Husker D shredded by Cumbie, Tech
LUBBOCK, Texas -- Texas Tech students literally tore up two entire rows of bleachers during the second quarter of Saturday night's game.
Texas Tech's offense followed suit, tearing Nebraska's defense to shreds.
The two long, aluminum planks were more fortunate than the Blackshirts, though. They at least found a way out of Jones SBC Stadium by halftime.
Nebraska's defense, meanwhile, endured a long second half before the eyes of 52,000 fans and a national television audience.
The Blackshirts entered the game with the nation's fifth-best defense but left Lubbock humbled by Texas Tech's high-powered offense in a 70-10 Red Raider victory.
Texas Tech compiled 523 total yards, including 451 through the air. The Blackshirts had no answer for quarterback Sonny Cumbie, who completed 44-of-56 passes for 436 yards. Cumbie had all day to throw, especially in the first half, and was sacked only once.
"We just couldn't get free," Nebraska defensive end Jay Moore said. "I don't know if our technique was great … guys just struggled getting to him all night. It was just one of those things. We couldn't get there.
"I give credit to their offensive line. They're a pretty good offensive line, but the defensive line, we have to get there a little more."
Moore had the only sack of Cumbie n a four-yard loss that came three plays after Nebraska's third-quarter touchdown. It looked as thought it may give the Blackshirts a spark, as NU forced a Tech punt.
But Tech quickly regained possession and drove 69 yards to score for a 28-10 lead.
"I was kind of frustrated with myself, with my play tonight, as far as rushing the passer," Moore said. "I got to him once, and got close a couple of times, but we had to get some pressure on him. We couldn't just let him sit back there and throw it like he did."
Nebraska many times used only three down linemen, opting to go for more defensive backs.
"That's a little bit of a factor, because they outmanned us up front," Moore said. "It makes it a little tougher … I don't know. It's just one of those things. If you get there, you get there, and if you don't, you don't. And we didn't get there tonight with that three-man pressure."
Of course, seven Nebraska turnovers didn't help matters, especially when Tech began second-half drives at the Huskers' 8-, 6-, and 12-yard lines.
"We're going in there, and the have the ball at the 10 every time. That's hard to deal with. We're hoping to just get field goals out of them, try to hold them."
But even before that, Cumbie and the Red Raiders were having their way.
"It seemed like they had 14 players on the field," Nebraska secondary coach Phil Elmassian said.
Cumbie threw for 272 yards before halftime, with the big blow an 80-yard touchdown pass to Jarrett Hicks with only 1 minute, 14 seconds remaining before halftime. Hicks beat cornerback Fabian Washington on the play.
"They were just clicking tonight," Moore said, "and we weren't executing as well as we should've."
Reach Brian Rosenthal at 473-7436 or brosenthal@journalstar.com.
Texas Tech's offense followed suit, tearing Nebraska's defense to shreds.
The two long, aluminum planks were more fortunate than the Blackshirts, though. They at least found a way out of Jones SBC Stadium by halftime.
Nebraska's defense, meanwhile, endured a long second half before the eyes of 52,000 fans and a national television audience.
The Blackshirts entered the game with the nation's fifth-best defense but left Lubbock humbled by Texas Tech's high-powered offense in a 70-10 Red Raider victory.
Texas Tech compiled 523 total yards, including 451 through the air. The Blackshirts had no answer for quarterback Sonny Cumbie, who completed 44-of-56 passes for 436 yards. Cumbie had all day to throw, especially in the first half, and was sacked only once.
"We just couldn't get free," Nebraska defensive end Jay Moore said. "I don't know if our technique was great … guys just struggled getting to him all night. It was just one of those things. We couldn't get there.
"I give credit to their offensive line. They're a pretty good offensive line, but the defensive line, we have to get there a little more."
Moore had the only sack of Cumbie n a four-yard loss that came three plays after Nebraska's third-quarter touchdown. It looked as thought it may give the Blackshirts a spark, as NU forced a Tech punt.
But Tech quickly regained possession and drove 69 yards to score for a 28-10 lead.
"I was kind of frustrated with myself, with my play tonight, as far as rushing the passer," Moore said. "I got to him once, and got close a couple of times, but we had to get some pressure on him. We couldn't just let him sit back there and throw it like he did."
Nebraska many times used only three down linemen, opting to go for more defensive backs.
"That's a little bit of a factor, because they outmanned us up front," Moore said. "It makes it a little tougher … I don't know. It's just one of those things. If you get there, you get there, and if you don't, you don't. And we didn't get there tonight with that three-man pressure."
Of course, seven Nebraska turnovers didn't help matters, especially when Tech began second-half drives at the Huskers' 8-, 6-, and 12-yard lines.
"We're going in there, and the have the ball at the 10 every time. That's hard to deal with. We're hoping to just get field goals out of them, try to hold them."
But even before that, Cumbie and the Red Raiders were having their way.
"It seemed like they had 14 players on the field," Nebraska secondary coach Phil Elmassian said.
Cumbie threw for 272 yards before halftime, with the big blow an 80-yard touchdown pass to Jarrett Hicks with only 1 minute, 14 seconds remaining before halftime. Hicks beat cornerback Fabian Washington on the play.
"They were just clicking tonight," Moore said, "and we weren't executing as well as we should've."
Reach Brian Rosenthal at 473-7436 or brosenthal@journalstar.com.
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