Huskers Struggle With Jackrabbits

[Mike]

Martinez struggles in Neb's 17-3 win over Jacks
By ERIC OLSON (AP) – 57 minutes ago

LINCOLN, Neb. — Judging by the way it struggled in a 17-3 win over South Dakota State, No. 6 Nebraska might have celebrated that win at Washington a bit too much.

Rex Burkhead and Kyler Reed scored on consecutive series in the first half, but the Cornhuskers otherwise turned in an uninspired performance Saturday night against an FCS opponent getting a rare chance to play on the big stage of Memorial Stadium.

"This is the same football team that went out to Washington last week and played pretty good," Nebraska coach Bo Pelini said. "But you have to have consistency. For us to show up like that at home today, I'm embarrassed.

"I thought they outplayed us, they outhit us, they flew around with more passion than we did."

The Huskers (4-0) are off to their best start since 2005, but backups who figured to get lots of playing time against the Jackrabbits (0-3) watched while most of Nebraska's starters went the distance.

Taylor Martinez, a star-in-the-making after three straight 100-yard rushing games, played like the young quarterback he is. He fumbled his first snap, threw two interceptions, was wildly off the mark with other passes and was flagged for taunting. He finished with 75 yards on 13 carries but was just 6-of-14 passing for 140 yards.

"Sometimes I tried too hard to try to make the offense make a play," Martinez said. "I tried my best. Obviously, it didn't work out very well."

Kyle Minett was involved in more than half the Jackrabbits' plays, gashing the Huskers for 113 yards on 28 carries and catching five passes.

"I've never in my career — high school, middle school, football, basketball, anything — not went into a game thinking we had the opportunity to win," Minett said. "I approached this game the same way. I was pleased we were moving the ball and playing up to our potential. We just didn't catch any breaks."

The Jackrabbits never appeared scared in front of the crowd of 85,000 that was the largest their program had ever played before.

They were within striking distance deep into the fourth quarter. Derek Domino ran back Martinez's second interception 66 yards to the end zone, but Andy Mink was called for an illegal block and the return that could have pulled them within a touchdown was nullified.

"Hats off to them because they came in wanting to win, thinking they were going to win," Nebraska offensive lineman Jeremiah Sirles said. "Nebraska has a great standard. That's not what we showed. We think we're a pretty good team. I guess it's gut check time now."

Martinez, who was replaced by Cody Green after Domino's pick, wasn't the only one to struggle.

Punt returner Niles Paul fumbled for the fourth time in four games, lucking out when teammate Austin Cassidy recovered. And the Huskers drew flags for an illegal shift and a hold on Sirles on consecutive plays during their last possession of the first half, killing any chance of scoring.

Martinez's struggles were the biggest surprise. He did run his season rushing total to 496 yards, the most by a Nebraska freshman quarterback.

"He made bad decisions, and he didn't execute the offense the way he has been. Why? I don't know," Pelini said. "He's a young guy, and he didn't respond very well. But it goes well beyond the quarterback position."

Nebraska broke a scoreless tie early in the second quarter with Burkhead running in from 3 yards after Mike McNeill turned a short pass from Martinez into a 64-yard gain. McNeill injured his lower left leg later in the half and was on the sideline in street clothes after halftime. Pelini said the injury wasn't serious.

Martinez put the Huskers up 14-0 when the Jackrabbits' secondary lost track of Reed, who was standing alone at the 5-yard line when his pass arrived.

Nebraska got a huge performance from linebacker Lavonte David, who was credited with 19 tackles and two pass breakups.

"Nobody took them lightly," David said. "We had a great week of practice, but sometimes they came out in some formations we never saw before and caught us off-guard."

SDSU's only points came on Kyle Harris' 35-yard field goal in the third quarter.

"I'm tremendously proud of their attitude and that they don't settle for playing close ball games, moral victories" Jackrabbits coach John Stiegelmeier said. "Wherever we go, we go there trying to win the football game."

 

[Justin]

i think that was a case of one team that had nothing to lose, the other thought they could take the day off. one should never under estimate an opponent.

 

[Justin]

i think that was a case of one team that had nothing to lose, the other thought they could take the day off. one should never under estimate an opponent.

 

[Sandhusker]

The boy and I went to that game. It seemed like the Huskers were running in sand. They were definitely looking ahead and SDSU came to play ball. The Jacks had a int-TD called back for an illegal block and I thought they got in during the first quarter. There was no energy in the crowd except for the people in blue, just a really wierd game.

I think the Jacks picked up a lot of new fans in Nebraska.

 

[Mike]

The boy and I went to that game. It seemed like the Huskers were running in sand. They were definitely looking ahead and SDSU came to play ball. The Jacks had a int-TD called back for an illegal block and I thought they got in during the first quarter. There was no energy in the crowd except for the people in blue, just a really wierd game.

Those things happen with unexplained reasons sometimes.........

Ya'll playing another patsy this coming week? :lol:

 

[Justin]

i bet Nebraska vs. the Vikings would be a good game. SDSU vs. the Vikings might not be bad either.

 

[JF Ranch]

My wife and I were driving back home from our son's football game at Mayville, ND. His team from Blach Hills State at Spearfish, SD, won 48-15 but that's another story.

Coming down I-29 we quickly picked up the Husker/SDSU game and listened as the Jackrabbits gave them all they could handle.

As we approached Brookings, SD (home of the Jacks) it was the beginning of the fourth quarter. We needed gas anyway, so we turned off the interstate, headed downtown and found a sports bar with a large rowdy crowd of crazed fans living the dream game of their lives.

