Snow covered Jack Trice Stadium in Ames on the first weekend of November in 1998, but Nebraska’s offense barely seemed to notice. The 14th-ranked Huskers leaned on sophomore Dan Alexander in his first career start and rolled past Iowa State 42-7 in conditions that were as ugly as the score was lopsided.
Alexander, a 6-foot, 250-pound back, was the story of the day. He carried 22 times for 110 yards and scored three touchdowns, all while working through a game that never really allowed for much finesse. His longest run went for 13 yards, and he lost only 6 yards total, including 5 on a play where he recovered a fumbled pitch.
“I thought he ran really well,” Coach Frank Solich said. “This game kind of suited him.
You couldn’t really make the sharp cuts. I don’t think that his true speed and quickness showed today.”
Solich also made clear that Alexander wasn’t just a temporary fix. With DeAngelo Evans sidelined by injury and only Correll Buckhalter available behind him, Nebraska needed Alexander at I-back, even if Solich acknowledged, “He could be a fullback for us, no question. But right now we need him at I-back.”
The weather told part of the story too. Kickoff came with the temperature at 36 degrees and light snow falling, but the wind chill at Jack Trice Stadium, where 45,817 were on hand, dropped to 17 degrees.
Eric Crouch helped keep Nebraska in control as well. Making just his third start, he ran for 91 yards on 15 carries and completed 4 of 8 passes for 44 yards, though he did throw one interception. Solich made sure to praise him afterward: “I was really pleased with Eric and what he got accomplished again today, in rather tough conditions,” Solich said.
Nebraska actually gave the ball away three times on interceptions, but the defense and special teams kept those mistakes from mattering much. Free safety Clint Finley had two picks, and backup rover Joe Walker had the third, which he returned 65 yards for the final Nebraska touchdown. That return made Walker only the fifth player in NCAA 1-A to score touchdowns on interception, kickoff and punt returns in the same season.
The Huskers also got an early break from Josh Kohl, the backup weakside linebacker, who recovered a fumble after a Bill Lafleur punt was partially blocked and the Cyclone returner lost the ball at his own 42. Nebraska needed just five plays after that to cash in, with Alexander finishing the drive on a 9-yard touchdown run late in the first quarter. Kris Brown added the first of seven extra points, though he did miss a 38-yard field goal.
From there, Nebraska kept stacking scores. Finley’s first interception set up the possession that led to Alexander’s second touchdown midway through the second quarter.
Buckhalter added another score with 44 seconds left in the half, then Alexander punched in his third late in the third quarter. Monte Christo followed with a 16-yard touchdown run 1:53 into the fourth, and Walker’s interception return came after that.
Iowa State didn’t get on the board until 4:47 remained and finished with just 227 yards of offense. The Cyclones managed 103 rushing yards on 38 carries, while Nebraska’s defense stayed in command for most of the afternoon. Solich said, “for the most part, we really controlled the game from the outset,” and the numbers backed him up.
Cornerback Erwin Swiney led Nebraska with eight tackles, while defensive tackle Jason Wiltz and rush end Chad Kelsay each recorded sacks.
Solich had announced on Monday that Crouch and Alexander would start, saying, “We’re just always searching for our best combination in terms of looking for big plays,” Solich said.
Even in the snow, Nebraska found some chunk gains. Crouch ripped off a 31-yard run, and reserve quarterback Jay Runty added a 28-yarder, though the weather hardly invited a track meet.
The win helped the Huskers recover from the upset loss at home to unranked Texas the previous week, 20-16. Nebraska improved to 8-2 and was set to move up to 11th in the Associated Press poll, with undefeated, second-ranked Kansas State next on the schedule in Manhattan.
“This is a very good game to build off of,” Solich said of the Iowa State victory. “And I’m not referring to it as a good game to build off of because of Kansas State.”
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Oregons Offense Suddenly Faces A New Evan Stewart Question
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For a team trying to keep its offensive rhythm intact, the timing only adds to the concern. Stewart had been out with an injury against Nebraska, and his status moving forward is now unclear as Oregon weighs both his health and the off-field situation. [Read more 🡒]