Game 5: Texas Tech 34 Nebraska 31
Yes, Nebraska should have won the game. Yes, LeKevin Smith should have fell on the ball after his interception. Yes this team is still a bit frustrating. But, after Saturday’s game, how can you not feel upbeat? Nebraska lost to a better team, that can’t be argued. But I think Husker Nation can hang their heads high after a loss because the gap that everyone expected between Nebraska and Texas Tech was a lot smaller than it was thought to be at the beginning of the season.
After going down 21-0, even the most optimistic of Husker fans (myself included), could not have dreampt that we would make a game of it. Under 10 mins left in the 2ndQ and Nebraska puts together a 13 play drive to scratch the scorecard. Then D forces a 3-’n-Out and Nebraska uses a 6 play drive to pull within a TD. Down 21-14 at half. It’s a ballgame folks. The key of the game for the Huskers was our first two posessions and TTech’s first two possessions in the 2nd half. First of all, two INT’s to start the half is REAL bad. Especially when you get the kickoff, they need to put some sort of points on the board to carry the momentum that they had built up in the 1st half over to the 2nd half. But here’s the key, to hold TTech to only field goals after two INT’s deep in our territory...absolutely outstanding. The defensive adjustments in the 2nd half were supurb. Right before the snap Nebraska would sometimes collapse on the line of scrimmage with 3 linebackers, showing a blitz. At the snap of the ball they would either back off that blitz or bring the heat but I think that moment of “oh crap here they come” threw Hodges off the 2nd half of the game and let us get back into the game. Nebraska finally takes the lead in the 4th Q and then preceeds to get the ball back. Here’
s were things started to go sour for Nebraska. Leading by one, 3rd and 5 from the TTech 6 and it’s a hand off to Ross. Why not a corner route that worked twice in the game already? Why not a screen pass to Ross in the flat? Why not a bootleg for Taylor to run to the pylon? One of the few poor calls I saw on the day from the staff. Nebraska settles for the FG and then TTech starts their march down the field. Of course we all know what happens next. Don’t blame LeKevin folks. It’s not his fault that we lost the game. Two turnovers early in the 2nd half and not going for the kill on the field goal drive, and getting behind 21-0 early is what lost us the game. He just wants to run with the ball like he’s supposed to and in the excitement of the game most college players will do that. And don’t blame Cosgrove for the defence call on the last play. Hodges made a good throw and Filani made a good catch. They’re the better team, they made more plays than we did.
So now it’s off to Baylor at 4-1. At the beginning of the season many people were predicting 3-2 or 2-3 so I think going to Baylor 4-1 is outstanding. Now Baylor will be no easy win, I think Nebraska get’s it done but it’s going to be tougher than a lot of people think. At this point in the season is there a sure win out there for the Huskers? Is there a sure loss? Nebraska could very easily run the table until their post-Turkey Day matchup with the Buffs. You like our chances in the last two home games because of the unbelieveable crowd support this year and OU and KSU are very down. Baylor is no sinch, Mizzou is no sinch, KU is no sinch and the CU game will probably decide the north division. Let’s see how Nebraska does on the road before we get ahead of ourselves.
The Comments
Mr. Wilson October 10, 2005 at 1:29pm
Good round-up, DMB.
Saturday’s game converted a lot of fence-sitters in Husker Nation. We may still end up 8-4 or 9-3, but it’s possible—just barely possible, but possible nonetheless—that we could wrap up the season 12-1 or 11-2. I don’t think any of us actually thought that kind of record would be possible this year. The Huskers still have to watch out for several teams on their schedule, and they have to avoid the mid-season slack that teams on a roll can fall prey to. But if they keep improving every week, well, they’ll be capable of some impressive feats.