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THE WAVE NOVEMBER 5.2010
Missouri Tigers
Cornhuskers end Tigers' win-streak
BY John Montesantos
The Maneater
Nebraska beat Missouri 31-17, ending the Tigers' undefeated season last Saturday.
yagers underleated season last year. "It's the first loss of the year, so it's pretty difficult for all of us," coach Gary Pinkel said. "It's a big game an you need to play your very best, and we didn't play good enough and they did."
The Cornhuskers got on the scoreboard early, as senior tailback Roy Helu Jr. rushed for a 66-yard score on Nebraska's first offensive play of the game. After a Missouri three-and-out, Nebraska increased the lead to 10-0 on a 41-yard field goal by senior kicker Alex Hewery.
Alex Henery. Nebraska continued to capitalize on Missouri's offensive and defensive woes. After another stalled Tiger drive, redshirt freshman quarterback Taylor Martinez connected with sophomore wideout Kyler Reed for a 40-yard touchdown reception, pushing the Husker lead to 17-0. Helu Jr. added to the lead three minutes later, breaking loose for 73-yard touchdown run, his second of the game.
Missouri defensive back Kevin Rutland breaks up a pass intended for Nebraska wide receiver Cursenski Gilleyen, during the first half on Saturday, at 31-17 win for Nebraska.
the game.
The Tigers got on the board early in
The Rangers got the second quarter. On 4th and 1 Missouri set up for what looked like a quarterback sneak. Junior quarterback Blaine Gabbert received the snap and pitched it to junior tailback De'Vion Moore, who rushed 33 yards to cut the deficit to 17 points going into halftime.
Missouri showed signs of life early in the second half. Gabbert found
sophomore wideout T.J. Moe for a 23-yard touchdown score, cutting the Nebraska lead to 10 points.
However, the Huskers would answer back two plays later, as Helu Jr. burned the Tiger defense for a 53-yard touchdown run, his third of the game,
"It is the first loss of the year, so it's pretty difficult for all of us."
he was frustrated with the execution of the plays called on the goal line.
With the game slipping out of reach, the Tigers put together a much-needed line that put them on the Nebraska 1-yard line on 1st and goal. For the second straight week, the Tigers were stopped for three consecutive downs, forcing a 23-yard field goal. The kick put the score at 31-17, which would be the final after both teams were shut out in the fourth quarter, Pinkel said
GARY PINKEL
Missouri Head Coach
VOLLE
The Nebraska defense was impressive throughout the game, constantly blanketing all Missouri receivers and putting pressure on Gabbert. The junior was sacked six times, and finished a dismal 18 for 42 for 199
yards with a touchdown and interception.
Although the Missouri defense came into the game ranked No. 5 in the NCAA in scoring defense, the Tigers were unable to contain Helu Jr. The senior set the Nebraska school record with 307 rushing yards, including touchdown runs of 66,73 and 53 yards. Senior linebacker Andrew Gachkar said the defense couldn't make the tackles it needed to stop the big plays.
long plays.
Missouri (7-1, 3-1) heads to Lubbock,
Texas to take on the Texas Tech Red Raiders
on Saturday. With the loss to Nebraska,
Missouri could possibly need to win out to
have a chance at a Big 12 Championship.
Moe acknowledged the importance of every conference game on the schedule.
conference game for you.
"We just have to come out there a fight like we always do" Moe said. "When you play in the Big 12, I think it's a little bit easier because everybody's good, so if you let your guard down you can come out flat and lose the football game."
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
Colorado otters chance tor momentum
BY SARA KRUGER
skruger@kansan.com
skrüger@kansas.edu After a loss against Nebraska, Kansas hopes to gain momentum back against Colorado on Saturday and finish up this season on a winning note. The Jayhawks will have extra motivation because Colorado is leaving the Big 12 after this year.
"It's the last time we'll get to play them in the Big 12 conference," sophomore middle blocker Tayler Tolefree said. "We just have six games left, so we need to just finish strong and get a win over them."
The last time the Jayhawks met Colorado, the Buffalooes came out and won in five games. Tolefree says the team is focused on beating Colorado and moving on to the
next game.
COLORADO
Outside hitter Karina Garlington said being a senior also added to the importance of the game.
"We want them to remember the last time they get to play
Junior outside hitter Allison Mayfield added depth to the Kansas offense by playing both back and front row against Nebraska.
"She breaks the game down and allows us to get a back row attack when we normally couldn't," Garlington said.
Garlington said playing two positions was difficult to do and Mayfield has stepped up to the task.
DAY: Saturday
DATE: Nov. 6
LOCATION: Lawrence
TIME: 6:30 p.m.
"They're smaller, so they are smart with putting the ball in play," Tolefree said. "We kind of rally with them, the plays go on longer because they're not such physical blockers and sometimes our block isn't always there."
Kansas at Kansas," she said. "And, you know, we've got a little grudge match since we lost to them at Colorado, so I hope that motivates everyone to play the best that we can and just get some momentum under us."
"We just have six games left, so we need to just finish strong and get a win over them."
Kansas recently faced No. 5 Nebraska, who is also leaving the conference. Colorado is a much smaller opponent than Nebraska.
She said the Jayhawks needed to figure out how to not let easy balls score.
TAYLER TOLEFREE Sophomore middle blocker
T he Jayhawks' hitting percentage against Nebraska was a low .200 compared with their season high of .432 against Texas Tech. Mayfield and
her teammates just didn't seem to get the numbers they are capable of reaching.
"I thought she took some good swings. Six errors is more than we probably want her to have, but I thought she did a good job primary passing for us," coach Ray Bechard said. "We ask her to do a lot of things."
In the first set against Nebraska, Mayfield had nine attacks and three kills with two errors. She accounted for three of Kansas' 17 points in the first set and finished the match with 30 attacks, 10 kills and six errors — all team highs. In total, she led the Jayhawks with 11 points, including one service ace.
SEE VOLLEY ON PAGE 7A
Junior outside hitter Allison Mayfield bumps the ball in the first set Wendnesday. The Jayhawks will play Colorado next Saturday.
anything radical like tiring onl. I'm a firm believer that a coach needs at least three years to be fully evaluated. There's a reason the Pittsburgh Steelers have won more Super Bowls than any other NFL franchise, and a huge part of that is the stability of having just three coaches since 1969.
Just as with Pick, we saw sixth-year senior running back Angus Quigley lose his starting job as soon as someone else performed well at the position in a game. Let me preface this by saying that I think James Sims is a talented back for a freshman, but again, there is a reason that Angus Quigley won the job in the pre-season. I don't know exactly what it is — I wasn't there — but if there was, indeed, a reason, stick to your guns and go with Quigley. Three weeks later, Quigley reascended to the top of the running back chart.
What I'm looking for from Gill, though, is some sign that he knows the personnel he has playing for him. Have a little faith in your players.
Rightfully so, too. Quinn Mecham is now in the discussion to be the lajayhaws quarterback as well. And there was that fun experiment with D.J. Beshears at quarterback late in the Texas A&M game. Hey, the guy is fast.
Jordan Webb was not impressive in a little more than six quarters as the starter. No one will argue that. But there's a reason he was made the starter (I'm going to go out on a limb and say it had to do with speed). Either have faith in the guy or don't start him at all. But ripping the rug out from under him only destroys his confidence and has the next guy, in this case Jordan Webb, looking over his shoulder for someone else who might be sneaking up on his job.
I'm not asking much from Gill, just that he stops yanking players like an overeager fantasy football manager and trusts his gut.
Bizarrely, I'm actually giving the man a vote of confidence. Trust your decisions, coach. It can't get any worse.
Edited by David Cawthon
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