Lincoln Journal Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • 13

"if SPORTS Id: Lincoln Journal Star Sunday, October 22, 1995 Frames Black StiMs answer ca 3 Gordon 1 Winters BY KEN HAMBLETON Lincoln Journal Star mm 1 re Nebraska answered every time opportunity knocked and barged its way through more than enough times to keep the Kansas State football team hoping and still looking up at the Cornhuskers. Second-ranked Nebraska blasted away at No. 8 Kansas State with 14 points from the Black Shirts and four touchdown passes from quarterback Tommie Frazier to post a 49-25 victory Saturday before 76,072 fans at Memorial Stadium and a regional television audience. Frazier's dazzling performance and Nebraska's smothering defense combined to dismiss Kansas State and set up next Saturday's Big Eight showdown at Colorado. 7 "You can't make some of the mistakes against a team like Nebraska and expect anything to happen but what happened," Kansas State Coach Bill Snyder said.

But who could have predicted Nebraska's first punt return for a touchdown in seven years or wing-back Jon Vedral falling on a fumble for another touchdown? Or who could predict that Nebraska would twice score on shovel passes from Tommie Frazier to Ah-man Green, then score again when Kansas State tried the same play as hard-charging Nebraska reserve outside linebacker Chad Kelsay tipped the ball into the hands of teammate Luther Hardin? The Huskers opened the scoring with a 79-yard punt return by Mike Fullman. Nebraska then hammered home four straight touchdowns to erase any question of whether Kansas State could end a 27-year losing string to Nebraska. "It was unusual," Nebraska Coach Tom Osborne said. By the time the dust cleared at the end of the first half, Nebraska led 35-6 and had 210 yards of offense against the top-ranked total defense and scoring defense in the NCAA. Kansas State managed one scoring drive in the first half and wasn't heard from again until a quick 19-point burst in the fourth quarter after the Huskers led 42-6.

Still, Nebraska struggled at times. Frazier said, "They held us to our lowest totals of the season but we only had about 60 plays and in other games we got 80 or 90." Nebraska had a season-low 19 first More on NU, Page 4B TED KIRKLmcoln Journal Star Nebraska's Mike Fullman (12) runs through the arms of KSU punter James Garcia (16) and Dederick Kelly at the sideline oaa 79-yard punt return for a touchdown in the first quarter Saturday. NU scoring, statistics Big Eight standings (Martin Gramatica kick) KSU Clyde Johnson 6 blocked punt return Conference from Frazier (Brown All games 7 0 ABC to show NU-CU clash ABC-TV announced late Saturday afternoon that it will televise Nebraska's game against Colorado next Saturday at 2:30 p.m. from Boulder, Colo. Saturday, the second-ranked Cornhuskers toppled, previously undefeated Kansas State 49-25, while No.

9 Colorado struggled before subduing Iowa State 50-28. 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 0 6 1 6 1 4 2 3 3 2 2 .1 1 0 Nebraska Kansas Colorado Kansas State Oklahoma -Oklahoma St. Iowa State Missouri Kansas State 6,0 0 19 25 Nebraska 14 21 7 7 49 NU Mike Fullman 79 punt return (Kris Brown kick) KSU Kevin Lockett 18 pass from Matt Miller (kick tailed) NU Jon Vedral fumble recovery in end zone (Brown kick) NU Sheldon Jackson 1 1 pass from Tommie Frazier (Brown kick) NU Ahman Green 10 pass from Frazier (Brown kick) NU Luther Hardin 3 interception return (Brown kick) NU Vedral 32 pass from Frazier (Brown kick) KSU Mitch Running 7 pass from Brian Ka-vanaugh (pass failed) KSU Lockett 10 pass from Kavanaugh (kick taneo) NU Green 12 pass kick) A 76,072. First downs Rushes-yards Passing yards Total yards Passing Return yards Punts Fumbles-lost Penalties-yards Time of possession Third-down conversions Fourth-down conversions 0 0 0 KSU 17 26-(-19) 275 256 24-47-2 25 0-0 14-113 6-18 3-4 NU 19 46-190 148 338 10-17-0 105 1-0 7-64 30:53 7-13 0-2 Saturday's results Nebraska 49. Kansas State 25 Colorado 50, Iowa State 28 Oklahoma State 30, Missouri 26 Kansas 38, Oklahoma 17 i Husker fans still waiting for drama Nebraska took a Top 10 test with Kansas State and turned it into another laugher.

Granted, the laughter subsided for a few minutes in the fourth quarter when the Wildcats scored 19 points to take the score out of the comfort zone. But Nebraska fans are still for that full-scale drama of a game where any single play could determine the outcome, and the suspense lasts until the clock out. Saturday's game was a fluke-filled contest that did not provide any definitive answers to the questions asked at dinner tables and in barrooms after the game. Is Nebraska really that good? Or was Kansas State that overrated? Probably a little of both. Nebraska, when its players are healthy, has an awesome array of offensive weapons.

