Credit kicker Kris Brown and the defense for Nebraska football’s 16-14 victory against Colorado on a 66-degree afternoon at Memorial Stadium, Friday, Nov. 27, 1998.
“As you look at other kickers, they contribute in one or two ways, but Kris has been outstanding in PATs, field goals and kickoffs,” Coach Frank Solich said. “Today, his kickoffs were very good and that took away a very big part of field position for Colorado. He’s been able to do that consistently.
“Whenever he steps on the field you feel comfortable that he’s out there.”
It wasn’t just kickoffs this afternoon, though. Brown was successful on three-of-four field goal attempts, including the game winner from 25 yards with 8:48 remaining.
Then the Blackshirts took over, limiting Colorado to 18 yards on six plays following the field goal and a Brown kickoff into the end zone. On the Buffaloes’ next — and final — possession, after a 58-yard punt by Bill Lafleur and minus-3-yard return that left them at their own 9-yard line, rush end Chad Kelsay had an 8-yard sack on second down, leaving them third-and-15 at their 26-yard line.
Two incomplete passes ended the series. Nebraska killed the final 1:41.
With the victory, the Huskers finished the regular season 9-3 and ranked 14th nationally. “I’m relieved that we were able to get nine victories for this football team. They wanted that badly,” said Solich. “You have to go back to my (playing) era to find a team that didn’t get nine wins.
“That was weighing on them very heavily, and they were constantly reminded of that every time they turned on the TV or read the paper. I’m delighted that we were able to get this one done today.”
The season was the 30th consecutive in which Nebraska won nine or more games.
Nebraska’s offense didn’t score a touchdown, though, something that hadn’t happened since a 19-0 loss at Arizona State, September 27, 1996. Free safety Clint Finley’s 42-yard interception and return for a touchdown early in the first quarter was the game’s first score.
The defense also set up Brown’s game-winner. A sack and forced fumble by rush end Mike Rucker recovered by defensive tackle Jeremy Slechta gave the Huskers the ball at their own 42-yard line.
Rucker’s sack was among six by Nebraska.
“I thought they rose to the occasion when the game was on the line,” Solich said of the Blackshirts.
I was very pleased that they got it done. They made the big plays when they had to make them.”
Colorado was limited to 246 yards of offense, with decent numbers by two players. Marlon Barnes rushed for 102 of the yards on 25 carries and Mike Moschetti completed 12-of-18 passes for 132 yards and the Buffaloes’ two touchdowns, with the Finley interception.
The Buffaloes stifled Nebraska’s offense, limiting it to 12 first downs and 254 yards, including 131 rushing. The Huskers finished the regular season averaging 253.8 yards rushing per game, the lowest since 1976 (219.8). Nebraska’s total-offense average (384.9) was the lowest since 1969 (371.8).
I-back Correll Buckhalter led the Huskers with 92 yards on 15 carries, 52 of the yards coming on one carry to set up Brown’s second field goal. Eric Crouch completed 10-of-22 passes for 123 yards with one interception and managed only 18 yards on 17 carries. He took one sacked for a 15-yard loss.
“I thought he played well,” Solich said. “At times you could see that there was some inexperience there, and that’s the way it goes. I thought he hung in there and never panicked.”
All of the Huskers hung in there. They had to given the circumstances, and aforementioned pressure.
“It was a hard-fought football game throughout,” said Solich. “We’re pleased and proud of our kids, that they were able to get it done.”
And get to nine wins before a bowl game.
