White scrimmage Saturday at Memorial Stadium. "We have an ability to stop an offense and because people know the defense so well, you get an idea of what risks you can take," he said. "I think you saw that ability and intensity today. We're going to be doing a lot more north-and-south playing going straight at people and causing more The Red's first team defense blanked the No. 2 and No.

3 team offenses in the 70-14 Red victory. Three plays into the game, Red first-team safety Bryan Siebler Intercepted a pass and returned the ball to the White's seven to set up the first touchdown of the game. Turnovers lead to scores The Reds scored their third touchdown with less than nine minutes left, when cornerback Geo Miller blocked a punt and recovered the ball in the end zone. Just before the end of the first half, cornerback Brian Davis intercepted a pass and returned it 67 1 I DAVID FAHCtSON SUNDAY J0URNAL-STA8 Cornerback Brian Davit scores. page 1D Spring fullback Micah Heibel's 2-yard run, a 6-yard pass from quarterback Clete Blakeman to tight end Todd Millikan, and another 1-yard run by Taylor.

I-back Jon Kelley, a sophomore from Lincoln Southeast, was the game's leading rusher with 91 yards on 10 carries. Like Taylor and Osborne, Kelley wasn't certain what conclusion could be drawn from the 70-point outburst "Every year it's supposed to come out like that because that's the way things are set up," said Kelley, No. 1 in the absence of Doug DuBose and Keith Jones, both of whom are injured. Kelley was less than full-speed, too, because of sore groin. But "I was willing to do anything I could to play today," he said.

"I was out here for four weeks (of spring drills). I didn't want to watch." Defense played well Despite what the record point total might seem to indicate, the defense played well according to defensive coordinator Charlie McBride. "Even the White defense didn't do too bad early in the game," McBride "With the limited defenses we had, this, was probably by far our best scrimmage of the spring. Overall, I was pretty pleased with the first two units. "The guys who stood out today, I' thought, were (Chris) Spachman; (Danny) Noonan and (LeRoy) Etienne.

"And I thought Siebler and Davis looked like they played pretty well in the secondary," said McBride. Pete also played well, according to-McBride, but not necessarily as an I-back. Gene Huey, the receivers coach, called for Nebraska's version of a play 1 popularized by the Chicago Bears' William "Refrigerator" Perry. Pete was given the unofficial names "Icebox" and "Freezer." "It wasnt anything I planned, certain- Osborne said of the play. "I hope the fans liked it," said "I don't think they'll see it again." McBride didn't seem concerned about' -the possibility of losing a middle guard to the offense, but "I'll probably never hear the end of that one," he said.

i a zxxf: It -cir-: Vv'-" h-ji iSri ty YN3 V-- v-Tr I Tackle Nelson suffers knee injury Defensive tackle Tony Palmer suffered an infection to his hand and was: sent to the sidelines in the first quarter -and defensive end Bump Novacek suffered a knee bruise. There was only one serious injury in the Red-White Nebraska annual spring football game Saturday. Offensive guard John Nelson suffered a knee injury that will possibly require surgery, NU trainer George Sullivan said. THIS WEEK'S RBI LEADERS: UMiUMIUllMu9 el mm" 9 DAVID FAHLE SON SUNDAY JOURNAL-STAR UL: (16) Leonard AL: (17) Canseco, Downing uuarteroack Steve Taylor (9) looks for an opening as defenders Kent Wells (75) and Dave Bryan (58) close in. Thomas performs for Uncle Mike (Singletary) Your Bike Can Fly Transit Case by Rhode Gear $189.95 Or Rent 3 days $25.00 7 days $50.00 By Ken Hambleton The memories rushed back to Mike Singletary as he sat in the Memorial Stadium pressbox Saturday for Nebraska's Spring Game.

"I remember my first and last time here very well," the middle linebacker of the Chicago Bears said. "I was a freshman playing for Baylor. We got beat pretty bad "It was the first time I was ever exposed to a mis-direction play, and the first time I.M. Hipp started for Nebraska, too. "It was hot, humid and Nebraska had so much depth.

They kept coming at us all day long with new, fresh, talented people," he said of Nebraska's 31-10 victory in 1977. Singletary, nicknamed "Samurai Mike" for his role on the field and his singing role in the "Super Bowl said it appeared things hadn't changed that much at Nebraska. As the uncle of Husker freshman defensive end Broderick Thomas, Singletary was paying special attention to the Spring Game. "I see a lot of talent down there on the field," Singletary said. "I think Broderick is going to be a very good player, too.

I haven't seen him play since he was a junior in high school, and I can see a lot of growth and maturity. "He's working hard and he really wants to be a good player and hell always want to be the one to beat" Although Singletary said he doesn't try to tell Thomas what to do and how to play because "he has to become a player, on his own," Thomas said he felt some pressure playing in front of his uncle. "It put a certain amount of pressure on me, knowing that he's watching i 5 Id til Up everything I'm doing in the game," Thomas said. "I'm satisfied with what little I got to play on the No. 1 defensive team.

