Racing to history
Edwards burns Nebraska for record 405 receiving yards
Posted: Saturday August 29, 1998 10:25 PM
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Edwards (left) broke the NCAA all-divisions record for receiving yards by catching 21 passes for 405 yards and three TDs AP |
LINCOLN, Nebraska (AP) -- Troy Edwards had plenty to say as Louisiana Tech prepared to play Nebraska. Then he surprised 76,000 Big Red fans by backing it up Saturday with a record-setting performance.
In a 56-27 loss to the No. 4 Cornhuskers, Edwards broke the NCAA all-divisions record for receiving yards by catching 21 passes for 405 yards and three touchdowns.
Nebraska played without starting free safety Clint Finley, out with a knee injury. Still, it was a masterful performance by Edwards, a finalist last season for the Biletnikoff Award that goes to the nation's top receiver.
"He's a first-round draft choice," Huskers defensive coordinator Charlie McBride said. "He can run off with it and run by most people he's going to play. He's that good."
Tim Rattay completed 46-of-68 passes for 590 yards -- all record numbers against Nebraska. Edwards had TD catches of 94, 80 and 52 yards in the second half.
"They are a pretty good combination and they did a great job pushing the ball up the field," Bulldogs coach Gary Crowton said. "I'm real happy for both Tim and Troy."
The previous all-divisions record for receiving yards was 370 yards, shared by Michael Lerch of Princeton (1991, vs. Brown) and Barry Wagner of Alabama A&M (1989, vs. Clark). The major-college record of 363 was set by UNLV's Randy Gatewood against Idaho in 1994.
Edwards provided bulletin board material for the Nebraska locker room wall earlier in the week with bold claims of an upset and that the Huskers wouldn't be able to cover him.
That kind of talk was good for laughs in Lincoln -- until Edwards did it.
"I'm not a trash talker but I've worked hard all summer," Edwards said. "I don't believe any defensive back in the country can go one-on-one with me."
Edwards said he would have traded the records for a victory, something the Husker defenders were quick to point out as they nursed their bruised egos.
"He backed up his point," said Nebraska safety Joe Walker. "But he also said they were going to come in and win, and obviously they didn't get that part down."
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