Curt McKeever: Key plays show promise for future
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Another appetizer while you wait for the real goods to come to the table.
That’s what Nebraska’s 38-7 win against New Mexico State — which was playing its season opener two weeks and two games after NU made its debut with Bo Pelini — looked like in Memorial Stadium Saturday night.
The thing is, these Huskers are starting to have an appealing aroma — which is not to say I believe they’re ready to challenge Missouri and Kansas for the Big 12 North Division title.
First things first, and I’m guessing the next item on the menu, Virginia Tech, will be as tough to devour as that 49-ounce porterhouse steak you get for free so long as you eat every bite.
But there were clear signs Saturday night that made me feel like this Pelini bunch is up for putting up a serious fight against anybody.
On the opening series of the game, the Aggies eased 73 yards downfield to a first-and-goal situation. Four plays and four yards later, they were willing to settle for a chip-shot field goal.
What happened next made me realize what it is I like about Pelini’s team. His guys may come out and do some things that make you scratch your head. But usually, they’ll also manage to come up with a solution.
In this case, it was Zach Potter swatting back the three-point try, an effort that given the final outcome might seem inconsequential. But it wasn’t. It set the stage for the final outcome.
New Mexico State’s next four offensive drives went three-and-out, interception, punt and another three-and-out. By then, NU led 21-0.
“What I liked was the way our guys hung in there,” Pelini said. “We looked at every (New Mexico State) game from last year and they gave us some different things on the first drive and it took us a minute to adjust.
“But our guys, even when they had their backs to the wall, they kept fighting. They played well in the red zone. They made some plays when they needed to and that’s what you’re going to have to do.”
Pelini needn’t mention names, but I’m sure Hokies, Tigers and Red Raiders weren’t far from his mind.
Later in Saturday’s game, Pelini witnessed another sight that had him believing his club is doing the kind of things that will give it decent chances against opponents of that caliber.
Late in the third quarter, the Aggies finally got moving again and got as far as the Huskers’ 13-yard line. After officials reversed a call that would have given Potter a fumble recovery, the defense persevered through two pass interference penalties and got out unscathed when free safety Matt O’Hanlon intercepted a Chase Holbrook pass.
By the way, Holbrook, who two years ago established an NCAA record for most passing yards by a sophomore, finished with just 142 on Saturday.
“I just loved the attitude,” Pelini said of yet another defensive stand. “At that point, they can get (peeved) like the coaches and get upset like I was and lose your focus. But they just kept hanging in there and it was good to see. That’s all a part of it.”
Just like the fact Pelini was still teaching at the end. With New Mexico State having driven to the Huskers’ 2-yard line with two seconds to play, he called timeout. The Huskers held simply because every player did their part.
People like to bring up how Nebraska has a running back by-committee of Marlon Lucky, Quintin Castille and Roy Helu Jr. Let’s take that a step further.
Outside of Joe Ganz, who is obviously the key to the offense, the Huskers are a team by committee.
From here on out, they’ll need every piece.
“We talk about keeping your focus, keeping your discipline, no matter what the adversity is,” Pelini said. “No matter what happens the play before, it’s always going to the next play. I thought we were able to do that tonight. It’s just showing me we’re growing as a football team.”
Reach Curt McKeever at 473-7441 or cmckeever@journalstar.com.
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