The Manhattan Mercury from Manhattan, Kansas • 9

The Manhattan Mercury Sunday, October 16, 1994 Bl Karasais State saves worst for the best Nebmka 7 0 K-SUte 0 0 10-17 0 0- 5 Flnl Quarter Nebraska 7, Kanui State 0 NU'i Lawrence Phillips I yard ran After punt by Eric Hardy was returned 13 yards by Tyrone Williams to the KSU 28. Six Phillips' runs later (7, 8, 6, 2, 3, 2), NU had the score. PAT: Darin Erstad, kick Second Quarter Nebraska 7, Kansas Slate 6 14:55 KSU's Mitch Running yard pass" from Chad May May completes 3 of 4 passes in the drive for 62 yards. The drive covered 62 yards on Ave plays. PAT: Kick blocked Third Quarter No Scoring Fourth Quarter Nebraska 14, Kansas SUte 6 11:01 NU's Jeff Makovicka 15-yard run NU moves the ball 75 yards on 11 plays.

Phillips rushed seven times for42yards. PAT: Erstad, kick Nebraska 17, Kansas State 6 1:32 NU's Darin Erstad 24-yard field goal NU works nearly six minutes off the clock as they drive from their own 20 to the KSU 7 before settling for the field goal. The key plays in the drive were a 34-yard pass from Brook Berringer to Abdul Muhammad and a 15-yard run by Jeff Makovicka, who carried four times for 35 yards. Attendance: 42,817 Phillips runs for 117 Neb 16 50-210 52 74 4-11-0 7-37 2-1 9-70 31:26 K-St 17 2W-7) 249 17 2248-1 8-36 24 12-102 28:34 Firstdowns Rushes-yards Passing ReturnYards Comp-Att-Int Punts Fumbles-Lost Penalties-Yards Timeo (Possession Photo by Rod Mikinski On one of K-State's successful offensive plays, Chad May scrambles for 1 3 yards. The Wildcats ended up losing to NU, 1 7-6 Wildcats flub opportunity for national fame INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING-Nebraska, Phillips 31-117, Makovicka 7-5, Schlesing 3-24, Turman 4-10, Berringer 2-5, Childs 2-0, Benning H-2).

Kansas J.Smith 14-29, May9-36). PASSING Nebraska, Berringer 2-7-0-37, Turman 2-4-0-15. Kansas St, May 22-48-1-249. RECEIVING Nebraska, Muhammad 1-34, Phillips 2-15, Childs 1-3. Kansas Running 5- 79, Lockett 5-78, R.

Brown 3-44, J. Smith 6-29, Sc(vwieger3-19. didn't. We just made too many mistakes. against the No.

2 team in the nation. MarkJanssen Sports Editor Huskers claim 17-6 victory MarkJanssen Sports Editor One out of three just ain't good enough against the No. 2 team in the nation. Saturday against the University of Nebraska, Kansas State's defense played well enough to win. But as for the rest, it was a total bust.

"Going in, I told people if we were going to win we would have to be great on special teams, great on defense and we would need a balanced offense," said head coach Bill Snyder. The No. 11 ranked 'Cats didn't get it, and the result was a 17-6 loss to the Cornhuskers before a crowd of 42,817 who endured the drizzlies of Saturday afternoon at KSU Stadium. "We have no excuses," said Snyder. "They played better than we did and that's why they won the football game and why they are a great program." It marked the fourth straight game that K-State has played the Big Red to within 17 points, or less, but as Snyder said, "Close doesn't count." For the game, K-State's defense held Nebraska to a total of 262 yards, but 10 penalties tacked on an additional 102 free-bie yards.

Time after time, the yellow flags put K-State's offense in a bind as they started drives at their own 20-, 22- and 8-yard lines in the second half. As Wildcat quarterback Chad May put it, "Going 90 yards against the No. 2 team in the nation all day is mighty tough." K-State's kicking game was horrendous in all facets: punters Eric Hardy and Scott Collins averaged less than 34 yards on their first six attempts; Martin Gramatica botched an extra point timing wasn't right," he said), and mis-fired on a 37-yard field goal try was going straight, but then the wind blew it to the and twice K-State was flagged for illegal blocks on punt returns. As for the running game, K-State had 23 attempts for minus-7 yards, which included six quarterback sacks for a negative 53 yards. J.

Smith, who needed 14 carries to net 29 yards, offered, "It (running game) wasn't working. The chances I had went nowhere. We couldn't execute against them. I'm not sure what they were doing, but it worked." As offensive tackle Barrett Brooks saw NU's overall defense, "They brought the house (rushers) and played man-up on the receivers. We just didn't do the job of protecting Chad." As for Snyder, he said the 'Cats probably didn't mix it up enough, that's my fault." But he added, "It was a very simple issue: We didn't execute on offense and didn't execute on the special teams, and Nebraska played very well." After an all-Lawrence Phillips six-play, 28-yard drive put NU up at the 6:12 mark of the first quarter, K-State cut the difference to 7-6 one play into the second quarter on a 29-yard Chad May strike to Mitch Running.

