Ganz Leads Huskers Past Wildcats
Three years ago, one was a hotly-recruited prospect and the other was a plan B after thought. Recruiting hype gave way to game day reality Saturday as once overlooked Joe Ganz accounted for 365 yards and 4 touchdowns while much ballyhooed and possibly NFL-bound Josh Freeman was out of the game in the third quarter. Ganz led Nebraska past Kansas State, 56-28 in a game that really wasn't even as competitive as the score implied.
Kansas State struck first in the game, capitalizing on Ganz's one big mistake. Courtney Herndon returned a Ganz interception 57 yards for the first Kansas State score. Nebraska would roar right back, going on a touchdown drive and using 7:12 of clock, tieing the game on Roy Helu's 1-yard touchdown run. The Huskers would take the lead later in the first, powered by an impressive Quentin Castille 37-yard touchdown run.
Josh Freeman's loan highlight on the day came early in the second quarter, as he hooked up with Ernie Pierce for a 63 yard touchdown to tie the game at 14. From there on out, it was all Nebraska in the second quarter. Helu scored from 24 yards out. And Ganz hooked up with Todd Peterson and Mike McNeill for scores to make it 35-14 at the half. Ganz would throw for 270 yards and two scores on the day.
After being sacked five times and hit throughout the day, Freeman was relieved of duty in the third quarter. Carson Coffman filled in capably, leading KSU on a touchdown drive in the third quarter, finishing the drive with a quarterback sneak.
In the fourth, Ganz came back with another drive for a touchdown. This time, he did the honors himself, scooting 25 yards on a zone option play for a score. Brandon Banks kept KSU in the game with a 98 yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Ganz would run for another 14 yard score in the fourth quarter, part of 95 total rushing yards he would collect on the day. Marcus Mendoza tacked on a late touchdown run to end the scoring at 56-28.
Analysis
Nebraska ruled the stat book on both sides. The Huskers racked up 610 total yards. The attack was balanced with 270 yards passing and 340 rushing. The Huskers controlled the time of possession, true to their M.O. for the season. The Blackshirt defense only gave up 247 total yards, with only 59 of those coming on the ground for KSU.
The Blackshirts hit and harassed Freeman all day, collecting 5 sacks and many hits on the KSU signal caller. An interception return and a kickoff return for touchdown made a relatively uncompetitive game seem closer than it was.
Nebraska moves to 7-4 on the year while Kansas State drops to 4-7 and won't be going to a bowl this year.
This was a day for Joe Ganz. Other than the early interception, the Husker quarterback was especially sharp. He gathered 365 total yards and 4 touchdowns. He displayed quick feet to go with his accurate arm, rushing for 95 yards in the win.
11/16/2008
After a quick once over of the stats, I noticed Colton Keohler and Tyler Wortman were two of the leading tacklers in a game continually noted for nice physical hitting. Two walkon guys who played about 0, until this season.
That’s coaching.
That’s also the heart of most walkons who stick it out to their 5th years.
The last of the true believers. Colton is a junior, btw. They and O’Hanlon aren’t great, they probably wouldn’t even start for K-State. But they have caused guys on scholarship to ride the pine, redshirt, or at least wait until change of possession plays. It never ceases to amaze me.
The sense I keep getting of the team, is of fighters swinging wildly, hitters swinging for the fenses, as it’s skill set comes into focus.
It’s effort that’s causing most of the inconsistency and negative big plays, the at 100 mph type. Like the Kansas game, enough misreads to keep it entertaining. You still end up with a team that keeps improving, though. Still maintaining time of possession with drives and enough defensive stops. And was STILL minus in turnovers!