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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 13, 1999)
Bears Sophomore QB, defense propel Huskers to 45-0 pasting of California By Samuel McKewon Senior staff writer If someone would have told Nebraska quarter back Bobby Newcombe that his team’s leading rusher would have exactly 29 yards by the end of its 45-0 dis mantling of California... “I would have said you were full of it,” Newcombe said. ' But the scant 114 total rushing yards mattered lit tle as Newcombe’s quarterback partner, Eric Crouch, bad enough fireworks for one quarter to propel No. 5 Nebraska to an easy win - a win that defied football logic - in front the largest crowd to ever watch a game at Memorial Stadium. . In an 11-minute, 37-second span in the second quarter, Crouch electrified the 77,617 fans in red with a rushing, passing and receiving touchdown, turning a 7-0 Husker lead into a 28-0 cushion by half-time, thus demoralizing a Cal team that controlled much of he first quarter. Crouch’s final touchdown of the quarter, a 60 yrard,Mjaifrn:eak” pas^ from Newcombe, put a record stamp on thesophomore’s performance and made bim the first player since Johnny kodgers in 1973 to score in three different ways offensively. “I didn't expect for this to happen,” said Crouch, who had a hand in 183 of NU’s 208 first-half yards. ‘'But anytime I can get on die field and make a play or take advantage of every opportunity I’m given, I’ve Please see CROUCH on 13 Lane Hickenbottom/DN ABOVE: NEBRASKA FREE SAFETY CUnt Finley tackles Cal running back LaShaun Ward during Saturday* game at Msawrial Stadium. The Blackshirts continued dominat ing their opponents, not allowing an offensive scere for Ulv 9vimHIO WualJflH Wwwri Mike Warren/DN FM LEFT: NEBRASKA QUARTERBACK Erie Crouch runs through the arm tackle of Cal outside linebacker, Sekou Sanylka, for a S-yard gain off left tackle. Crouch was gang tackled by three Cal defenders ts bring him down. Mike Warren/DN FRESHMAN LEFT rash end Chris Kslsay drags down Cal fullback Saleem Muhammad after a 5-yard run in the third quarter. j Missed opportunities doom Cal I By Darren Ivy Senior staff writer One more block on a Nebraska linebacker or one less blown cover age in the secondary and California Coach Tom Holmoe thought Saturday’s 45-0 loss to Nebraska could have been a much different ball game. Eliminating little mistakes - two missed field goals, three turnovers, 14 penalties and several other mental and physical breakdowns - were what Holmoe stressed to his team after the loss. “It’s amazing how little things make all die difference in die world,” Holmoe said. “The little things add up very quickly against Nebraska. When you come in here, you have to play flawless. We didn’t.” One example of a little thing becoming a big thing was a screen Scoring summary 7» «7 Ts? ' California 0 0 0 0 0 Team Cttr. Scoring piny Plays-yards Score NU Cal NU 2 E. Crouch 1ydrun (J. Brown Kick) 9-80 14 0 NU 2 £ CrQueh OO yd pass from B. Newcombe (J.Btown kick) 1 - 60 28 0 NU 3 £ Crouch 4 yd tun (J. Brown kick) 1-4 38 0 If imn II i trmr/nXT pass to running back Joe Igber on Cal’s second series, Holmoe said. Igber looked liked he had a wide open path to the end zone and then all of i sudden, NU middle linebacker Carlos Polk came out of nowhere to make a touchdown-saving tackle. “One of our linemen was sup posed to cut block Polk, but he thought (the play) was over,” Holmoe said. “You just can’t take anything for MUUi junnsi/i/iT •¥■ granted against a team like this. If he would have done what he was ^assigned to do, it would have been a touchdown.” That play, along with a missed 35 yard field goal by Ignacio Brache on the next play, took some wind out of the Bears, Holmoe said. “I think we should have had a I Please see CAL on 13