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 Saturday, November 10, 2001
K-State looks to break hex in Lincoln
By Bob Griese
Special to ABC Sports Online
LINCOLN, Neb. -- Kansas State has not had much success in Lincoln, but the Wildcats enter Saturday's game with No. 2 Nebraska (ABC, 3:30 p.m. ET) healthy and playing well. They have won two straight games overall, two of their last three with the Cornhuskers and are ready to end their 16-game losing streak in Lincoln.
Both teams are similar in their philosophies: They run the ball well (Nebraska is first in the nation (315.8 per game), while Kansas State is fifth (247.0), and neither throws it well (Nebraska, 109th, K-State is 105th).
When Kansas State has the ball
|  | | Aaron Lockett's big-play potential could open things up for Kansas State. |
Ell Roberson and Josh Scobey are the key players to this attack. Nebraska wants to shut down their running and force Roberson to throw. Roberson is completing just 40 percent of his throws, but he is healthy and ready to go.
The offensive line lost John Robertson and Thomas Barnett, but the past two weeks K-State ran the ball well against Kansas and Iowa State. They have had it going, but it was not the competition they will face on Saturday.
Nebraska is very disciplined and aggressive. They have good athletes. They know where they are supposed to be. That comes from when Charlie McBride, who was the defensive coordinator for so long. Craig Bohl has taken over and gone with the same style.
It's a team defense more than individual stars. They do have a couple of big names. Chris Kelsay is the best on the defensive line, while cornerback Keyuo Craver is good.
When Nebraska has the ball
Eric Crouch is not getting beat up this season like he did the past two years. He had shoulder surgery in the offseason and he is staying healthy. That is the difference. It is unusual for a quarterback who runs the ball as much as he does, and a good reason Nebraska is 10-0.
In the backfield, the key is that Dahrran Diedrick has nearly 1,100 yards and playing well. But the biggest turnaround is that he is holding onto the ball. The Huskers are not fumbling like they have the past few years.
There will be a lot of single matchups for Nebraska's wideouts. Everyone on the defense is playing eight, nine guys on the line to try to stop the option and power running attack. That frees things up for Wilson Thomas, who has caught 34 passes and three TDs. He's big (6-foot-6, 215 pounds) and played basketball. Tight end Tracey Wistrom is also a key to this offense. Nebraska has always thrown to its tight ends, and when Wistrom is healthy, he has good hands.
The guy to watch is left guard Toniu Fonoti. He is only 19 years old, and he is probably one of the best offensive linemen ever at Nebraska. He is special. He has such quick feet for a big guy. We will be counting the pancakes. He can put guys on their back.
The key for Kansas State to stop this attack is to win on first down. The Wildcats have allowed only four rushing TDs, while Nebraska has scored 40 TDs on the ground. The key is getting Nebraska in second-and-long situations, and not allow the Huskers to be able to choose whether to run or pass on second down.
Bob Griese will do the analysis of Saturday's Kansas State-Nebraska game on ABC with Brad Nessler and Lynn Swann. He is a regular contributor to ABC Sports Online.
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