Another offensive onslaught, right? Fifth-ranked Nebraska football defeated Missouri 51-7 at Memorial Stadium on Nov. 9, 1996. The victory was the Huskers’ seventh in a row.
But the score could be misleading on how it was achieved. Special teams accounted for nine points and the defense forced four turnovers, three of which led to touchdowns.
“I thought we played another very fine defensive football game,” Coach Tom Osborne said.
Consider some numbers. Missouri finished with 170 total yards on 63 plays, an average of 2.7 yards per play. The Tigers rushed for a net of 47 yards on 43 attempts. And they didn’t cross midfield until 33 seconds remained in the third quarter, against Nebraska’s defensive back-ups.
Missouri didn’t score until 3:36 remained in the game.
“We have a defense that disrupts people,” Osborne said, understating.
Rush end Jared Tomich forced two fumbles. Rover Mike Minter and third-string linebacker Julius Jackson intercepted passes. Linebacker Terrell Farley blocked a punt and returned it 9 yards for a touchdown. Farley “is a great special-teams player,” said Missouri Coach Larry Smith.
The Huskers were also credited with a team safety when Missouri punter Vince Sebo couldn’t handle the snap, so he slapped the ball out of the end zone.
The Huskers’ Jesse Kosch punted only twice, both in the first half, averaging 49 yards per punt. His first punt was fumbled and recovered by Jay Sims, Nebraska’s fourth-string I-back, at the Missouri 25. Three plays late Scott Frost passed to split end Brendan Holbein 14 yards for a touchdown.
“I’d hate to say it’s the best (defense) we’ve ever had and then they go out next week and let that guy run up and down the field,” said Osborne. But “we’ve played very well.”
“That guy” was a reference to Iowa State’s Troy Davis, the nation’s leading rusher.
As for the other side of the ball, “offensively, I thought we were a little sporadic at times. I would have liked to see us run the ball a little better,” Osborne said.
The Huskers rushed for only 4 yards on seven carries in the second quarter and 50 yards in the half. “Early in the game we threw it fairly well, but I don’t like to rely on that exclusively,” said Osborne.
Frost was 9-for-14 passing for 114 yards and the touchdown to Holbein. Back-up Matt Turman threw two passes in the second half, both incomplete.
Frost, who rushed for 28 yards and a touchdown, left the game early in the second half after taking a hit to his right knee on the third play from scrimmage.
“I think (Scott) would have liked to play more, but we thought with the score of the game the way it was and him not being 100%, we would just probably take him out of there,” Osborne said. “He might be a little sore on Monday, but I suspect he’ll be OK.”
I-back Ahman Green ran 56 yards for a touchdown on Nebraska’s first play from scrimmage in the second half and Kris Brown’s kick made the score 30-0.
Green, who had been slowed by a toe injury, rushed for a game-high 161 yards on 12 carries. DeAngelo Evans ran for two touchdowns, and Turman scored the Huskers’ last touchdown.
Nebraska used 100 players, Missouri 50. The victory was the Huskers’ 18th in a row against the Tigers.
“I said all along that Nebraska’s strength is defense and special teams,” Smith said. “They put a lot of pressure on you, and we had some young kids in there.”