Even with some of its players out, Nebraska has an awesome array Of weapons. With Tommie Frazier as the triggerman, the opponent's defense is constantly off-balance, constantly making adjustments. And despite the Wildcats' fourth-quarter scoring, there are signs that the Husker defense is gelling. Jared Tomich, to name one example, is maturing rapidly. Jarring Jared Already he's created the beginnings of a personal highlights video.

On one memorable rush Saturday, he extended his arm, put a hand to the helmet of KSU quarterback Matt Miller and crumpled him to the ground. "I didn't know if it was illegal. I thought I'd try it and see what happened," Tomich said. Hmm. Might be that the defense's attitude is gelling too.

But what did Nebraska's victory mean? Kansas State was probably overrated. It rose to No. 8 in the polls on the basis of a 6-0 record against teams that had a combined record of 4 wins in 27 games. It included second-half comebacks to defeat Cincinnati 23-21, and Oklahoma State 23-17. By comparison, Nebraska defeated Oklahoma State 64-21.

Nebraska also had the fortune to jump to an early lead with Mike Fullman's 79-yard punt return "punctuated by Mike Rucker's savage block that sent Wildcat Joe Gordon's helmet spinning through the air. In post-game comments, Frazier said he thought that Fullman's return took a lot of emotion from Kansas State. That loss of emotion may have been very significant in a game like this. To win at NU's Memorial Stadium, Kansas State has to reverse decades of conditioning. For years, a trip to Lincoln has automatically meant another big in the win-loss column for the Wildcats.

Uphill battle Suddenly trailing, Kansas State had an uphill battle. It's a tough mental challenge. Before the first half was over, the Huskers were also the beneficiaries of Jon Vedral's recovery of a fumble for a touchdown and Luther Hardin's 3-yard interception for a touchdown. Take away the punt return and those two plays and the halftime score is a more respectable 14-6 lead for the Huskers. So maybe the Huskers had a little luck.

Maybe they aren't really that good. We won't have to wait long to get another answer. At Boulder, next Saturday, the Huskers will reach a genuine fork in the road. The No. 9-ranked Buffaloes have a bright young coach, a speedy defense, an imaginative offense and the recent memory of having defeated the Huskers.

Plus, the populace has an attitude, led by spittle-flecked newspaper columnists who hate to be dominated by a poor simple farm state. There are other teams like Kansas and Oklahoma on Nebraska's schedule that have the tools to upset the Huskers But personally, I think the Bash In Boulder offers Husker fans the season's best chance for 60 minutes of all-out foo ball. As planned, Huskers spike Colorado, set crowd record BY RON POWELL Lincoln Journal Star "'(''-in' first match at the Devaney Sports Center since 1991, when 11,032 saw UCLA beat NU in four games. Weston, who needed nine kills to surpass Eileen Shannon's 1,521 kills that topped all-time NU list, slammed 12 against the Buffaloes and finished with a .476 hitting efficiency. Weston has 1,525 kills in 3.136 attempts.

Shannon needed 3,789 attacks to reach her mark. The 6-foot senior's record-breaker came off a quick set to the middle by Christy Johnson that gave the Huskers a 2-1 lead in the final game. The crowd gave the two-time All-American and national player of the year candidate a standing ovation, but the match was not stopped to recognize the honor. "We didn't stop and hand her the ball or anything because, while it's important, it isn't our focus," Pettit More on RECORD, Page 9B ago, and there aren't many places in the country you can do that and promote it for just nine days and get this kind of turnout." Pettit didn't see that spark during a workout earlier Saturday. "We looked sluggish and I think that was from waiting around," he said.

"Kind of like standing in line to get on the merry-go-round. Once they got on, they knew what to do." The recognized NCAA record before Saturday night was 11,114 at the 1993 NCAA championship match at the University of Wisconsin between Long Beach State and Penn State. Last Saturday, a crowd of 14,300 fans were on hand for the Kansas-Kansas State match. But because it preceded the KU men's midnight basketball extravaganza and no admission was charged, it's uncertain if the NCAA will consider it a record. Saturday marked the Huskers' Nebraska's 15-4, 15-3, 15-2 volleyball victory against Colorado Saturday went strictly by the script.

As planned, Cornhusker middle hitter Allison Weston eclipsed the school record for kills in a career, an apparent NCAA record crowd of 11.529 attended the match at the De-vaney Sports Center and it took just one hour, eight minutes for the top-ranked team in the nation to finish a near-flawless performance and improve to 17-1 overall and 7-0 in the Big Eight. "We were excited to play," Nebraska Coach Terry Pettit said. "I think we were excited because of the fan turnout. We have the best volleyball following in the country. We made this decision (to move the match from the Coliseum) nine days ASSOCIATED PRESS A Cleveland's Kenny Lofton and Atlanta third baseman Chipper Jones wait for umpire John Hirshbeck to make the call on Lofton's stolen base Saturday in the first game of the World Series.

