Crouch crushes UAB
Freshman QB scores 3 TDs in Huskers' win over UAB
Posted: Saturday September 05, 1998 06:18 PM
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Big 'D': The Nebraska defense swarmed over Lucious Foster all afternoon AP |
LINCOLN, Nebraska (AP) -- Aside from a few cramps on a hot day and
the occasional punt by his offense, it was almost a dreamy debut
for Nebraska quarterback Eric Crouch.
Making his first college start, Crouch ran for two touchdowns
and passed for one to lead Nebraska to a 38-7 victory over
Alabama-Birmingham on Saturday. He said he prepared by imagining a
solid performance.
"All week, I would lay in bed before going to sleep and think
about what it would be like," Crouch said. "I tried to visualize
big plays and visualize the idea of getting it done."
Crouch broke free for a 59-yard TD in the fourth quarter, but
the redshirt freshman did most of his damage in the first half.
Playing for injured Bobby Newcombe, Crouch threw a 15-yard TD
strike to Sheldon Jackson and scored on an 11-yard run to help the
No. 4 Cornhuskers (2-0) to a 21-7 halftime lead.
Now coach Frank Solich has two experienced quarterbacks.
Newcombe was effective in Nebraska's victory last week over
Louisiana Tech but didn't play Saturday because of a slight knee
ligament tear.
"We have used two quarterbacks in our first two games, and I
think that experience will make us a dangerous team at the
quarterback position," Solich said.
There were times when Nebraska looked punchless on offense and
porous on defense. Before scoring 17 unanswered fourth-quarter
points, the Huskers allowed Alabama-Birmingham (0-1) to put up a
good fight.
"We tried to execute the game plan that we had but we ran out
of gas," Blazers coach Watson Brown said.
With Nebraska leading 21-7 late in the third quarter, the
Blazers, aided by penalties against the Huskers, drove to the 11
and appeared ready to make it a game.
But the crowd of 75,921 got noisy for the first time all day,
and UAB stumbled back to the 40 after procedure and pass
interference penalties on four of the next five plays. The series
ended with a punt.
"That was really a big deal," defensive end Chad Kelsay said. "You go from
giving up a field goal, maybe even a touchdown, and we pushed them
all the way back and made them punt. It really lifted our
defense."
The Huskers outlasted the Blazers on a hot and humid day,
scoring in the fourth quarter on a 27-yard field goal by Kris
Brown, Crouch's 59-yard TD and a 63-yard pass from reserve
quarterback Monte Christo to Tracey Wistrom.
Brown became Nebraska's career scoring leader, kicking five PATs
and the field goal to surpass Heisman Trophy winner Mike Rozier's
school record of 312 points from 1981-83. Brown has scored 315.
"It's nice to have the record, but I'm out there for the
team," Brown said. "When I'm out there, it's not for me."
Crouch was 11-of-17 for 127 yards and ran seven times for 69
yards. He left briefly in the third quarter after gripping his knee
on a broken play but returned in the fourth period.
"I had a cramp in my leg, a cramp in my hip and a cramp in my shoulder," Crouch said.
Crouch seemed tense on Nebraska's early possessions but didn't
take long to loosen up.
After Shevin Wiggins returned a first-quarter punt 35 yards to
the Blazers 33, Crouch directed a six-play drive, capped by Joel
Makovicka's 3-yard TD.
On Nebraska's next two possessions, Crouch got his first passing
and rushing scores as a college quarterback.
His 15-yard throw to Jackson gave Nebraska a 14-0 lead with
11:27 left in the second quarter. Crouch showed his delight by
pumping his fist and running into the end zone to hug the big tight
end.
The Blazers answered with a 16-play, 80-yard drive, pulling to
14-7 after a 2-yard run by Ortavious Miles. UAB, beginning its
third season as a Division I-A program, also puzzled the Huskers
early in the game with a wishbone offense.
"We came out that first half and didn't play great," Kelsay
said. "They showed us some things we hadn't seen them do on tape.
It took us a little while to adjust."
On the next drive, Crouch showed he could effectively manage the
clock. Taking possession with 3:34 left, Crouch led the Huskers 70
yards in 12 plays, finishing it with a 11-yard TD run that made it
21-7 at halftime.
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