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Huskers Roll Over Washington, 55-7

Lincoln -- In an early-season clash between top 10 teams, the Huskers celebrated the return of I-back DeAngelo Evans and quarterback Bobby Newcombe with a 55-7 rout over Nos. 9/8 Washington.

Evans, who had not played since the 1996 Big 12 Championship Game, rushed for 146 yards and three touchdowns on 13 carries. The sophomore from Wichita, Kan., scored on runs of 60, 14 and 19 yards, all in the first half, as the Huskers scored the first 21 points and led 35-7 at halftime.

Newcombe, seeing his first action since the opener, drove Nebraska to a score on its opening drive, a 12-play, 82-yard march, culminating in Newcombe’s three-yard run to give the Huskers a 7-0 lead just 4:23 into the contest. After forcing a punt on Washington’s next possession, Evans broke free on a 60-yard score to give NU a 14-0 lead.

The Husker defense capitalized on the first of six Husky turnovers as Jason Wiltz intercepted a Brock Haurd pass and returned it to the Washington 22-yard line. Two plays later, Evans scored from 14 yards as the Huskers extended their lead to 21-0. Washington was driving deep into NU territory before linebacker Jay Foreman forced a fumble at the 3-yard line. Seven plays later, Evans gave Nebraska a 28-0 lead with a 19-yard run four minutes into the second quarter.

On the day, the Blackshirts turned the six Washington turnovers into 34 Nebraska points. Rush End Chad Kelsay led the defensive charge, recording three tackles, a sack and an interception to earn Big 12 Defensive Player-of-the-Week honors.

Newcombe, who finished with 79 yards and three TDs, and completed five-of-eight passes for 84 yards, scored on a pair of two-yard touchdown runs before sophomore fullback Willie Miller closed out the scoring with a 1-yard run in the final seconds of the third quarter. The 48-point margin of victory was the largest in school history over an AP Top 10 team.

Nebraska Football Postgame Notes vs. Washington,
Sept. 26, 1998
The No. 2 Nebraska Cornhuskers improved to 4-0 on the season defeating No. 9/8 Washington in Lincoln 55 - 7. It is Nebraska's first win over a ranked opponent this season, and Washington's first loss as the Huskies drop to 2-1. Nebraska jumped out to a 21-0 first quarter lead, 35-7 at half, and 55-7 after three quarters. Nebraska converted five of six Washington turnovers into scores accounting for 34 of NU's 55 points. Quarterback Bobby Newcombe and I-back DeAngelo Evans scored three rushing TDs apiece, as the Huskers totaled 434 yards rushing, compared to UW's 97. The 48-point margin was the largest by Nebraska against a top 10 AP opponent.

The win extended the Huskers' nation-leading winning streak to 45 games; was NU's 64th win in the last 67 games; extended their winning streak overall to 18 games, and improved NU to 3-3-1 over Washington. It improved NU to 81-84-3 all time vs. ranked teams, 21-2 over the last six years, 11-1 vs. top 10 AP teams in the last six years; and is Nebraska's 11th-straight win over a ranked opponent. In the 45-game home winning streak, NU has now beaten 10 ranked teams by an average of more than three touchdowns. Washington is the last team to defeat NU at home (36-21 in 1991).

* Playing in his first game since the Big 12 Championship game of 1996 against Texas on Dec. 7, I-back DeAngelo Evans gave Nebraska's rushing game an added boost. He had a game-high 146 yards on 13 carries and tied his career best with three rushing TDs (also had three rushing TDs against Texas in his last game played). A sophomore, Evans recorded his fifth 100-yard rushing game. Evans scored Nebraska's second, third and fourth TDs, all in the first half on runs of 60, 14 and 19 yards. Evans missed all of last year with a groin injury, and the first three games after having a knee scoped during the fall.

* Playing in his first game since the season opener, sophomore QB Bobby Newcombe rushed 14 times for 79 yards and a three TDs. He completed 5-8 passes with no interceptions for 83 yards. The 14 carries, 79 yards and three TDs are all career bests for Newcombe. Newcombe scored the game's first TD on a 3-yard run; and scored twice on runs of two yards each in the third quarter, before sitting out the fourth. Newcombe was not 100 percent and was still slowed by a PCL tear in his knee, suffered in first game.

* Senior Fullback Joel Makovicka rushed 11 times for 65 yards and had a great block on Evans' 14-yard run.

