Nebraska vs. Kansas State Football 2009
Cornhuskers, Wildcats Vie for Big 12 North Championship
The Cornhuskers will face Kansas State on Saturday, Nov. 21, at Lincoln, Neb., in a game that will decide the championship of the Big 12 North Division.
Nebraska (7-3 overall, 4-2 Big 12) was limping with a 1-2 conference mark after being upset 9-7 by Iowa State on Oct. 24. But the Cornhuskers have rebounded with three consecutive victories, including a 31-17 triumph at Kansas last weekend. And their division rivals have faltered.
Coach Bo Pelini's Cornhuskers, as a result, are in first place in the North. They can clinch the division – and a spot opposite the Big 12 South champion in the Big 12 title game — by defeating Kansas State.
But the Wildcats (6-5, 4-3) are in basically the same situation. Despite a 38-12 to Missouri on Saturday, Kansas State is just a half-game behind Nebraska and would take the Big 12 North with a win over the Cornhuskers.
Kansas State, though, will need to snap a four-game losing streak in its series with the Cornhuskers. Coach Bill Snyder's team hasn't defeated Nebraska since a 45-21 win in 2004. Nebraska leads the series 76-15-2.
Saturday's game is scheduled for 7:45 p.m. EST and will be telecast by either ESPN or ESPN2.
Tough Task Awaits Kansas State Offense
Kansas State ranks a mediocre 75th in the NCAAA Football Bowl Subdivision in both scoring offense (24.8 points per game) and total offense (354.5 yards per game). And the Wildcats must take on a Nebraska team that is third in scoring defense (11.0 points) and 10th in total defense (280.1 yards).
The Wildcats do, however, feature the Big 12's leading rusher in Daniel Thomas. The 6-foot-2, 227-pound junior has run for 1,166 yards and 11 touchdowns, averaging 5.1 yards per carry and 106 yards per game.
Thomas has a strong backup in Keithen Valentine, who's picked up 356 yards and scored six TDs. The senior averages 6.6 yards per rush. Quarterback Grant Gregory (286 yards, 3 TDs) is also a running threat.
But the Wildcats were limited to 112 rushing yards by Kansas, mustering only 2.6 yards per carry. That's not a good sign entering the Nebraska game. The Cornhuskers yield only 94.9 rushing yards per game and 2.75 yards per rush.
Wildcat Banks Has Returned 4 Kickoffs for TDs
The Wildcats were kept out of the end zone last week, settling for four Josh Cherry field goals. But Gregory was accurate throwing the ball, completing 21 of 30 passes for 239 yards with an interception.
A transfer from South Florida, Gregory has gone 4-3 as the starting QB. The senior has completed 61.8 percent of his thhrows for 970 yards. He's thrown only four touchdowns, but has been intercepted just three times.
K-State's top receiver is Brandon Banks, who's made 51 catches for 657 yards. The 5-foot-7, 150-pound senior has caught only one TD pass, but he's returned an FBS-high four kickoffs for TDs.
Attrail Snipes (27 catches, 400 yards, 2 TDs) and Lamark Brown (18 receptions, 215 yards, 2 TDs) are the only WIldcats with more than two touchdown catches this season.
K-State Defense Creating Turnovers
Kansas State ranks in the upper half of the FBS in scoring defense (23.9 points per game) and total defense (346.5 yards). The Wildcats have been especially effective in forcing turnovers, as their 24 takeaways tie them for 14th in the FBS.
Their defensive backs are leading the way. Emmanuel Lamur has recorded a team-high 61 tackles and three interceptions, blocked two kicks and recovered two fumbles. Joshu Moore has 57 tackles, two interceptions and 10 pass breakups, and Tysn Hartman has added 53 tackles and a team-best four interceptions.
Defensive end Jeff Fitzgerald (8.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks) heads the K-State pass rush, and John Houlik (45 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss) leads the linebackers. Troy Butler (44 tackles) and Stephen Harrison (10 pass breakups) provide additional help in the secondary.
Cornhuskers Try to Maintain Momentum on Offense
Nebraska's up-and-down offense is producing 26.2 points and only 353.3 yards per game, but did manage a solid 410 yards vs. Kansas. One of the more encouraging performances came from running back Roy Helu Jr., who picked up 156 yards and scored three touchdowns.
Helu has been a vital weapon, rushing for 967 yards and nine TDs on 5.8 yards per carry. The 6-0, 215-pound junior is also third on his team in receptions, making 19 for 149 yards.
The top receiver is Niles Paul ( 29 catches, 568 yards, 3 TDs) and tight end MIke McNeill (21 receptions, 211 yards, 3 TDs) is second. Paul had four catches for 154 yards vs. Kansas, and also returned two kickoffs for 72 yards.
Quarterback Zac Lee has passed for 1,692 yards and 11 touchdowns, with six interceptions. The junior, back as starter after a recent benching, is completing 59.9 percent of his throws.
Nebraska Defense Continues to Step Up
Nebraska gave up 31 points in a loss to Texas Tech on Oct. 20, but no other opponent has scored more than 17. Six have been held to 10 or under. The success has been largely the product of the Cornhuskers' defensive line.
Tackle Jared Crick leads the team with 60 tackles — including 14 tackles for loss and nine of his team's 28 sacks sacks. Ndamukong Suh, the All-American who plays the other tackle position, has 56 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, five sacks, eight pass breakups, an interception, three blocked kicks and 19 quarterback hurries.
Ends Pierre Allen and Barry Turner have sparkled as well. Allen has 10 tackles for loss and three sacks, and Turner's made 11 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.
Other standouts include linebacker Phillip Dillard (54 tackles in 8 games), safety Larry Asante (54 tackles), safety Matt O'Hanlon (50 tackles, 4 interceptions) and cornerback Prince Amukamara (47 tackles, 3 interceptions, 10 pass breakups).
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