NU Looks to Down Wildcats on Senior Day

Lincoln -- The Nebraska Cornhuskers return to Lincoln for their final home contest of the 2003 campaign, as the Huskers battle the Kansas State Wildcats in front of the 262nd consecutive sellout at Memorial Stadium.

Today’s game will go a long way in determining the outcome of the Big 12 North Division standings. Nebraska and KSU enter the weekend tied for first in the division race with identical 4-2 league records. Missouri trails the Huskers and Wildcats with a 3-3 league mark, and faces Kansas State next weekend. With a Husker win today, Nebraska can clinch at least a share of Big 12 North title and have a chance to advance to the Big 12 Championship Game in Kansas City on Dec. 6.

Nebraska has dominated the series since the start, as it owns a 72-13-2 all-time record against the Wildcats. The Huskers are 39-7 against KSU in Lincoln, including winning the last 17 straight meetings. NU won 29 straight games over Kansas State from 1969 to 1998, but the Wildcats have evened the series over the past five seasons by winning three of the those meetings, including KSU’s 49-13 victory in Manhattan last season.

The Huskers look to make up for last season’s loss to the Wildcats and send their senior class out with a victory in its final home game. The 34 Husker seniors being honored before today’s game are: Ryon Bingham, Chad Buller, Terrell Butler, Judd Davies, Josh Davis, Dale Endorf, Kevin Guse, Tim Green, DeAntae Grixby, T.J. Hollowell, Trevor Johnson, Patrick Kabongo, Kyle Larson, Tim Liley, Jack Limbaugh, Brett Lindstrom, Jason Lohr, Chris Loos, Jammal Lord, Robin Miller, Ryan Ommert, Phil Peetz, Jerrell Pippens, Pat Ricketts, Steve Safranek, Josh Sewell, Fred Thorne, Curt Tomasevicz, Dan Vili Waldrop, Cody Volk, Seth White, Delrick Williams, Demorrio Williams and Andy Wingender.

The senior class has taken an active and vocal role in helping Nebraska right the ship after a sub-par season in 2002. Behind the senior class, Nebraska has climbed back into the national rankings while running to an 8-2 record heading into the final weeks of the season. Another bowl game appearance ? Nebraska’s 35th consecutive ? has also been assured.

Leading the charge all year has been the defense, which ranks as one of the top units nationally in nearly every statistical category. Nebraska has had a balanced effort stopping the run and pass, as it is eighth nationally in total defense, allowing just 279.5 yards per game. Nebraska is also fourth in scoring defense by giving up just 12.5 points per game.

The Coaches

Kansas State ? Bill Snyder (124-54-1 in 15th season at KSU; 124-54-1 in 15th season overall)
Nebraska ? Frank Solich (57-18 in sixth season at NU; 57-18 in sixth season overall)

The Series

Games: 87
Standing: Nebraska leads, 72-13-2
At Lincoln: Nebraska leads, 39-7-0 At Memorial Stadium: Nebraska leads, 33-7-0
At Manhattan: Nebraska leads, 32-6-2
At KSU Stadium: Nebraska leads, 13-3-0
At Neutral Sites: Nebraska leads, 1-0-0
Series continuous since: 1922 (81 games) Highest NU score: 62 in 1984
Widest NU margin: 59 in 1911 (59-0; first game of series)
Highest KSU score: 49 in 2002 (49-13)
Widest KSU margin: 36 in 2002 (49-13)
Highest-scoring game: 82, 1997 (NU 56, KSU 26)
Longest NU win streak: 29 games, 1969-98 Longest KSU win streak: 2 games, three times, (1941-42, 1953-54, 1958-59)

 

 

 

 

 

 

The NU defense has been opportunistic as it ranks No. 1 in the country in turnover margin, creating 3.9 turnovers per game including 24 interceptions this season. The 39 turnovers are the most gained by the Huskers in six years under Coach Frank Solich (57-18 overall record), and the most since NU recorded 42 in 1981. The total is the fifth most in school history with the school record being 47 takeaways in 1971.

Shutting down the opponent’s passing game has become commonplace for Nebraska, as the Huskers also rank No. 1 in the country in pass efficiency defense (80.47) and are eighth in passing defense by giving up just 157.4 yards per game.

Free safety Josh Bullocks has played a large role in NU’s dominating secondary play. A Thorpe Award candidate, Bullocks leads the nation with nine interceptions in 10 games and is seventh on the team in tackles with 40. Bullocks’ nine pickoffs easily broke the previous Husker single-season record of seven, and his career total of 10 is tied for seventh on the NU career chart. Just a sophomore, Bullocks needs four to tie the Nebraska career record of 14 set by Dan Stephenson from 1967 to 1969.

The secondary has not done the job alone, as Nebraska’s front seven have created havoc by pressuring quarterbacks and stuffing the running lanes.

Senior linebacker Demorrio Williams, an All-America and Butkus Award candidate, has been all over the field keying that attack. Williams has recorded 97 tackles while adding team highs in solo stops (62), sacks (8.0-55), quarterback hurries (12) and tackles for loss (14-62). He has also forced two fumbles and recovered four, and has one of NU’s six blocked kicks this season.

Nebraska’s Blackshirts will have their hands full this weekend, as K-State enters the weekend averaging 429.1 total offense yards per game while posting an 8-3 record. The Wildcats have a balanced attack, picking up 221.6 yards per game on the ground and 207.5 yards through the air. KSU’s offense ranks eighth nationally in scoring by putting up 38.55 points per game this season, topping 34 points in nine of 11 contests. The only two games KSU did not reach 34 points were losses, 27-20 to Marshall and 24-20 to Texas.

Guiding the KSU attack, quarterback Ell Roberson is a dual threat as he ranks second on the team in rushing with 696 yards and 11 touchdowns, and has passed for more than 1,600 yards with 18 touchdowns despite missing two games this season. Running back Darren Sproles has also turned into a dangerous weapon, as he leads the team with 1,300 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns while ranking third with 17 receptions.

Once the Blackshirts get the ball back for the offense, Nebraska will look to its rushing attack to grind out yards against the Wildcat defense. The Huskers rank fifth nationally in rushing offense by gaining 241.6 yards per game on the ground, with quarterback Jammal Lord leading the offensive attack.

The versatile senior paces Nebraska with 713 rushing yards and nine touchdowns, and has passed for 903 yards and four scores. Lord has a stable of I-backs to handoff to as well, with Josh Davis, David Horne and Cory Ross having each picked up a 100-yard rushing game this season. Ross was the most recent addition to the list as he jitterbugged his way to 108 yards on 19 carries last week in a 24-3 road victory over Kansas. The totals were career highs for Ross, who entered the game having carried 36 times for 139 yards on the year.

Lord and Ross’ effort helped NU pound out 290 yards on the ground, while Lord completed 7-of-12 passes for 110 yards. Lord’s favorite target last week was sophomore receiver Mark LeFlore, who added three catches to bring his season total to 16. LeFlore ranks second in receptions to tight end Matt Herian, who leads Nebraska with 18 for 399 yards.

K-State looks to counter NU’s potent attack with a defense that ranks 15th nationally against the run, allowing just 99 yards per game. Linebacker Josh Buhl flies all around the field, and leads the Wildcats with 145 tackles, 67 more than second-place Bryan Hickman’s total (78).

Senior safety Rashad Washington joins Buhl as a top playmaker. Washington has 68 tackles and three sacks while leading KSU in pass breakups with 10. Washington has also been one of the top players on special teams as he has recorded four blocked kicks and has averaged 28.2 yards on four punt returns.