Curt McKeever: Grixby does it all

Bo Ruud was in the midst of rumbling 93 yards with an interception return that gave the Nebraska football team the comfortable late third-quarter separation it needed from Iowa State.

But there’s always a critic lurking somewhere among the Memorial Stadium crowd.

“He was weaving,” Cortney Grixby said. “I was like, ‘Just run in.’”

I’m guessing Grixby isn’t much of a poker player, because his ‘complaint’ about the path Ruud took to his second touchdown in two weeks immediately gave way to a wide grin.

Indeed, the affable cornerback from Omaha wore the look of someone who, on a day in which the home team prevailed 35-17, had to be the most beloved Husker of them all.

Deservedly so, the Blackshirts had taken a beating since giving up 610 yards and 40 points to Ball State last Saturday. And while their latest performance revealed more about their survival tactics than tactical, precise execution on an unprecedented 102 snaps, you wouldn’t have found a soul who had a beef with Grixby.

OK, maybe one.

Ruud, a running back when he was at Lincoln Southeast, certainly wasn’t about to take any guff from the former Omaha Central quarterback about his ball-carrying skills. After all, he took his opportunity to the house. And later, when Grixby capped a marvelous afternoon with his second interception, he was tackled by ISU quarterback Bret Meyer 3 yards shy of getting in the books with a 44-yard TD.

“You’ve gotta look for the cutback, you know?” Ruud said. “He had it, man. I was going to throw him a block.”

Next time, maybe. And, judging from Saturday, there will be a next time for Grixby. In simple terms, the 5-foot-7, 170-pound senior is playing like you’d expect someone whose career is winding down.

Without question, the Huskers need his spirit to become contagious if they hope to be standing upright after next week’s showdown at Missouri.

“You know what you’re going to get out of ‘Grix,’” defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove said. “I love that kid. He plays with great heart.”

Ah, but let’s not underestimate his talent.

On Saturday, Grixby had a multiple-choice set of plays from  which he could have selected as his favorite.

In the second quarter, with Nebraska trailing 3-0, he picked off a long pass intended for R.J. Sumrall at the Husker 19-yard line.

Later in the period, after the Cyclones had gone ahead 10-0, he provided a career-long, 51-yard kickoff to jump-start NU’s first touchdown drive.

Before halftime, Grixby tried to take on three ISU tacklers while returning a punt, ended up on the short end of that deal and hobbled off the field with a turned ankle.

No doubt, Iowa State wishes he weren’t so tough.

Undaunted by his latest ding, Grixby came back to make a third-quarter play that led to Ruud’s TD and completely changed the complexion of the game. With Iowa State threatening to cut into a 21-10 deficit, Grixby popped a third-and-goal slant pass from the NU 12 out of the hands of Todd Blythe and Ruud hauled in the carom before setting off for pay dirt.

At that point, the game’s remaining 17 minutes, 13 seconds became inconsequential. But, for his late-fourth quarter curtain call, Grixby stepped in front of a telegraphed throw to Sumrall to set up the Huskers’ final score.

So, which play was his favorite? If you knew Grixby, you wouldn’t be surprised that he chose the kickoff return.

“We were down 10-0,” he said. “We had a lot of pressure on us.

“That play (when Ruud scored) was good, too, but I like running with the ball a little bit.”

His efforts — with and without the ball — put Nebraska full steam ahead for Missouri.

“Any win,” Grixby said, “gives you confidence.”

Reach Curt McKeever at 473-7441 or cmckeever@journalstar.com.