Tigers
move to 5-0 after rout of rival Cornhuskers
by
Emily Schmidt, posted Oct. 10, 2007
Saturday
night was one to remember for MU as the Tigers dominated all
facets of the game that resulted in an impressive 41-6 dismantling
of the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers. Quarterback Chase
Daniel threw for a career-high 401 yards, and MU’s powerful
defense held Nebraska without a touchdown. The Tigers blew
out their Big 12 North rivals on ESPN in the 2007 Gold Rush
game. A sellout crowd of 70,049 backed the Tigers on Saturday
night.
“I’m
very happy for the fans,” said Gary Pinkel, MU’s
head coach. “I’m very happy for their enthusiasm.
Most of them wore gold, which I was pleased with. That looked
good on TV I’m sure.”
Despite their 4-0 record entering Saturday’s showdown,
MU had been largely ignored by the national media. They were
ranked No. 17 in the nation, yet the Tigers were still unknown
by most college football fans. A victory in such dominating
fashion over perennial powerhouse Nebraska is just what MU
needed to establish itself as one of college football’s
elite teams.
The Tigers started strong with two first-quarter touchdowns.
Daniel capped the opening 80-yard drive with a 1-yard touchdown
run, and then extended the lead to 14-0 after a 6-yard touchdown
pass to tight end Chase Coffman.
No.
25 Nebraska had no answer for the high-powered MU offense,
which ranks 11 in the nation in scoring. But the biggest surprise
was the Tiger defense, which allowed only 74 rushing yards
and kept the Cornhuskers’ offense out of the end zone.
“I
heard someone was saying that it was the first time since
1959 that Nebraska hasn’t scored a touchdown in a game
(against Missouri),” Daniel said. “It’s
unbelievable. That a tradition-rich school like Nebraska doesn’t
score a touchdown. That’s a big story.”
The MU defense has been the team’s Achilles’ heel
throughout the season, giving up an average of 25 points per
game before Saturday’s match-up. Nebraska, which came
in averaging 36 points a game, only managed a pair of field
goals in the first half made by Alex Henery. The Tigers answered
with two second-quarter field goals of their own, the later
a 33-yard boot by Jeff Wolfert in the final seconds of the
half to extend the lead to 20-6.
The rout was on after two early third-quarter touchdowns.
Daniel ran for his second touchdown of the game, this time
from 3 yards out. He found wide receiver Danario Alexander
open in the end zone for a 48-yard strike just five minutes
later to expand the lead to 34-6 and bring his season touchdown
total to 15. The rest of the second half was a show for the
MU faithful fans and those willing to stay up past midnight
to watch the game on ESPN.
Not only did the 41-6 victory signal the emergence of the
Tigers as Big 12 title contenders, but it was an opportunity
for Daniel to shine in the spotlight. The junior quarterback
completed 33 of 47 passes, helping MU out gain Nebraska 606
to 297 in total yards. The win was the second for MU over
a ranked opponent in Pinkel’s seven-year tenure and
improved the team’s record to 5-0 overall and 1-0 in
the Big 12. Nebraska didn’t expect the Tigers to be
so prepared. The loss was a hard hit to the Cornhuskers.
“It’s
the first Big 12 North loss,” said Nate Swift, a Nebraska
wide receiver. “They are a contender in the North, as
all the teams are right now. It’s just tough to lose
to a North team. And last year we beat all the North teams.
And this year it’s tough to lose to a North team.”
Daniel
and the Tigers will have little time to revel in victory,
however. Next Saturday the team travels to Oklahoma to take
on the 2006 Big 12 champion, the Oklahoma Sooners, who defeated
Texas 28-21 on Saturday.
