Mark Dowse Season 1991

1991 (Senior)
Mark Dowse played in eight games as an alternate at split end for Huskers. He caught one pass for 13 yards. He helped Nebraska earn a share of the Big Eight title and a trip to the 1992 Federal Express Orange Bowl. He also assisted in Nebraska claiming its third NCAA rushing title in a four-year span, as the Huskers averaged 353.2 yards per game in 1991. The Big Red also ranked third nationally in both scoring (41.3 ppg) and total offense (506.5 ypg).

A three-year letterman, Dowse played in 29 career regular-season games at split end. He caught three passes for 30 yards and one touchdown in his career. He also had four carries for 54 yards and two more touchdowns.

1990 (Junior)
Dowse played in all 11 games as an alternate split end alongside Dan Pleasant behind starter Jon Bostick. Dowse recorded one reception for eight yards against Oregon State. He helped the Huskers rank second nationally in rushing offense (340.0 ypg) and sixth in scoring (37.5 ppg).

1989 (Sophomore)
Dowse earned his first varsity letter by moving up the depth chart to play in 10 of NU’s 11 regular-season games as a sophomore. He missed only the Colorado game, but returned to play against Florida State in the 1990 Sunkist Fiesta Bowl when he caught a 41-yard pass from Mike Stigge on a fake punt on Nebraska’s first possession. Dowse took the ball to the FSU 11 to set up a touchdown to give NU a 7-0 lead. During the regular season, Dowse rushed for 54 yards and two touchdowns on eight carries. He also caught a nine-yard touchdown pass. Dowse scored three touchdowns on his first four touches as a collegian. The Big Red won the NCAA rushing title by averaging 375.3 yards per game, while ranking second nationally in scoring (44.7 ppg) and third in total offense (513.3 ypg).

1988 (Redshirt)
Dowse redshirted in his second season as a Husker, while Nebraska won the Big Eight Conference title.

1987 (Freshman)
A walk-on to the Husker program, Dowse saw limited action as a reserve split end for Coach Shane Thorell’s Husker junior varsity team. Dowse registered one carry for 13 yards but had no receptions.

Broken Bow High School
Dowse played quarterback, wingback and I-back for coaches Dan McLaughlin and Nick Dean at Broken Bow. Dowse earned honorable-mention all-state recognition as a senior in 1986 when he was also an all-conference selection. He averaged 9.7 yards per carry on the season. Dowse also competed in the Western Nebraska All-Star Game. An all-conference basketball player, Dowse was a three-time state qualifier in track who set Broken Bow’s triple jump school record. He was the school’s athlete of the year across all sports in 1985-86.

Personal
The son of Kelvin and Sharon Dowse, Mark was born on Halloween 1968. He has an older brother and an older sister. He was a natural resources major at Nebraska. He was also an Eagle Scout with Silver Palm.