STEVEN M. SIPPLE / Lincoln Journal Star | Posted: Friday, September 2, 2005 7:00 pm
Nebraska was picked by many to dominate Saturday’s game. Most figured the Huskers would enjoy a significant edge in overall talent. Just ask Travis Hill, the former Husker outside linebacker and one of the Nebraska football Hall of Fame inductees this weekend. He was unimpressed as he watched Division I-AA Maine warm up.
“Look how little they are,” Hill said.
Maine, though, maneuvered into position for a gigantic upset early in the fourth quarter, pulling within eight points of the Huskers.
Perhaps it was appropriate that, on Nebraska’s Hall of Fame weekend, a legendary name in Husker history came to the rescue. Weakside linebacker Bo Ruud’s 27-yard interception return for a touchdown with 10 minutes left in the game restored order, pushing Nebraska’s lead to 15 points, and the Huskers added a late field goal for a hard-fought 25-7 decision before 77,469 spectators at Memorial Stadium in the opener for both teams.
Ruud’s crucial interception also was appropriate in that Nebraska’s defense was largely responsible for enabling the Huskers to avoid their first-ever loss to a Division I-AA opponent.
The Huskers recorded a school-record 11 sacks — two apiece by Adam Carriker, Le Kevin Smith and Stewart Bradley — and the Blackshirts constantly kept Maine’s two quarterbacks on the run.
Maine, which finished last season with a 5-6 record, managed only 6 rushing yards, in part because Nebraska’s sacks resulted in 69 yards in losses.
“We knew it’d be a tough game,” Husker coach Bill Callahan said. “We can’t say enough good things about our defense. Our front four dominated, which it should — because it’s the strength of our ballclub.”
Nebraska’s offense wasn’t as strong, which is typically the case early in the season. The Huskers lost three fumbles, and quarterback Zac Taylor threw two interceptions in his debut as a starter in Division I-A. The junior college transfer was 15-for-36 passing for 192 yards.
Two of Nebraska’s turnovers occurred inside Maine’s 5-yard line, and the Huskers also dropped two passes inside the 5.
The Huskers rushed 42 times for 121 yards, an average of only 2.9 yards per carry.
“We had some good runs, but we weren’t consistent enough overall,” Callahan said.
Said Maine coach Jack Cosgrove: “I have to tell you the truth, I felt like we had a chance to win the game. We just didn’t make it work.”
Nebraska benefited greatly from 198 yards in kickoff and punt returns. Terrence Nunn led the way with 135 yards on four punt returns, a welcome change for NU compared with last season’s average of 5.8 yards per punt return.
Nebraska stumbled offensively most of the night. The game was scoreless after the first quarter. In the second quarter, I-back Cory Ross lost a fumble on first-and-goal from the 5. Late in the half, Taylor threw an interception on third-and-goal from the 1.
If not for wideout Frantz Hardy and Nunn, Nebraska fans would’ve had little to cheer about on offense during the first 30 minutes.
Hardy slipped behind Maine’s secondary for a 73-yard reception that set up Jordan Congdon’s 23-yard field field goal with 5:21 left in the second quarter. At last, Nebraska fans could release the balloons signifying the Huskers’ first score of the season.
Nunn set up Nebraska’s next score with a 62-yard punt return (the Huskers’ longest punt return last season was 36 yards). Nunn fumbled the ball through the end zone, but instant replay officials ruled his knee was down at the 1 before the ball popped loose.
Ross plunged into the end zone, and Nebraska led 9-0.
Nunn later reeled off a 45-yard punt return. Nebraska drove to the 1, but Taylor, rolling to his right, was picked off by Daren Stone.
Hardy, in his Nebraska debut, had seven receptions for 152 yards.