Huskers take Ames
AMES, Iowa — Simplicity was oh, so sweet for Nebraska.
Sticking to basic run plays much of the time, and getting a strong defensive effort, 22nd-ranked Nebraska hammered out a crucial Big 12 North triumph Saturday night, beating Iowa State 28-14 before 55,338 fans, the second-largest crowd ever to see a football game at Jack Trice Stadium.
One week after allowing 574 yards to Kansas — the most Nebraska’s defense ever surrendered in victory — the Huskers responded by holding gifted Iowa State quarterback Bret Meyer in check for most of the night. Meyer was 18-for-39 passing for 262 yards and a touchdown, with one interception, and the Cyclones finished with 315 yards to the Huskers’ 382.
Meanwhile, Nebraska pounded away with its ground game against an Iowa State defense that ranked 95th nationally entering the night, as I-backs Cody Glenn and Brandon Jackson enjoyed career nights.
Glenn led the way with 19 carries for 148 yards and two touchdowns, while Jackson churned out 116 yards and a TD on 22 attempts. The Huskers wound up with 251 yards on the ground, 131 through the air.
“When you play on the road, you have to run the football and play good defense,” said Nebraska coach Bill Callahan, who praised his team’s overall effort.
“Road wins are hard to come by,” he said. “Our kids played awfully hard — the hardest they’ve played this season.”
The 6-foot, 230-pound Glenn high-stepped over tacklers on the way to the end zone with 1:33 left in the game, capping Nebraska’s scoring. The run put an exclamation point on a nine-play, 78-yard scoring drive in which Glenn carried the bulk of the load.
Nebraska improved to 5-1 overall and stands 2-0 in the Big 12 Conference for the first time since 2001.
“It’s huge,” Husker linebacker Corey McKeon said of NU’s eighth win in nine games dating to last season. “Especially beating Iowa State, a contender for the Big 12 North. We came out and showed how we could play against big-time contenders like that.”
Meyer hooked up with wideout Todd Blythe on a 13-yard touchdown pass with six seconds remaining, but the Cyclones experienced mostly frustration in dropping to 3-3 and 0-2.
Getting pressure on Meyer was key, McKeon said.
“He was running around like a chicken with his head cut off,” McKeon said.
Although Nebraska leaned heavily on its ground game, it was a pass near the end of the first half that proved to be the most significant play of the night.
Taking possession with 1:25 left before the break, the Huskers churned out a seven-play, 60-yard touchdown drive, capped by wide receiver Maurice Purify’s 27-yard scoring reception that pushed the Huskers’ lead to 21-7 with three seconds on the clock.
Taylor held firm in the pocket despite pressure from rushers before lofting the strike to the 6-4 Purify in the end zone over the head of 5-10 cornerback Chris Singleton.
“It was a great play, great execution,” said Callahan, noting Taylor caught Iowa State in a blitz.
Nebraska had established control. The Huskers at halftime had telling advantages in first downs (11-4), total yards (205-91) and possession time (18:58-11:02). NU’s front four on defense was particularly strong and continued that strong play in the second half.
Callahan said he challenged the defensive linemen this week, and they responded.
Neither team scored in the third quarter. Nebraska was stymied in large part by bad field position, with drives starting at its 3-, 7-, 21- and 12-yard lines. Iowa State hurt itself with penalties and Meyer’s interception near the end of the period. Husker cornerback Cortney Grixby hauled in Meyer’s deep pass along the left sideline.
Nebraska played conservatively on offense for much of the second half, what with its lead, its poor field position much of the time, plus the fact the Husker defense was enjoying such a strong night.
“The first thing we said at halftime was, ‘We have to put four quarters together,’” McKeon said. “Last week, we only played a half, and then kind of quit a little bit and let Kansas get at us.”
Jackson came up big as Nebraska went up 14-7 midway through the second quarter. He had carries of 21 and 11 yards and capped an 11-play, 68-yard drive with a 1-yard run.
Glenn was key on Nebraska’s first possession of the game, a 10-play, 80-yard march. He rumbled 36 yards on third-and-1 from the Iowa State 45-yard line. He later reeled off a 7-yard run on third-and-4 and eventually capped the drive with a 3-yard run.
Iowa State answered with Meyer’s 1-yard sneak two plays into the second quarter, capping an 11-play, 43-yard drive. The key was Meyer’s 23-yard completion to wideout Austin Flynn on third-and-19.
