Nebraska football had a week off to prepare for Missouri’s visit to Memorial Stadium for the second-ranked Huskers’ sixth game of the season, Oct. 14, 1995. One problem was Nebraska’s defense didn’t know what to expect from the 2-3 Tigers, who had lost to Kansas State the week before, 30-0.
And as it turned out the uncertainty was justified, to some degree anyway. Missouri Coach Larry Smith had indicated Corby Jones would be included on the travel roster. Jones, a highly-regarded freshman quarterback from Columbia, Missouri, had been redshirting.
Jones ran the option. So would that be what the Tigers did?
It was a windy day, with the wind out of the northwest. So going north, Missouri was more likely to rely on Jones and the option. Going south, the Tigers could pass more with Kent Skornia at quarterback. Skornia, also a freshman, had replaced junior Brandon Corso, who started the first five games. Because of the quarterback situation, the Blackshirts were “kind of antsy,” outside linebacker Jared Tomich said.
As it turned out, they needn’t have been. Missouri managed only 122 total yards, including a net of 39 rushing on 39 carries. Jones carried eight times for 7 yards. Nebraska recovered two fumbles and intercepted two passes, one by Skornia, the other by Jones.
The Huskers had four sacks, two by outside linebacker Chad Kelsay, one each by linebacker Jamel Williams and outside linebacker Luther Hardin. Tomich and linebacker Doug Colman recovered fumbles. And linebacker Terrell Farley blocked a punt out the end zone for a safety.
The final score was Nebraska 57, Missouri 0. The shutout was the Huskers’ first since the 1994 season-opener against West Virginia in the Kickoff Classic.
“We talk about a shutout every week, and that was our main focus,” linebacker Ryan Terwilliger said. “We don’t talk much about total yards, but to hold them to that much (122) was really sweet.”
Husker quarterback Tommie Frazier had more total offense in the first half alone. He carried seven times for 60 yards and three touchdowns and passed for 67 yards, including 29 yards to split end Brendan Holbein for a touchdown on the final play of a 28-0 first half.
The pass was intended for tight end Jon Vedral but deflected into Holbein’s hands. Frazier also passed 6 yards to tight end Sheldon Jackson for a third-quarter score. Frazier’s five combined touchdowns gave him a career-total 64, breaking Steve Taylor’s school-record of 62.
Freshman I-back Ahman Green, who got his first career start, led Nebraska with 90 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries. Frazier finished with 71 rushing yards on eight carries.
Back-up quarterback Matt Turman and I-back Damon Benning scored the other touchdowns.
Nebraska finished with 342 rushing yards on 51 carries, both season lows. The Huskers’ 475 total yards were also a season low. Missouri’s defense knew what to expect.
“People often wonder why we don’t open up and throw the ball 40 times a game and have that kind of offense,” Coach Tom Osborne said. “Well, if you think about it, we’ve had two or three games already with 30-, 35-, 40-miles-per-hour winds.”
In those conditions, short passes are OK, but long passes? “It was kind of a hard day to throw,” said Osborne. “So I think you have to have a strong running game first.”