I understand a lot better what I'm supposed to be doing this year." Singletary said there isn't pressure as much as a responsibility to perform welL And that holds for his job with the Super Bowl champion Bears, too, he said. "It's always easier to obtain than it is to maintain. Everybody will want a shot at the Bears this year. We have a new defensive coordinator and it will be our job to learn his system and help him out "We have to put the Super Bowl rings and the Super Bowl Shuffle away pretty soon as a memory of 1985 and get to work on 1986. We're happy with what we accomplished, but we have to have the attitude we're going to keep going and that we've just scratched the surface.

"I'm sure that Broderick and Nebraska feel the same way." Singletary, "voted by United Press International as the 1985 NFL defensive player of the year, will speak at a Boys Town Boosters Banquet May 8 at Peony Park in Omaha. 427 South 13th 475-0204 Honda Mike Singletary On Sale s1 Spring Game statistics 32 4 Red Offense Rushing Klckoff returns No. Hicks 4 Clare 3 R. Nelson 1 Yds. 96 75 26 C.

Miller Sheppard White Offense Rushing No. Yds. R.Nelson 2 44 Drive Shaft Self Propelled OPEN SUNDAY 9AM to Midnight HRA214SXA Carling Ave. 22.0 11.5 3.3 2.8 2.2 1.6 2.2 3.0 4.0 0.5 Black Label Five Speed Reverse Reg. or Light $K49 Coleman 2 23 Clayton 6 20 Wooten 5 14 Schmidt 6 13 Clare 7 11 Mlcheel 5 11 Dalton 3 9 Kltrell 1 4 Gatson 2 1 Galois 1 -1 Mlinar 4 -2 Worden 1 -2 Blokeman 6 -4 Passing No.

Co. Yds Mllnor 11 6 68 Wooten 7 5 25 Blakemon 1 1 7 Clayton 8 1 4 Loose case 24 cans warm Coors Reg. or Light Case 2-12pk. Cans Warm 8.5 HP Four Stroke OHV 30" HTR3009 No. Yds.

Ave. Kelley 10 91 9.1 Wheeler 11 28 2.5 Blakemon 4 20 5.0 Radnov 3 19 6.3 Clayton 3 17 5.7 Taylor 9 14 1.6 Kaelln 4 14 3.5 Helbel 2 6 3.0 Summers 2 5 2.5 Peete 1 2 2.0 Itehrll 1 1.0 Preston 2 1 0.5 Brinson 2 -2 Sheppard 1 -3 Passing No. Co. Yds PI Clayton 4 3 98 0 Taylor 8 3 61 0 Blokeman 4 3 27 0 Preston 2 2 2 0 Pass receiving No. Yds.

Sheppard 3 86 Mllllkan 2 16 Brinson 1 81 J. Schneider 1 9 Wheeler 1 13 Heibel 1 7 Kaelln 1 5 Summers 1 -7 Punting No. Yds. Ave. Kroeker 3 132 44.0 Beckler 1 39 39.0 Punt returns No.

Yds. Brinson 2 63 (LSchnltzler 2 30. PI 1 1 0 RED 70, WHITE 14 Red 28 21 14 7 70 White 0 14 0 0 14 First quarter Red Steve Taylor 6 run (Dale Klein kick), 19:17 Red Dana Brinson 65 punt return (Klein kick), 18:09 Red Cleo Miller 32 punt return (Klein kick), 11:19 Red Von Sheppard 61 pass from Taylor (Klein kick), 5:27 Second quarter White Mark Dior 29 pass from Jerry Mllnor (Chris Drennon kick), 13:24 Red Mlcah Heibel 2 run (Dave Cheloho kick), 5:47 Red Todd Mllllkan 6 past from Clete Blakemon (Mike Martin kick), :38 White Lorenzo Hicks 85 klckoff return (Drennan kick), :23 Red Brian Davit 67 Interception return (Klein kick), Third quarter Red Toy lor 1 run (Klein kick), 17:28 Red Taylor 1 run Klein kick), 11:38 Fourth quarter Red Brinson 81 past from McCa-thorn Clayton (Martin kick), 4:44 Red White Fir it down 22 IS Rushtvyordl 55-237 31-127 Posjlnoyordt 208 104 PaMlne 11-1M 13-27-3 Total yards 445 231 Return yards 224 21 Fumbles-lot 5-4 6-3 Penolties 4-35 640 Puntlna Meister Bran itP'QQ Loose case rsW Offer Expires May 15, 1986 in 24 cans warm Prices good thru April 30, 1986 JERRYCO nirmTiri TTn 1 Yds. 10 38 16 9 14 14 8 -5 Ave. 38.0 27.7 Yds.

28. Pass receiving No. Clare 3 Dlai 2 Bahe 2 R.Nelson 2 Avant 1 Hawkins 1 Worden 1 Mlcheel 1 Punting No. Yds. C.Schnlfzler 6 228 Toner 3 83 Punt returns No.

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