Lofton was called safe. He subsequently scored on a groundout. Braves' Maddux masters Indian batters How Associated Press Fared 4r uM Rank, team Comments BY BEN WALKER Associated Press World Series ATLANTA vs. CLEVELAND (Brave lead eerie 1-0) Saturday Atlanta 3, Cleveland 2 Sunday Cleveland (Martinez 12-5) at Atlanta (Glavlne 16-7), 6:20 p.m. (NBC) Tuesday Atlanta (Smoltz 12-7) at Cleveland (Nagy 1 6-6), 7:20 p.m.

(NBC) Wednesday Atlanta at Cleveland, 7:20 p.m. (ABC) Thursday x-Atlanta at Cleveland, 7:20 p.m. (ABC) Saturday, Oct 28 x-Cleveland at Atlanta. 6:20 p.m. (NBC) Sunday, Oct.

29 x-Cleveland at Atlanta, 1. Florida State (7-0-0) defeated Georgia Tech 42-10 Reservations in Tempe looking safe. 2. Nebraska (7-0-0) defeated No. 8 Kansas State 49-25 Starters back on field in fourth.

3. Florida (6-0-0) was idle Just resting up for the Dawgs next. 4. Ohio State (7-0-0) defeated Purdue 28-0 Buckeyes' Glenn sets season TD record of 12. 5.

Southern Cal (6-1-0) lost to No. 17 Notre Dame 38-10 Irish mystique real in la-la land. 6. Tennessee (6-1-0) was idle Volunteering to beat up on South Carolina next. 7.

Kansas (7-0-0) defeated Oklahoma 38-17 Jayhawks making the basketball team proud. 8. Kansas State (6-1-0) lost to No. 2 Nebraska 49-25 Wildcats brought back to earth. 9.

Colorado (6-1-0) defeated Iowa State 50-28 Buffs will try to stampede Huskers next. 10. Michigan (6-1-0) defeated Indiana 34-17 Wolverines' Amani Toomer punts, passes and catches. 1 1 Northwestern (6-1-0) defeated No. 24 Wisconsin 35-0 Wildcats clinch first winning season in 24 years.

12. Oregon (5-1-0) played Washington State Arizona State next. 13. Auburn (5-2-0) defeated Western Michigan 34-13 A is a even if it is cheap. 14.

Virginia (6-3-0) lost to No. 16 Texas 17-16 It doesn't get any easier for Cavs, with FSU next. 15. Oklahoma (4-2-1) lost to Kansas 38-17 Sooners fall into Big Eight second tier. 16.

Texas (5-1-1) defeated No. 14 Virginia 17-16 'Horns may trade this place for a higher rent district. 17. Notre Dame (6-2-0) defeated No. 5 Southern California 38-10 Irish still fighting for respect.

18. Iowa (5-1-0) lost to No. 19 Penn State 41-27 Hawkeyes prove they're not Buckeyes, who are next. 19. Penn State (5-2-0) defeated No.

18 Iowa 41-27 Lions' offense Is picking up steam. 20. Washington (4-2-0) played Arizona Disappointed Southern Cal next. 21. Alabama (5-2-0) defeated Mississippi 23-9 Tide rolls, makes Misslssipi mud.

22. Texas (4-2-0) defeated Baylor 24-9 Aggies get Houston next. 23. Stanford (4-2-1) lost to UCLA 42-28 Cardinal red-faced after second straight loss. 24.

Wisconsin (2-3-1) lost to No. 1 1 Northwestern 35-0 Badgers say bye-bye to Top 25. 25. Texas Tech (4-2-0) defeated Rice 31-26 Red Raiders will may climb higher with New Mexico next. ATLANTA Given the stage to show why he's the best pitcher in baseball, Greg Maddux gave the performance of his life.

Maddux pitched a two-hitter against the best-hitting team in the majors, outdueling Orel Hershiser and leading the Atlanta Braves past the Cleveland Indians 3-2 Saturday night in Game 1 of the World Series. "It was a pretty good game," Maddux said. "Obviously, it was a satisfying result, but it's not something to start jumping up and down and pat yourself on the back about." Only soft, opposite-field singles by Kenny Lofton and Jim Thome and an error by substitute shortstop Rafael Belliard leading off the game prevented Maddux from perfection. "That was as masterful a job of pitching as I've ever seen," Indians Manager Mike Hargrove said. "I p.m.

(ABU). I x-H necessary. don't think you'll ever see anybody pitch better than Greg Maddux did tonight." were just a total of five hits, period, tying the record for the fewest in a World Series game. There were almost that many in the last Inning of the previous World Series game the one back In 1993 that More on SERIES, PagBB 'X.