THE LINCOLN JOURNAL STAR | Posted: Saturday, September 16, 2006 7:00 pm
Because of a bold prediction earlier in the week, Nebraska junior cornerback Andre Jones was under a microscope Saturday night. It wasn’t always comfortable for him.
Dwayne Jarrett beat Jones on a slant route for Southern California’s first touchdown. Steve Smith had beaten Jones for a 20-yard gain on the second play of that TD march.
On the Trojans’ second scoring drive, Jones was flagged for a facemask penalty.
Jones on Tuesday had proclaimed, “When we beat USC, it’s going to slingshot our whole season.”
Jarrett finished with 11 receptions for 136 yards and two touchdowns, but many of his receptions came when he was matched against 5-foot-9 Cortney Grixby.
Jones, meanwhile, had five solo tackles and two assists. He also broke up one pass.
NO TWO-MINUTE DRILL: Nebraska had 2 minutes, 41 seconds remaining before halftime, after USC had just scored a touchdown for a 14-3 lead. The Trojans had the momentum, and the Huskers hadn’t shown an ability to move the football.
The result? Bill Callahan chose to run the football and run out the clock. Why go into a shell?
“We didn’t go into a shell,” said Callahan, who seemed perturbed at the question. “We did what we wanted to do in order to win the game and what was best for our football team.”
Nebraska had consecutive runs of 5, 2, 4 and 4 yards to close the first half. Zac Taylor, meanwhile, didn’t have a chance to operate the two-minute drill that in NU’s previous two games resulted in touchdowns in the final seconds of the first half.
“Oh, sure, I’d love that opportunity,” Taylor said. “But they were dropping eight men in coverage, so it would’ve been tough. Sometimes it’s a smart thing to run the clock, get into halftime and figure out what to do.”
WILSON LEADING THE PACK: Junior college transfer Kenny Wilson was this week’s leader of the I-back committee. Wilson led Nebraska with 19 carries for 46 yards.
“He’s going to be a good player for us,” Callahan said. “I love Kenny Wilson. He’s the type of back that I like. Not to take anything away from those other backs, but he certainly has an added dimension on the perimeter.”
Speaking of the other backs, sophomore starter Marlon Lucky, who missed a couple of series because of an injury to his elbow (but was cleared to return and did), finished with 10 carries for 27 yards. Brandon Jackson carried twice but had four receptions, including a 22-yard catch on a shovel pass. Cody Glenn did not have a rushing attempt, but Callahan said he played.
BIG CROWD: Saturday night’s attendance (92,000) marked the second-largest crowd to see Nebraska play a regular-season game, trailing only the 110,753 at Penn State in 2002.
“The Coliseum was just beautiful tonight, just a real special place tonight,” Southern California coach Pete Carroll said. “It was a good game to win.”
HERIAN TIES LIST: Herian made the 61st reception of his Nebraska career, tying Jerry List for the school record for tight ends. A senior from Pierce, Herian pushed his career receiving yardage total to 1,228, tops among Husker tight ends and third on NU’s career yardage list for all receivers.
BIG INJURY: USC fullback Ryan Powdrell suffered a dislocated ankle on the first series and was carted off the field, waving to the crowd as he departed.
RANKED ONCE AGAIN: Saturday’s game was the second time in the three-game series where both teams were ranked. In 1970, when NU and the Trojans played to a 21-21 tie, Nebraska was ranked ninth and Southern Cal third. The two teams also played in 1969, when USC won 31-21 in Lincoln.
NUNN STREAK INTACT: Husker junior wideout Terrence Nunn, who had two receptions for 32 yards, has now caught at least one pass in 16 consecutive games dating to his freshman season. He also moved to seventh on the school’s career-receptions chart with 69.
TAYLOR MOVES UP: Nebraska quarterback Zac Taylor, a senior in his second season as starter, pushed his career passing yards total to 3,257 and moved up to sixth place on the school’s career passing chart. Taylor passed Vince Ferragamo, who had 3,224 passing yards (1975-76). Taylor now trails Turner Gill’s 3,317 yards from 1980-83 for fifth place.
ETC.: Nebraska lost for just the third time in its past 11 games against Pac-10 competition. … NU’s other recent losses to Pac-10 foes came to Arizona State in 1996 and to Arizona in the 1998 Holiday Bowl. … The Huskers fell to 2-5-1 all-time in games played in the Los Angeles area, and 0-1-1 against USC at the Coliseum.