Blackshirts Step Up, Help Smother Iowa State

Husker defense survives 102 plays, forces four turnovers

Stuck on the field for more than 100 plays and getting only intermittent help from its offense, Saturday was the perfect opportunity for Nebraska's defense to take a few more shots to the chin.

And, well, the Blackshirts did, surrendering 415 yards and 28 first downs.

But this time, they punched back.

The Cornhuskers forced four turnovers, notched three sacks, and even landed the knockout blow when linebacker Bo Ruud returned an interception 93 yards for a back-breaking touchdown in a 35-17 win over the Cyclones..

It was nobody's idea of premier defense - and ISU is a pale offensive imitation of NU's next opponent, Missouri - but after getting crunched and stretched against Southern California and Ball State, it was a more aggressive, spirited effort. A "loose" performance, as many of the Blackshirts had predicted, and what Defensive Coordinator Kevin Cosgrove had hoped for earlier in the week.

"We've been taking a lot of heat," Ruud said, "and we just needed a game where we could get back on track with what we expect out of ourselves."

Cosgrove, noticeably pleased in his post-game interviews, kept repeating the same mantra: His players competed, especially when three early Husker turnovers and two special teams penalties kept handing Cyclone quarterback Bret Meyer chances to score points.

"They played hard, man," Cosgrove said. "Real proud of them. Got some big plays, pressure on the quarterback. Kids did a nice job. They responded well. It's big boost."

Ruud's touchdown was particularly important. At the time, Nebraska led 21-10 late in the third quarter, and ISU had put together a 12-play drive to NU's nine-yard line. On third down, Meyer tried to hit his No. 1 target, wide receiver Todd Blythe, on a slant pattern. It was the Cyclone's bread-and-butter pattern all day.

But cornerback Cortney Grixby broke first on the ball, batting it just as it reached Blythe's hands. The ball ricocheted to Ruud, who then wove his way through Iowa State offensive players - including a very determined Meyer - to the end zone. It was the third longest interception return in Husker history, and Ruud's second touchdown in as many weeks.

"I asked Bo what happened because I didn't see it until I got up," Grixby said. "It just fell in his hands. Bo's always in the right spot."

Said Ruud: "It happened pretty quick. I scooped it and took off. Luckily I had some blockers downfield. I was trying to cut back but the quarterback wouldn't let me."

That play gave the Huskers (4-1 overall, 1-0 in the Big 12 Conference) a 28-10 lead. Although the Cyclones (1-4, 0-1) marched a grueling 17 plays for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to cut the lead to 11, Grixby intercepted Meyer for the second time to set up NU's final touchdown, a pass from quarterback Sam Keller to fullback Thomas Lawson.

"We cannot turn the ball over four times," said Meyer, who finished 26-of-51 for 281 yards and three interceptions. "That is going to kill anything on offense. "We just kept killing ourselves on drives."

At the game's end, Nebraska had run a stunning 43 fewer plays than Iowa State, but had still notched a comfortable victory. The Cys only gained four yards per play, and spent much of the contest chewing up yards in tiny chunks. It burned clock but never amounted to points.

"It was a strange game," Nebraska Head Coach Bill Callahan said. "Kinda weird. They had the ball quite a bit."

Keller agreed.

"It was the longest I've spent on the sideline in any game I've ever been in," he said.

Nebraska spotted ISU a 10-0 lead because of some sloppy play on offense. Running back Marlon Lucky fumbled at the goal line on the Huskers' first drive. On the next drive, Keller was intercepted on a poorly-judged post pattern to receiver Terrence Nunn. Then running back Cody Glenn fumbled at midfield. The Cyclones held the ball for almost all of the first quarter and much of the second.

"We put (the defense) in a bad position in that first quarter," Callahan said.

When Iowa State running back Jason Scales scored on a three-yard touchdown, fans Memorial Stadium didn't boo, but fell into a fearful silence.

Grixby, as part of the best game of his career, immediately changed the momentum with a 51-yard kickoff return to the ISU 47-yard line. Nebraska ran the ball on five of the next six plays, then scored a touchdown on Lucky's halfback pass to tight end Sean Hill. Lucky had to sidestep a defender as he made the throw.

Then the Huskers got a break when Iowa State punter Mike Brandtner, sweeping around the end on a fake punt, inexplicably stepped out of bounds a yard short of the first down. NU cornerback Prince Amukamara hit Brandtner late - and was flagged for a personal foul - but it came after the play. So the Huskers gained possession at their own 18 with 2:43 remaining.

Then Keller, as he's done several times this year already, went to work in the two-minute drill.

He hit Nate Swift for 21 yards on a crossing route over the middle, wisely hesitating for a second while traffic cleared before putting the ball on his receiver. Then he spotted Nunn for nine yards on a sideline route. Then Swift again, to the opposite sideline. Then senior Frantz Hardy, for 12, on a third consecutive sideline route. Lucky ran a counter for 13 yards, and Glenn, after a drop by Nunn in the end zone, gained seven on a stretch play. On a third down from ISU's 6, Keller found fullback Thomas Lawson waiting in the end zone for an easy touchdown.

On the drive, Iowa State's pass rush barely touched a thread on Keller's ubiquitous white sleeve. The Huskers went 82 yards in just a little over a minute.

"We managed that quite well," Callahan said. "I thought (Keller) was brilliant."

NU actually had a chance to add points to its lead before halftime with another quick drive, reaching ISU's 15-yard-line before Keller, instead of throwing the ball away, scrambled for a short gain. Because Nebraska had no timeouts, the clock ran out before Keller could spike the ball.

"I ain't gonna' sleep tonight," Callahan said. "I take that on myself. I really kick myself in the rear end for not telling him to throw it away."

Nebraska immediately padded its lead in the third quarter as Lucky found a sideline crease on a counter play and scored on a 41-yard touchdown.

Ruud's interception occurred two drives later.

 

 

 

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