* Wiltz sets position record...Senior DT Jason Wiltz' two interceptions this season, breaks the Nebraska defensive lineman position record of interceptions on a season.. It was previously held by 15 different players, most recently Bruce Moore in 1992.

TEAM NOTES...
* The 48-point Winning Margin by Nebraska is the most ever against a top 10 AP team, bettering the 45-point margin put on Colorado on Oct. 31, 1992 (52-7). The 55 points is the most scored by NU this year and most since scoring 77 against Iowa State in the 10th regular-season game last year.

* Turnovers...Nebraska converted five of six Husky turnovers into scores for a total of 34 points. 1) DT Jason Wiltz recorded his second interception of the season in the first quarter (pressure by Steve Warren)...Wiltz returned the interception five yards to the UW 22...NU scored two plays later on Evans' 14 yard run. 2) Linebacker Jay Foreman caused Willie Hurst to fumble on the UW 3-yard line...CB Erwin Swiney recovered and helped on the hit...NU scored seven plays later on Evans' 19 yard run (aided by a Bobby Newcombe to Shevin Wiggins game-long 42 yard pass play). 3) Steve Warren recovered a UW fumble at the Washington 18 in the third quarter, but Nebraska fumbled it right back two plays later, this was the only turnover on the day that NU did not convert into a score. The Makovicka fumble was NU's first of two NU fumbles on the day, UW did not convert. 4) DT Loran Kaiser sacked Brock Huard, Mike Rucker forced the fumble, which was recovered by Khari Reynolds at the UW 5-yard line. Newcombe scored two plays later on a two yard run to put NU up 42-7. 5) Rover Joe Walker intercepted Huard midway through the third quarter. It was Walker's first interception this season and third of his career. Newcombe converted the turnover into a score six plays later on a 2-yard run. 6) UW's last turnover was a pass tipped by Carlos Polk, on a rush by Brian Shaw, it was intercepted by RE Chad Kelsay (thrown by Marques Tuiasosopo). With third-string and walk-on quarterback Monte Christo in the game, FB Willie Miller scored 10 plays later for the final 55-7 margin. Nebraska's second fumble by Dan Alexander, was late in the fourth quarter, UW did not convert.

* More Sacks...The Huskers tagged Washington for three sacks today, extending Nebraska's streak of games with at least one sack in a game to 16 games. Huskers with sacks include: RE Chad Kelsay (1-7); DT Loran Kaiser (1-5); and LB Eric Johnson (1-5). Kaiser has now had at least one sack in every game, while Kelsay has had at least one tackle for loss in every game and sacks in three of four. Unofficial defensive stats, show three sacks, seven tackles for loss, three breakups (two at the line of scrimmage by Kelsay and freshman Josh Lohr), at least 13 quarterback hurries, three interceptions, three fumbles caused and recovered. Tackle leaders include Eric Johnson with five (four solo), and CB Ralph Brown with five.

* Offensive Notes...NU scored on five of its seven first-half possessions, UW punted twice, had an interception, a fumble, punt and touchdown in its six first-half possessions.

* Nebraska Team Season Highs and Lows: Highs: Total Offense 527; Rushing Yards 434; Rushing Attempts 68; Rushing TDs 8; Yards per Rush 6.4; Total Offense 527; Lows: Passing--att/comp/yds 6-9-93; ; Individual Highs: Rushing--DeAngelo Evans 146; Rushing TDs, Evans / Newcombe 3;

* It's a Rush...Nebraska scored eight rushing touchdowns on a total of just 45 plays. Three drives were two plays or less, six were seven plays or less. NU had its highest rushing total of the year with 434, NU is 166-5 in the last 26 years when rushing for 300 or more and has won 88 straight with 300-plus. NU is 86-0 when rushing for 400 in last 26 years. UW was held to 97 yards rushing, the NU defense has held three of its first four opponents to less than 100 on the ground.

* Injuries...Eric Johnson -- hip pointer, may miss Monday.

Washington Game Notes
* Halfback Joe Jarzynka caught the first TD pass in his career today.

* Andre DeSaussaure, Anthony Mizin and John Westra each started their first game today.

* UW WB Brock Huard moved up to fifth on the Huskies' all-time passing list today. Huard now has 4474 passing yards in his career. Steve Pelluer occupies fourth place on the list with 4,603 yards.

* The 55-7 loss is the eighth worst loss in school history; the 55 points are the fifth highest by an opponent; and most since 62 points by UCLA in 1973.


SOURCE: NU ATHLETIC DEPT.