After defeating second-ranked Colorado and climbing to the top of the Associated Press rankings, Nebraska football coach Tom Osborne was concerned about a Husker letdown against Kansas in early November 1994. “I didn’t have the feeling before the game that we were real focused,” he said afterward.
That despite the game being played before 75,543 at Memorial Stadium, and despite the Jayhawks being 5-3. He was “a little worried,” Osborne said.
Turns out, he needn’t have been.
On the Jayhawks’ first and third plays from scrimmage, quarterback Asheiki Preston threw interceptions to Tony Veland and Tyrone Williams. Veland’s interception resulted in Tom Sieler’s 35-yard field goal, Williams’ in a 51-yard touchdown pass, Brook Berringer to wide receiver Reggie Baul.
Those were Nebraska’s second and third possessions. The Huskers scored touchdowns on the next four possessions as well. They led 38-10 at halftime on the way to a 10th consecutive victory, 45-17.
“I think the way it went early, we were very fortunate,” said Osborne. “Getting the turnovers and a couple of quick scores early helped. If we had given them a lot of daylight, feeling they could win, it might have been tough. I thought coming into this game, Kansas had enough horses to beat us.”
Osborne never overlooked an opponent, never. But the fast start helped alleviate his concern.
“I always think it’s a little bit of a confidence factor when someone comes in here and gets down by 14 in a hurry. It’s a little tougher to come back,” he said.
Especially for Kansas, which had lost 25 in a row to the Huskers coming in, a streak that reached 36 before the Jayhawks finally defeated Bill Callahan’s second team 40-15 in Lawrence.
Missouri had disrespected Nebraska’s defense after losing 42-7 at home. Kansas was the opposite. “This is the best defense I’ve seen so far this year,” Preston was quoted. “They play good as a team and fly to the ball. They just smell out the quarterback and get to the ball.”
Rover Kareem Moss, whose fumbled punt set up the first Kansas score, a field goal, led the Blackshirts with 11 tackles and one of three Husker sacks. The Jayhawks managed 270 total yards.
Nebraska rolled up 608 yards, including 267 passing by Berringer, on 13-of-18 completions. In addition to the pass to Baul, he hooked up with Clester Johnson on a 64-yard touchdown.
The 267 yards tied Dave Humm for the seventh-most in Husker history.
Humm held the record, 297 yards on 25-of-36 completions against Wisconsin in 1973.
There was no questioning Berringer’s passing, according to Nebraska tight end Eric Alford. “He could play for Florida State, Florida or Miami, where all they did was throw,” Alford said. “The ball floats right down into your hands … He’s got a pretty good touch, and he knows when to throw.”
Kansas Coach Glen Mason said he was “surprised they threw the ball as well as they did.”
Their running was no surprise. I-back Lawrence Phillips extended his 100-or-more-rushing-yards streak to 10 games, carrying 21 times for 153 yards and two touchdowns. Fullbacks Cory Schlesinger and Jeff Makovicka scored Nebraska’s other touchdowns, on runs of 40 and 8 yards, respectively.
Phillips carried 10 times for 118 yards and his second touchdown during the third quarter. He broke Bobby Reynolds’ record for rushing yards as a sophomore. Reynolds rushed for 1,392 yards in nine games in 1950. Phillips’ rushing total through 10 games was 1,489 yards.
Despite his 267 yards and two touchdowns passing, “I haven’t proved anything yet,” said Berringer.
Time would tell.
