Nebraska Postgame Notes
Nebraska vs. Texas-Dec. 5, 2009
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? Nebraska fell to 2-3 in Big 12 Championship Games. The Huskers are now 1-2 against Texas in the Big 12 title game. Overall, Nebraska fell to 1-7 against Texas in the Big 12 era and 4-9 all-time.
? Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh finished with 12 tackles, a career-high 4.5 sacks for 21 yards lost and six tackles for loss. Suh’s 4.5 sacks were just 0.5 off the Nebraska single-game record of 5.0 sacks set earlier this year by teammate Jared Crick at Baylor. Suh bettered his previous career high of 2.5 sacks against Kansas last season and the game marked the seventh multiple sack game of his career, including three times this season. His 4.5 sacks were a Big 12 Championship Game record.
? Suh increased his season totals to 82 total tackles, 12 sacks and 22 TFL. Suh’s 12 sacks this season are tied for third all-time on the NU single-season list and are the most by a Nebraska player since Trev Alberts set the school record with 15 sacks in 1993. Suh’s 22 TFL this season are tied for second on the season list, matching Corey McKeon (2005) and bettering his own total of 19 last season.
? Suh increased his career sack total to 24 sacks moving him into a tie for fourth place on the Nebraska career sacks list, passing Adam Carriker (20.5) and Broderick Thomas (22.5) and matching Danny Noonan (24). Suh is now two sacks behind Jim Skow (26).
? Suh increased his career tackle for loss total to 55 with his career-high six TFL tonight. He passed Barrett Ruud (50) in tonight’s game and trails only two-time All-American Grant Wistrom (58.5) on the career list.
? Junior defensive back Eric Hagg picked off a first-quarter pass, the first interception of his Nebraska career. The pick resulted in a field goal to give Nebraska a 3-0 lead. Junior cornerback Prince Amukamara intercepted a pass in the first quarter for his fifth interception of the season, tying Matt O’Hanlon for the team lead. The five picks are the most by a Husker since Daniel Bullocks’ five picks in 2004.
? Junior defensive back Dejon Gomes added his fourth interception of the season late in the fourth quarter, helping Nebraska increase its season interception total to 19, the most interceptions by Nebraska since a school-record 32 interceptions in 2003. Nebraska intercepted two of McCoy’s first six passes. McCoy had one INT in his previous 178 pass attempts entering the game.
? Nebraska junior punter/place-kicker Alex Henery tied theBig 12 Championship Game record with four field goals. He connected on a 45-yard field goal in the first quarter to give NU a 3-0 lead, then added a 52-yarder late in the first quarter and a 28-yarder in the fourth quarter. His last kick came on a 42-yarder with 1:44 to play in the game.
? The 52-yarder was the second longest of Henery’s career, behind only his school-record 57-yarder against Colorado last season. The 52-yarder was also the longest field goal in the 14-year history of the Big 12 Championship Game.
? Henery improved to 20-of-24 on field goals this season and 46-of-54 in his career. His 46 field goals are second in school history behind only Kris Brown’s school-record 57 field goals. He passed Josh Brown (43) for second in tonight’s game.
? Henery’s 20 field goals this season set a new Nebraska season record, breaking the old mark of 19 by Jordan Congdon in 2006. Henery is also tied for third on that list with his 18 field goals last season.
? Henery averaged 37.1 yards on eight punts, and downed two punts inside the UT 20, including punts at the 1 and 7 yard lines. Henery has a Big 12-best 28 punts downed inside the 20 this season, including 17 inside the 10.
? Freshman linebacker Eric Martin blocked a second-quarter Texas punt for his second blocked punt of the season. Nebraska has six overall blocked kicks this season, its second straight season with six blocked kicks.
? Senior defensive end Barry Turner had 3.5 sacks in tonight’s game give him 18 career sacks, placing him eighth on the Nebraska career sacks list.
? Nebraska’s nine sacks were a season high (NU had seven at Baylor) and the 52 yards in losses on sacks are a season-high. The previous most sacks allowed by Texas was four by Oklahoma in a 16-13 win.
? Nebraska committed three turnovers in tonight’s game, however Texas did not turn those turnovers into any points. Nebraska’s 23 turnovers this season have resulted in just 23 opponent points, with 14 of those points coming directly on opponent defensive touchdowns.
? The Nebraska defense has allowed 17 or fewer points in 11 of 13 games this season. Nebraska entered the game third nationally in scoring defense.
? Nebraska allowed 202 yards in tonight’s game, bettering its season low of 222 yards allowed against Louisiana-Lafayette. Texas’ season low entering tonight’s game was 269 yards against Oklahoma. Nebraska has held 12 of 13 opponents this season below their season total offensive average.
? Nebraska’s 106 total offensive yards were a season low and the lowest by Nebraska in the past 25 years (previous low was 135 yards in the 1989 Orange Bowl against Miami). The 10th-fewest total yards are 76, most recently in 1959.
? Tonight’s game captains were senior center Jacob Hickman, senior defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, senior safety Mat O’Hanlon and junior kicker Alex Henery.