With standing room only, we watched the rest of the game with some of the greatest fans I've seen. Talk about being in the right place at the right time!

As a Husker fan, I had hoped that SDSU would look good in losing but they accomplished much more than that. Their performance at a national level will do their program a lot of good.

In the end it won't hurt the Huskers if they regroup and win out the season. If I know Bo Pelini, he'll make sure they are ready to play the next game.

 

[garn]

NU just wasn't ready to play Saturday, it was probably the combination of the opponent and NU looking ahead.

I bet the thud-ups in practice this week will be pretty good thud-ups :wink:

 

[Sandhusker]

The boy and I went to that game. It seemed like the Huskers were running in sand. They were definitely looking ahead and SDSU came to play ball. The Jacks had a int-TD called back for an illegal block and I thought they got in during the first quarter. There was no energy in the crowd except for the people in blue, just a really wierd game.

Those things happen with unexplained reasons sometimes.........

Ya'll playing another patsy this coming week? :lol:

Yeah, we're playing a bunch of sheep diddlers next game.

 

[jigs]

The boy and I went to that game. It seemed like the Huskers were running in sand. They were definitely looking ahead and SDSU came to play ball. The Jacks had a int-TD called back for an illegal block and I thought they got in during the first quarter. There was no energy in the crowd except for the people in blue, just a really wierd game.

Those things happen with unexplained reasons sometimes.........

Ya'll playing another patsy this coming week? :lol:

Yeah, we're playing a bunch of sheep diddlers next game.

I would rather be known as a sheep humper than a husker fan.....

 

[garn]

http://my.journalstar.com/post/Husker_Extra_Group/Husker_Extra/blog/pelini_saturday_was_a_reality_check.html

Husker head coach Bo Pelini said Monday that this past Saturday's kick in the teeth "came at the perfect time for our football team."

"It was a wake-up call," Pelini said. "I think, to a certain extent, our guys bought into the hype. They bought into all the things that were being said about them, they started believing that instead of taking a good, hard look about what we talk about each and every day. You got to respect the game or you get humbled."

Pelini later called the sleepy 17-3 win against South Dakota State "a reality check."

It certainly was a rough night for quarterback Taylor Martinez. Interestingly, if you don't mind a little Husker history, Tommie Frazier's fourth start as a freshman also was one to forget -- a 19-10 loss to a bad Iowa State team.

Pelini agreed with offensive coordinator Shawn Watson that at times the redshirt freshman quarterback was trying to do too much against the Jackrabbits.

 

[Mike]

Why is there no spread (odds) on the Husker vs. KSU game this week?

Is everybody on both sides afraid to bet? :lol:

I see, the game's not until next Thursday.

Good it's on ESPN. I'll be able to give an unbiased analysis after the game.

I will be able to tell somebody why their team lost and why the other one didn't. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

This game is for the Big-12 North Championship? Interesting.

Where do you guys think the spread will open? I'll guess Huskers -3. Only because of their ranking though.

Is this the last time they will play for a while since the Huskers are bailing?

 

[katrina]

Why is there no spread (odds) on the Husker KSU game this week?

Is everybody on both sides afraid to bet? :lol:

I'll bet ya mike..... Pick your team and spread.....

 

[Mike]

Why is there no spread (odds) on the Husker KSU game this week?

Is everybody on both sides afraid to bet? :lol:

I'll bet ya mike..... Pick your team and spread.....

I don't have a team in this game. But since you insist, I'll take KSU +40.

 

[loomixguy]

I can already feel Jiggsy's hunsky in my bank account!

You are NOT weaseling out of it either, Jiggsy!

If I was the "Legendary" Bill Snyder and the Mildcats, I would be afraid.....very afraid......Bo & Co. with 12 days to prepare? God pity anything out on the field at Memorial Stadium South wearing purple that night.......

 

[katrina]

Why is there no spread (odds) on the Husker KSU game this week?

Is everybody on both sides afraid to bet? :lol:

I'll bet ya mike..... Pick your team and spread.....

I don't have a team in this game. But since you insist, I'll take KSU +40.

OKay..... You want kstate, but who gets the fourty?? NU or KState???

 

[Mike]

I'll bet ya mike..... Pick your team and spread.....

I don't have a team in this game. But since you insist, I'll take KSU +40.

OKay..... You want kstate, but who gets the fourty?? NU or KState???

I'll take either one with the 40 points. Pick one. I'll take the other.... :lol:

 

[Sandhusker]

Why is there no spread (odds) on the Husker vs. KSU game this week?

Is everybody on both sides afraid to bet? :lol:

I see, the game's not until next Thursday.

Good it's on ESPN. I'll be able to give an unbiased analysis after the game.

I will be able to tell somebody why their team lost and why the other one didn't. :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

This game is for the Big-12 North Championship? Interesting.

Where do you guys think the spread will open? I'll guess Huskers -3. Only because of their ranking though.

Is this the last time they will play for a while since the Huskers are bailing?

I'm thinking the Huskers by 7. I don't like this, though. The Thursday night home dog used to be the best bet in football.

This will be the last time we play since the Huskers are moving to a better neighborhood next year, off of Longhorn-asskissing Ave.

 

[Mike]

the Huskers are moving to a better neighborhood next year, off of Longhorn-asskissing Ave.

UCLA came to that neighborhood and took it over. :wink:

 

[katrina]

I don't have a team in this game. But since you insist, I'll take KSU +40.

OKay..... You want kstate, but who gets the fourty?? NU or KState???

I'll take either one with the 40 points. Pick one. I'll take the other.... :lol:

No you pick....And what are we betting?? I say the winner pops a top of their favorite beverage and salutes to the loser....