As was the case the previous game, a 27-14 upset at AP second-ranked Washington, now third-ranked Nebraska football relied on the run to overwhelm No. 17, or 16 depending on the poll, Kansas State 56-26 at Memorial Stadium in early October 1997.
The victory was the Huskers’ fourth and 29th in a row against Kansas State.
The final score was probably deceptive, considering Nebraska led 41-6 with 5:30 remaining in the third quarter. In any case, it was reflective of the Huskers’ national ranking.
“I think we’re a good team,” quarterback Scott Frost said. “I’m not afraid to say that. I think we’re as good a team as there is out there.”
Once again, the opposing defense couldn’t stop Nebraska’s running game. The Huskers rushed for 379 yards and six touchdowns, including four by Ahman Green, on runs of 25, 7, 59 and 50 yards. Green finished with 193 yards on 20 carries. Frost carried 17 times for 98 yards and a touchdown.
Back-up I-back Jay Sims ran 5 yards for a fourth-quarter touchdown, and second-team Rover Joe Walker returned an interception 71 yards for the Huskers’ final touchdown. They also forced a safety, and Kris Brown kicked field goals from 31 and 32 yards in the first half.
Frost was 6-of-13 passing for 94 yards, with one interception.
“There’s an infatuation in this country with the passing game,” said Tom Osborne, whose offensive philosophy was the opposite. “That doesn’t mean we’re invincible in the running game.”
Check the numbers above, though.
Nebraska’s emphasis on the run carried over to the defense. The Huskers’ rushing defense is “one of our great strengths,” Osborne said. Kansas State, which came into the game averaging 208 rushing yards, managed 98 on 40 carries, including 83 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries by Eric Hickson.
Highly-regarded quarterback Michael Bishop had a tough night against the Blackshirts, finishing with a net of 14 yards rushing and one touchdown on 17 carries and completing 8-of-24 passes for 162 yards and a touchdown, with two interceptions. Eric Warfield also had an interception.
The 25-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Darrell McDonald came with 49 seconds remaining. Bishop ran for a 2-point conversion, but two passes for 2 points failed, as did another run.
Nebraska took charge from the start, driving 80 yards on 10 plays, the 10th Green’s 25-yard run. Kansas State responded with an eight-play, 61-yard drive with Hickson scoring from 1 yard. A team rush for two failed. The Wildcats didn’t score again, as mentioned earlier, until late in the third quarter.
Weak side linebacker Eric Johnson led the Huskers with seven tackles. Warfield, the free safety, had six. Reserve rush end Aaron Wills had a sack, and defensive tackle Jason Peter and back-up strong side linebacker Tony Ortiz combined on a sack.
Nebraska used 88 players, Kansas State 48.
The Huskers had an off-week following the Washington game. “I don’t like these open dates early in the year,” Osborne said. “It seems like you lose a little bit of your edge early.”
If that was the case, what would the result have been without it?
“As I said earlier in the week, Kansas State looked about as strong as anybody we had left to play,” Osborne said. “That may prove to be unfounded.”
Then again, maybe not. Coach Bill Snyder’s Wildcats finished 11-1 and eighth-ranked
