LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) - Although it wasn't a performance for
the ages, it was vintage Nebraska football.
"We just ran the ball. Old traditional Nebraska football
- run it down their throat," quarterback Tommie Frazier
said after scoring twice and throwing for a touchdown in
the top-ranked Cornhuskers' 42-16 victory over outmanned
Texas Tech Thursday night.
Lawrence Phillips ran for 175 of Nebraska's 524 yards and
scored two TDs in the third period as the Cornhuskers pulled
away after Tech (1-1) cut it to 14-9 soon after halftime.
"We played good football but we didn't play inspired football,"
Nebraska coach Tom Osborne said. "I think the layoff took
a little edge off. ... Probably we weren't as sharp as we
should have been."
Nebraska (2-0) hadn't played since routing West Virginia
31-0 in the Kickoff Classic on Aug. 27.
"I don't know if I've ever seen a team that stronger and better
prepared," Texas Tech coach Spike Dykes said. "It was really disheartening
to be in there for a while and then lose it."
It was defense that kept Texas Tech within reach of Nebraska until midway
through the third quarter. The unit, led by linebacker Zach Thomas, sacked
Frazier once and had four tackles for losses.
"We played good at times and then the next quarter you don't know what
happens," Thomas said. "I think we lost our poise a little bit and didn't
play like we can for 60 minutes."
Frazier, who ran for 84 yards and threw for 88, gave Nebraska a 7-0 lead
just 2:01 into the game when he sprinted 58 yards down the right sideline,
then made it 14-0 by going the last three yards of a 98-yard drive early in
the second quarter.
Tech's first pass completion of the game, with 12:22 left in the half,
was a big one, a 43-yarder from Tony Darden to split end Field Scovell that
set up a 49-yard field goal by Jon Davis.
The Red Raiders made it 14-9 early in the third quarter
on Zebbie Lethridge's six-yard pass to tight end Scott Aylor.
A 2-point conversion attempt failed when Lethridge fumbled.
Then Phillips took over.
He vaulted two yards to make it 21-9, then sprinted 56 yards
to give the Cornhuskers a safe 28-9 lead.
Frazier hit Eric Alford with a 35-yard TD pass to give the
Cornhuskers a 35-9 lead with 10:56 left in the game.
Tech nearly gave away a touchdown in the fourth period when
Darden ran 11 yards to the 2, only to fumble. A Nebraska
defender jumped at the ball, but missed it and Tech tackle
Ben Kaufman recovered in the end zone with 6:24 to go.
Childs capped Nebraska's second-half barrage by taking a
right-side pitch and blasting through the defense for an
untouched, 30-yard gallop.
The Cornhuskers will meet 13th-ranked UCLA at Lincoln, Neb.,
one week from Saturday.
Nebraska 42, T-Tech 16
Nebraska 7 7 14 14 - 42
Texas Tech 0 3 6 7 - 16
Neb - Frazier 58 run (Sieler kick)
Neb - Frazier 3 run (Sieler kick)
TT - FG Davis 49
TT - Aylor 6 pass from Lethridge (conversion failed)
Neb - Phillips 2 run (Sieler kick)
Neb - Phillips 56 run (Sieler kick)
Neb - Alford 35 pass from Frazier (Sieler kick)
TT - Kaufman fumble recovery in end zone (Davis kick)
Neb - Childs 30 run (Sieler kick)
A - 32,768.
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING - Nebraska, Phillips 19-175, Schlesinger 6-84, Frazier 13-84,
Childs 10-59, Benning 7-45, Schuster 2-37, Makovicka 5-25, Barringer 1-15.
Texas Tech, Lethridge 6-62, Crain 15-46, Hanspard 12-27, Darden 7-4, Hobbs
1-7, Walker 1-1.
PASSING - Nebraska, Frazier 5-15-0-88, Berringer 0-2-1-0. Texas Tech,
Darden 3-10-0-64, Lethridge 5-14-1-46, Cavazos 3-5-0-40.
RECEIVING - Nebraska, Phillips 3-39, Alford 1-35, Baul 1-14. Texas Tech,
Scovell 4-74, Mitchell 3-24, DuBuc 2-31, Lavender 1-15, Aylor 1-6.