Back with the ball, K-State moved from their won 14 to NU's See No. 1, Page B4 But K-State let this opportunity go "slosh" on the turf. "Oh yes, certainly," said Snyder, when asked whether the Wildcats had missed on an opportunity. "It was a great opportunity and we didn't cash in on it." And yes, there was a sting to the loss. As Snyder said, "The greater the investment, the greater the pain.

It hurts tremendously. We put a lot into this game." Snyder's Wildcats were moaning the same tune. "The better team won today, but that's just today," said defensive end Nyle Wiren. "We had the opportunity to do something great, but we didn't do it," said Chuck Marlowe, who registered 16 tackles. Defensive tackle Kelly Greene added, "Today was Nebraska's day.

Maybe someday we'll have our day in a game like this." Runningback J. Smith added, "You don't get these chances very often and we just didn't get the job done. You have to take advantage of these opportunities, but we Mistakes, as in: 12 penalties for 102 yards, eight punts for an average of just 36.0 yards, allowing six QB sacks for a total of minus-53 yards, and rushing for a negative seven yards on 23 snaps. All of those goofs came against a team that Wildcat quarterback Chad May called good, but not great. "Great teams don't make mistakes and are sound at every position," said May, who was limited to 22 completions in his 48 throws for 249 yards.

"They're not great, but they are good and will be up there for the national title." The chance to play another team of national title degree will come in just six days in Boulder, where the 'Cats will move from the new No. 1 team in the nation in Nebraska (with Florida's loss to Auburn), to this past week's No. 4 team in the Colorado Buffaloes. "This will be a true test of character and I think we will survive the test and pass with flying colors," said Snyder. Kansas State coach Bill Snyder sounded a warning early in the week when he hinted thatthings maybe "too righf'heading into the Nebraska game.

After all: The4-0 and 11th rated Wildcats were playing at home where they had gone 16 games without a loss. They were riding a high from thumping Kansas. Nebraska was down to a 3rd team quarterback in walk-on Matt Turman, plus defensive back Mike Minter was out for the year after knee surgery. Just a year ago, Chad May had thrown for 489 yards on the Cornhuskers. And on game-day, things even got better: The field was wet with rain and Snyder likes playing in inclement weather.

Late in the first half, star I-back Lawrence Phillips injured his left hand and played the rest of the game with the paw heavily taped. Little more could have been asked in going Kansas State had possession of the ball 12 times in the game, and on each occassion, did something to bog down a drive. First Half 1st Drive: May sacked for loss of 8 2nd Drive: Holding penalty 18 yards 3rd Drive: KSU charged with nilgai block block on punt return making for a 35-yard difference on the starting spot of the drive. After scoring, Martin Gramatica missed the PAT. 4th Drive: False start penalty; May sacked for loss of and, Gramatica missed 37-yard field goal.

5tb Drive: May throws interception after reaching NU 21 Second Half 1st Drive: Ends on a 31-yard Scott Collins punt 2nd Drive: May sacked for loss of KSU charged with delay of game; 19-yard holding penalty; 16 yard Collins punt 3rd Drive: KSu Charged with illi-gal block on punt return; May charged with intentional grounding 4th Drive: Busted play on 1st down results in a completed pass for minus-6 yards Sth Drive: Holding penalty; 10-yard sack of May 8th Drive: Tyson Schwieger drops sure 1st down catch 7th Drive: Delay of game; May sacked for 16-yard loss K-Statef 'talk' got attention of Cornhuskers Scott Abel Sports Writer (r Big 8 Overall the start, and promptly handed the ball off to I-back Lawrence Phillips on 12 of the Huskers' first 13 offensive snaps. "I think we ran about four different plays in the first half," said offensive tackle Zach Weigert. "It was all up-the-middle kind of stuff." Stuff that Phillips, who finished with a game-high 31 carries for 117 yards, said the Wildcats did a good job keying on. "They had a good scheme," he said. "They played a lot of people up on the line.

They were ready for us, and it was a lot tougher today." Phillips, however, went out with a hyperextended thumb after being hit by a Wildcat on a pass play late in the first half, and Nebraska couldn't move the ball in opening the second half punt-See No. 2, Page B4 2-0 1-0 1-0 1-1 1-1 1-1 0-2 0-2 7-0 5-0 3- 2 4- 1 4-2 2-4 3 3 04 Nebraska Colorado Oklahoma Kansas State Kansas Missouri Oklahoma State Iowa State The No. 2 Nebraska Cornhuskers with an inferiority complex against Kansas State? Well, maybe for one Saturday, anyway. "They had put themselves in the Orange Bowl and Nebraska in the Copper Bowl," said NU linebacker Donta Jones. "We really had something to prove against K-State." In the end the result was the same, another victory for the Big Red over the Wildcats this time 17-6 the Huskers' 26th in a row.

