Tuesday, September 7, 1999
The University Daily Kansan
Section B · Page 5
Nebraska opens season victorious against Iowa
The Associated Press
IOWA CITY, Iowa — Nebraska has been the nation's highest scoring Division I A football team in the 1990s. With the decade coming to a close, the Cornhuskers want to be remembered as a good defensi-
They made a strong statement to that end, in their opener, man handling Iowa's offense from start to finish in a 42-7 victory on Saturday.
ish in a 42-7 victory on Saturday. The Hawkeyes, playing their first game under coach Kirk Ferentz, never came close to scoring with their offense and got on the board only by returning a blocked punt for a touchdown late in the game.
The fifth-ranked Cornhuskers, coming off what for them was a disappointing 9-4 season, held Iowa without a first down until just 3:36 remained in the first half
and limited the Hawkeyes to 169 yards.
With a strong pass rush, Nebraska sacked quarterback Kyle McCann three times and drove him to the ground countless other times as he was releasing the ball.
"I thought defensively our players really played some good ball." Nebraska coach Frank Solich said. "I feel a little badly for them because they really played shutout defense, but we had the one kick block."
As quick and aggressive as Nebraska looked on defense, Iowa also was hurt by its own ineptitude. An inexperienced offensive line that was missing senior Chad Deal, sidelineled by a leg injury, opened few holes and did a poor job protecting McCann, who was 11-of-27 for 112 yards with one interception.
"I don't match we played very well." McCann said. "We've got a long way to go, but I think we can get there."
So does Ferentz, who took the reins following the retirement of Hayden Fry after 20 years as Iowa's coach. The Hawkeyes should not be so overmatched next Saturday night at Iowa State, although the Cyclones did beat Iowa 27-9 last year.
Nebraska's defensive play was especially important in the first half because the offense sputtered. Iowa made some big hits while twice stopping the Cornhuskers on downs, and quarterback Bobby Newcombe threw an interception and lost two fumbles. It was just 7-0 at halftime.
But with Newcombe alternating with Eric Crouch, and DeAngelo Evans and Dan Alexander taking turns at I-back, the Cornhuskers wore down the Hawkeyes.
Newcombe threw a 47-yard touchdown pass to Sean Applegate and scored on two short runs. Crouch scored on runs of 28, 6 and 21 yards, the last two coming against an Iowa defense that clearly was fatigued.
Quarterbacks give 'Huskers options
The Associated Press
IOWA CITY, Iowa — Nebraska coach Frank Solich says having two quarterbacks who are effective at running the Cornhusker offense is a nice problem to have, but it's one that he's growing tired of discussing.
Starter Bobby Newcombe and backup Eric Crouch led the Cornhuskers through a worn-out Iowa defense in a 42-7 win against the Hawkeyes in the season opener for both teams Saturday. Newcombe rushed for two touchdowns and passed for another and Crouch ran for three, reigniting their preseason battle for the starting job.
Solich said he had no immediate plans to adjust the platoon system, which means Newcombe is
likely to start Nebraska's home opener against California on Saturday, with Crouch coming off the bench.
"No one lost their starting job out there from what I see on the sideline. We always review film." Solich said. "I'm not going to get into every practice and every game who's our starting quarterback."
Newcombe led the Cornhuskers deep into Iowa territory throughout the first half, but he had three turnovers that held heavily-favored Nebraska to just a 7-0 lead at halftime. The Cornhuskers' only touchdown of the half happened in Crouch's opening series, a four play, 47-yard drive capped by Crouch's 21-yard run midway through the second quarter.
Crouch finished with 92 yards
rushing on five carries and completed three of five passes for 68 yards.
Newcombe rushed 15 times for 35 yards, including two short touchdown runs, and was 7 for 10 passing for 128 yards with one interception. Newcombe and Sean Applegate connected on a 47-yard scoring play on the Cornhuskers' third play of the second half, the first of five Nebraska touchdowns in the half. Crouch added runs of six and 21 yards in the fourth quarter.
Newcombe, the starter as a sophomore a year ago before a knee injury ended his season, won the preseason battle for the starting job. Solich said Crouch had taken the news that he was No.2 hard, but denied reports that he quit the team.
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AUSTIN, Texas — There were no disastrous breakdowns for Texas this time, just total domination of an overwhelmed Stanford defense.
Quarterback Major Applewhite passed for 353 yards in three quarters and Texas scored touchdowns on its first
Longhorns overwhelm Stanford
Kwame Cavil had 180 yards receiving and two touchdowns on six catches for Texas (1-1) and tailback Victor Ike added three 1-yard touchdown runs.
"This is the best overall performance this team and this staff has had since we've been in Austin." Texas coach Mack Brown said.
The Associated Press
It was the most points surrendered by Stanford since a 72-0 loss to UCLA in 1954.
six possessions to roll over Stanford 69-17 Saturday.
A week after having three punts blocked in a 23-20 loss to North Carolina State, Texas wasn't forced to punt until late in the second quarter. Ryan Long got the kick off with ease, earning one of the biggest cheers of the game from the crowd of 80,654.
With Texas leading 7-0 and Stanford facing fourth-and-6 from its 15, Terrol Dillon broke up the middle to block Sean Tolpinrud's punt. Tyrone Jones recovered the loose ball at the Stanford 1 and Ike scored his first touchdown three plays later to put Texas up 14-0.
Applewhite was hot from the start, hitting wideout Montrell Flowers deep for a 54-yard touchdown on the Longhorns' fifth play from scrimmage.
Cavil added a 78-yard touchdown on a first-quarter catch-and-run off a quick slant. The play gave the Longhorns a 21-7 lead.
The early touchdowns stunned Stanford, said Cardinal coach Tyrone Willingham.
"I was concerned about the first few minutes of the game." Willingham said. "They were able to surge and surge and surge. If you combine their ability with our errors, you have a very volatile situation."
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