Posted by bambi2godzilla on 9/2/2007, 1:11 pm Oh, shucks: Nebraska roasts Nevada LINCOLN, Neb. -- Nevada went toe-to-toe with No. 20 Nebraska for most of the first half Saturday. But as soon as the Cornhuskers made their running game a priority, the mismatch between the two teams was evident. Jonathon Amaya's 80-yard interception return in the second quarter gave the Wolf Pack a 10-7 lead, but the Huskers followed with 45 unanswered points, behind a dominant ground game and a suffocating defense for a 52-10 victory before 81,078 fans at Memorial Stadium. Nebraska finished with 413 rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns, but it was the Wolf Pack's offense that left coach Chris Ault frustrated following the game. "First of all, our offense really left our defense hanging in the first half, not getting the first down, not converting some opportunities we had," said Ault, whose team has now lost four consecutive season openers. "The defense was just on the field too much. "I'm just disappointed we couldn't execute better on the offensive side of the ball. "» We better learn a heck of a lot out of this game. I'm very, very disappointed that we couldn't stand up on this stage and give them a better ball game." The Cornhuskers dominated time of possession (40 minutes, 38 seconds to 19:22), first downs (35 to nine) and total yardage (625 to 185). Wolf Pack punter Zacary Whited punted 10 times. "I had planned on it (being busy), but I was really hoping and praying that it wasn't going to turn out like this," Whited said. "I came prepared for the worst and was hoping for the best." Junior running back Marlon Lucky had career highs in carries (30), yards (233) and touchdowns (four, one receiving). He set Husker records in a season opener with his four touchdowns and 266 all-purpose yards. "I was pleased overall the way the offensive line blocked," fourth-year Nebraska coach Bill Callahan said. "And all those backs ran hard. I'm happy for Marlon. He had a complete game. "Overall, it was a good win for our team today. I'm awfully proud of our coaches and players. "» I'm just proud of the way the guys played, competed and put forth a good effort against a good football team." Of the Wolf Pack's five drives in the first half, only one lasted more than five plays. The 10-play, 37-yard possession -- highlighted by an option pitch on fourth-and-1 by Alex Rosenblum that went for 16 yards -- resulted in a 36-yard Brett Jaekle field goal that cut Nebraska's lead to 7-3. On the Huskers' next drive, Nevada linebacker Jerome Johnson tipped a Sam Keller pass that was intercepted by Amaya and returned 80 yards for the score and a 10-7 Nevada lead with 10:53 left in the half. "I just saw the quarterback's eyes and I broke on the ball perfect," Johnson said. "I got my hand on it first, but Jonathon picked it off. It was all good either way." It was pretty much the last good thing that happened for the Pack. Cornerback and return specialist Cortney Grixby returned Jaekle's ensuing kick 42 yards to the Nevada 39, the Huskers ran nine straight rushing plays and scored on Lucky's 1-yard dive over left tackle for a 14-10 lead with 6:40 to play. "That kickoff that they brought back, that was, when you look at momentum burners, that was it," Ault said. "That's just something you can't do." A three-and-out gave the Huskers the ball again, and they went 54 yards on nine plays with Quentin Castille scoring from a yard out with 2:22 left in the half for a 21-10 lead. They ran the ball on eight of the nine plays, averaging nearly seven yards per carry. "That's the best offensive line I've ever played against," Johnson said. "And that's the only offensive line that stays on their blocks the whole time. They're very aggressive. I'm very aggressive, but I just couldn't get off (the blocks)." Senior nose guard Matt Hines didn't want to lay the blame on the Pack's offense. "I'm very disappointed. I think, defensively, we didn't play up to our potential, regardless of how the offense did," the two-year captain said. The Huskers held the Pack to two three-and-outs to start the second half, and Lucky scored on touchdown runs of 17 and three yards for a rather quick 35-10 lead. "Frustrated. We had our opportunities, like Coach said," Nevada sophomore quarterback Nick Graziano said, following his first career start. "That first half killed us. We felt comfortable out there. We just kept shooting ourselves in the foot, which really set our offense back and kept our defense on the field." Graziano was 4-for-6 for 62 yards in the first quarter, but finished 8-for-24 for 109 yards and one interception. Redshirt freshman quarterback Colin Kaepernick played the final two possessions and completed 1-of-3 passes for minus-1 yard. Nevada rushed 24 times for 77 yards, and was led by Graziano's 29. Nebraska senior quarterback Sam Keller, making his first start after transferring from Arizona State, got off to a slow start but took advantage of the dominant run game to finish strong. He was 14-of-25 for 233 yards with one touchdown and one interception. The touchdown, a 16-yarder to Lucky, gave Nebraska a 7-0 lead. "Our offensive line and running backs just did tremendous today," he said. "It was really, really pleasing to sit back and watch those guys work."
63.249.102.18
Bill Callaghan;s West Coast Offense turned into a roadgrading one and Nevada paid the price:
Dan Hinxman
RENO GAZETTE-JOURNAL
September 2, 2007
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