Section B · Page 4
The University Daily Kansan
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Big 12 Football
'Hawks prep for 'Huskers
Rv Allan Devie
By Allan Davis
sports@kansan.com
Kansas sportwriter
The Nebraska Cornhuskers have beaten the Kansas football team 31 consecutive times every year since 1968.
However, Kansas coach Terry Allen only is responsible for the last three of those defeats, and his Jayhawks actually came within a touchdown of beating Nebraska last year, losing 24-17 at Memorial Stadium.
Tomorrow, Kansas (4-4, 2-3 Big 12 Conference) will try to handle Nebraska in Lincoln, Neb. The No. 5 Cornhuskers (7-1, 4-1) will be out to embarrass the Jayhawks and impress the pollsters after losing to No. 1 Oklahoma 31-14 last Saturday in Norman, Okla.
Allen said he was aware Nebraska might think it has something to prove and the Jayhawks would be ready for the challenge.
"We get the pleasure of playing Nebraska after its loss," Allen said. "We will need to be prepared for their explosive offense. This team has been able to overcome adversity well this season, and we will give our best effort on Saturday."
The Kansas vs. Nebraska series has a long history. The Jayhawk-Cornushorne rivalry is tied for the third-longest in Division I A history, at 106 games. It is the longest continuous series to
Division I-A. The two teams have played against each other every year since 1906 — 94 seasons.
Nebraska coach Frank Solich said the Jayhawks' ability wouldn't surprise his team.
"I think Kansas is a very good football team." Solich said. "They are a team that is putting points on the board. On both sides of the ball, they are playing very physical football.
"Of course, if you look at how they played us
Or course, if you look last year, they gave us a great effort. That was just a very good ball game, a very hard-fought contest. One that, as you well know, could have went either way, so we are sure that's the Kansas team that will show up on Saturday."
The Jayhawk defense will be severely challenged by the run-oriented Cornhusker offense, which leads the nation in rushing offense with an average of 356.6 yards per game. Nebraska is also third in the nation in total offense and fourth in scoring offense.
Senior running back Dan Alexander leads the team in rushing with 807 yards on 133 carries. He averages 100.9 yards per game and 6.1 yards per carry.
Junior quarterback Eric Crouch is second in
rushing, with 677 yards, and has scored 12 touchdowns. Backup running back Correll Buckhalter, a senior, sees a lot of action and has 570 yards rushing, an average of 71.2 yards per game. He averages 7.3 yards per carry.
The Cornhuskers don't pass much — only about 15 attempts per game. Crouch has completed only 48 percent of his passes but does have 10 touchdown passes and only six interceptions.
Nebraska's defense isn't as dominating as it has been in the recent past, but the Cornhuskers still rank 18th in the nation in scoring defense, allowing only 16.9 points per game. The Cornhuskers rank 21st in total defense, yielding an average of 305.8 yards per game.
Nebraska defensive back Troy Watchorn's five interceptions rank sixth in the nation in average interceptions per game, but he doesn't even start.
Solich said the key to stopping the Jayhawk offense was keeping senior quarterback Dylen Smith under control.
"As most offenses do, it starts with the quarterback," Solich said. "Smith is an outstanding quarterback. He can hurt you running. He can hurt you throwing. He's got a great arm and he's got excellent speed. If you just look at our game last year, you saw him do it all. You saw him scramble and make big plays off the scramble."
Edited by Clay McCuistion
Norris ready to help Jayhawks
Continued from page 1B
As of Wednesday, Norris listed himself at 70 percent and likely to play at Nebraska. Allen would like to see him get the ball but said he thought that more than 10 carries might be too much strain.
Last year, Norris' size allowed him to go through the Cornhuskers defense for 80 yards on 17 carries. His performance allowed Kansas to sustain drives and keep the game close, which Kansas eventually lost 24-17.
Earlier this season, a picture was published with Norris in an Ancient Greek setting raising a large ball painted as a globe. Carrying the world on his shoulders, he was supposed to be Atlas, the titan from Greek mythology.
