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Ground assault finishes off Vols
With lightning-quick Eric Crouch at the controls of a relentless option attack, the third-ranked Cornhuskers beat Tennessee 31-21 in the Fiesta Bowl on Sunday night.
After the Volunteers (No. 5 ESPN/USA Today, No. 6 AP) rallied from a 17-0 deficit to cut it to 17-14 early in the second half behind the passing of Tee Martin, the Huskers (12-1) finished Tennessee off with second-half touchdown drives of 96 and 99 yards.
“It was an excellent performance,” Nebraska coach Frank Solich said. “There were moments when things got a little rough.”
Cedric Wilson’s 44-yard pass touchdown pass to Donte’ Stallworth, his second TD catch of the game, came on a Tennessee trick play that reduced the lead to 31-21 with 7:25 to play.
But the Vols never got the ball again. Nebraska, which finished the game with 23 consecutive rushing plays for 156 yards, drove downfield and Tennessee (9-3) could do nothing to stop the clock from running out.
It was all too familiar for the Volunteers, who wore down in the second half two years ago in a 42-17 loss to Nebraska in the Orange Bowl. The Huskers have won their last 11 bowl matchups against Southeastern Conference teams.
Postgame notes
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