Sticking to basic run plays much of the time, and getting a strong defensive effort, 22nd-ranked Nebraska hammered out a crucial Big 12 North triumph Saturday night, beating Iowa State 28-14 before 55,338 fans, the second-largest crowd ever to see a football game at Jack Trice Stadium.
One week after allowing 574 yards to Kansas — the most Nebraska’s defense ever surrendered in victory — the Huskers responded by holding gifted Iowa State quarterback Bret Meyer in check for most of the night. Meyer was 18-for-39 passing for 262 yards and a touchdown, with one interception, and the Cyclones finished with 315 yards to the Huskers’ 382.
Meanwhile, Nebraska pounded away with its ground game against an Iowa State defense that ranked 95th nationally entering the night, as I-backs Cody Glenn and Brandon Jackson enjoyed career nights.
Glenn led the way with 19 carries for 148 yards and two touchdowns, while Jackson churned out 116 yards and a TD on 22 attempts. The Huskers wound up with 251 yards on the ground, 131 through the air.
“When you play on the road, you have to run the football and play good defense,” said Nebraska coach Bill Callahan, who praised his team’s overall effort.
“Road wins are hard to come by,” he said. “Our kids played awfully hard — the hardest they’ve played this season.”
The 6-foot, 230-pound Glenn high-stepped over tacklers on the way to the end zone with 1:33 left in the game, capping Nebraska’s scoring. The run put an exclamation point on a nine-play, 78-yard scoring drive in which Glenn carried the bulk of the load.
Nebraska improved to 5-1 overall and stands 2-0 in the Big 12 Conference for the first time since 2001.
“It’s huge,” Husker linebacker Corey McKeon said of NU’s eighth win in nine games dating to last season. “Especially beating Iowa State, a contender for the Big 12 North. We came out and showed how we could play against big-time contenders like that.”
Meyer hooked up with wideout Todd Blythe on a 13-yard touchdown pass with six seconds remaining, but the Cyclones experienced mostly frustration in dropping to 3-3 and 0-2.
Getting pressure on Meyer was key, McKeon said.
“He was running around like a chicken with his head cut off,” McKeon said.
Although Nebraska leaned heavily on its ground game, it was a pass near the end of the first half that proved to be the most significant play of the night.
Taking possession with 1:25 left before the break, the Huskers churned out a seven-play, 60-yard touchdown drive, capped by wide receiver Maurice Purify’s 27-yard scoring reception that pushed the Huskers’ lead to 21-7 with three seconds on the clock.
Taylor held firm in the pocket despite pressure from rushers before lofting the strike to the 6-4 Purify in the end zone over the head of 5-10 cornerback Chris Singleton.
“It was a great play, great execution,” said Callahan, noting Taylor caught Iowa State in a blitz.
Nebraska had established control. The Huskers at halftime had telling advantages in first downs (11-4), total yards (205-91) and possession time (18:58-11:02). NU’s front four on defense was particularly strong and continued that strong play in the second half.
Callahan said he challenged the defensive linemen this week, and they responded.
Neither team scored in the third quarter. Nebraska was stymied in large part by bad field position, with drives starting at its 3-, 7-, 21- and 12-yard lines. Iowa State hurt itself with penalties and Meyer’s interception near the end of the period. Husker cornerback Cortney Grixby hauled in Meyer’s deep pass along the left sideline.
Nebraska played conservatively on offense for much of the second half, what with its lead, its poor field position much of the time, plus the fact the Husker defense was enjoying such a strong night.
“The first thing we said at halftime was, ‘We have to put four quarters together,’” McKeon said. “Last week, we only played a half, and then kind of quit a little bit and let Kansas get at us.”
Jackson came up big as Nebraska went up 14-7 midway through the second quarter. He had carries of 21 and 11 yards and capped an 11-play, 68-yard drive with a 1-yard run.
Glenn was key on Nebraska’s first possession of the game, a 10-play, 80-yard march. He rumbled 36 yards on third-and-1 from the Iowa State 45-yard line. He later reeled off a 7-yard run on third-and-4 and eventually capped the drive with a 3-yard run.
Iowa State answered with Meyer’s 1-yard sneak two plays into the second quarter, capping an 11-play, 43-yard drive. The key was Meyer’s 23-yard completion to wideout Austin Flynn on third-and-19.
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