But Kansas need a different kind of atlas for tomorrow's 2:30 p.m. game at Nebraska.
Norris has been lost. He wants to be found.
"I hope I'm ready to go full-throttle and help this team," he said.
— Edited by J. R. Mendoza
Kansas senior fullback Moran Nerris powers toward the end zone. Nerris said he had not lived up to his expectations as a team leader this season. Kansan file photo
Texas needs to win quarterback battle for Big 12 South title
By Allan Davis sports@kanson.com Kansan sportwriter
No. 20 Texas (6-2, 4-1 Big 12 Conference) still could win the Big 12 South if it beats Texas Tech (6-3, 2-3) this week, wins at Kansas on Saturday, Nov. 11 and then wins its home game against No. 24 Texas A&M on Friday, Nov. 24. However, No. 1 Oklahoma needs to lose to both Texas Tech and Texas A&M for this scenario to come true.
This game also features two of the Big 12's leading passers. Red Raider quarterback Kliff Kingsbury has four 300-yard passing games this season and had 405 yards against Kansas last Saturday.
Texas' quarterback Major Applewhite leads the Big 12 in touchdown passes with 18, and also
is the Big 12
career pass
yards leader
with 7,810
yards.
Iowa State (6-
2, 3-2) at No. 19 Kansas State (7-2,
3-2)
Kansas State still could win the Big 12 North by winning the remainder of its games, including a bout against Nebraska on Saturday, Nov. 11. But the Wildcats need to get past the Cyclones first.
K-State shouldn't take Iowa State lightly because last year in Ames, Iowa, the Cyclones led 28-7 at halftime. Unfortunately for Iowa State, they had to play the second half, and the Wildcats rallied for a 35-28 victory.
Iowa State running back Ennis Haywood is eighth in the nation and leads the Big 12 in rushing, averaging 133 yards per game. However, he will face a strong challenge — K-State yields an average of only 84.2 yards rushing per game.
On defense for the Wildcats, defensive tackle Mario Fatafehi has 55 tackles this season, including 27 unassisted tackles. He also has 8.5 sacks.
No. 24 Texas A&M (6-2, 4-1) at OKlahoma State (2-5, 0-4)
The Aggies still could win the Big 12 South if they beat the Cowboys, win a home game against No. 1 Oklahoma on Saturday, Nov. 11
and then win at No. 20 Texas.
Aggie quarterback Mark Farris continues to perform well in his first season as a starter. He has completed 141 of his 230 attempts, gaining an average of 224.5 yards per game.
Cowboy wide receiver Gabe Lindsay, younger brother of sidelined quarterback Tony Lindsay, leads Oklahoma State in receiving with 23 catches.
No. 1. Oklahma (7-0, 4-0) at Baylor
(26-2, 0-5)
Oklahoma has beaten Baylor all nine times the two teams have played and probably will make it 10-0 tomorrow.
Oklahoma quarterback Josh Heupel is making a strong case for All-America mention and perhaps Heisman Trophy consideration. He is fourth in the nation in passing efficiency and leads the Big 12 in
p assing g yardage with an average of 313.4 yards per game.
Heupel has
completed 67.2 percent of his 244 pass attempts and has thrown 12 touchdown passes. And, just as important, the Sooners are unbeaten and have wins against Texas, K-State and Nebraska.
Baylor won only one game last year but started 2-1 this season before dropping its last five games. The Bears never recovered from the loss of starting quarterback Greg Cicero to an injury early in the season.
Colorado (2-6, 2-3) at Missouri (2-6,
1-4)
Missouri quarterback Kirk Farmer, who broke his collarbone Sept. 30 against Nebraska, may play this week. He is listed as questionable.
Tiger defensive end Justin Smith has made 12 tackles in each of his last two games.
Buffalo freshman quarterback Craig Ochs will seek to repeat the 336-yard passing day he had last week against Oklahoma State. He also ran for 96 yards.
The game also features a matchup of cousins. Missouri strong safety Gary Anthony is likely to bump into his cousin, Colorado running back Cortlen Johnson.
— Edited by John Audlehelm