But this win came with a little more uncertainty than most "I think when we came down here, if we would get any kind of a win, that would have been great," said NU coach Tom Osborne. "I thought a win was a 50-50 proposition. I thought it was anybody's Steve Hanks uses the facemask to tackle Lawrence Phillips. season with a blood clot behind ballgame." Saturday's Scores Nebraska 17, Kansas State 6 Kansas 41, Iowa State 23 Missouri 24, Oklahoma State 15 Oklahoma at Colorado (n) Next Week Kansas State at Colorado Nebraska at Missouri Oklahoma at Kansas Iowa State at Oklahoma State his knee, and backup Brook Especially with the handicaps Nebraska had on offense. The Berringer was hurt with a col-Huskers' No.

1 quarterback, Tom- lapsed lung. mieFrazier, was sidelined for the So walk-on Matt Turman got What a difference a year makes Montana probable starter Associated Press Eric Rice Sports Writer Montana was questionable after suffering rib and hip injuries in last week's 20-6 los to the San Diego Chargers. He did not practice Wednesday or Thursday and split time with backup Steve Bono in Friday's practice. After practice on Friday, Montana said he had no doubt he would play Monday unless he aggravated the injuries in practice before the game. KANSAS CITY, Mo.

Joe likely" will start for Kansas City against Denver on Monday night, Chiefs Coach Marty Schottenheimer said Saturday night Montana took most of the snaps as the Chiefs ran through a 90-minute practice at Arrowhead Stadium, preparing for the game at Denver. Nebraska entered the game with averages of 430 rushing yards, 543 total offense and 44 points per game. K-State held them to 226 rushing yards, 262 yards in total offense and 17 points all season lows. To that, co-coordinator Bobby Stoops said, "Just about isn't good enough. Anything short of winning isnt enough.

To be a championship team, you have to make certain plays in a game. We might have made some (plays), but not enough." The loss at home was only KSU's third at home in the 1990s and snapped a 16-game unbeaten streak. That dates back to 10-0 to Colorado on Oct 26, 1991. NU has won 21 regular season games in a row, which is the longest in the nation. They have now beaten K-State 26 consecutive times.

Chad May was poked in the eye in the second quarter by NU's Christian Peter, with May saying the deed was done intentionally. "I know it was on purpose. I could feel him reaching around the helmet for my eye. He wasnt after the ball it was down here (pointing to his waist). We don't need that stuff." With his TD pitch to Mitch Running.

May has thrown a TD in 16 straight regular season games. See No. 1 Page B3 threw for 249 yards on 22 of 48 passing. They found some gaps. It makes it hard to throw when guys are in your face." "The difference this year was that they got a lot better rush on Chad that enabled them to do more things defensively," agreed Lockett "It puts more pressure on the receivers to get open faster if they can cut a couple seconds off of the time Chad has to throw the ball" The Wildcats enjoyed some success against Nebraska's defense early in the game as May found his receivers 12 times for 173 yards and a touchdown in the first half.

But in the case of the Wildcat offensive success, it only lasted 30 minutes, as the Huskers held May to just 76 yards passing on 10 of 27 attempts after the half. "When we came out in the first halfl think that we did a lot of stuff they had not seen," Lockett said in reference to using five wide receivers. "In the second half, they did a better job of playing us. I think that they made some adjustments defensively that we didnt handle very welL" Although the weather in Manhattan Saturday was not the most condusi ve to a passing attack. May wasnt blaming the slippery football for the loss, or his own miscues.

"There were some times when the ball was slip-See No. 3, Page B4 A year ago, Chad May and the Kansas State offense amassed 565 yards of total offense against Nebraska's talented defense. May, himself, threw for a Big Eight Conference record 489 yards on 30 of 51 passing. Going into Saturday, it seemed that all the pieces were in place for another May Day. But on this day, the Husker defense had other things in mind.

"I think it's possible that their defense came in here with a little something to prove after last year," said sophomore receiver Kevin Lockett, who had eight catches for 143 yards a year ago, but only five nabs for 78 yards Saturday. They didnl like the way we sort of came in and ran over them last year." "Last year they weren't really ready for us," added Mitch Running, who finished as tie game's leading receiver with five catches for 79 yards and the Wildcats' only touchdown. They didnt expect us to go deep (last year). This year they were not going to give it up." With their leader in the secondary, free safety Mike Minter, missing, the Huskers' defensive-front pinned their ears back and went after May, sacking him six times for minus-53 yards. They tried to get pressure on me," said May, who Oh joy, KC going to Denver Associated Press DENVER The Broncos might assemble at the airport to personally greet the Kansas City Chiefs when they fly into Denver this weekeni They want to make sure Chiefs coach Marty Schottenheimer is aboard.

Mile High Stadium is Marty's little house of horrors. As a head coach with the Cleveland Browns and now with the Chiefs, Schottenheimer is 0-7 at Mile High. "We definitely want Marty to come," Broncos offensive lineman Dave Widell said of Monday night's game. "We definitely donl See No. 4, Page B4.