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Anna Mostek /Tribune
Huskers Prince Amukamara (21) and Eric Hagg (28) tackle Lousiana-Lafayette's Ladarius Green (89) in the second quarter. Nebraska hosted Louisiana-Lafayette Saturday evening at Memorial Stadium in Lincoln. The Huskers won 55-0.
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Todd Neeley
sports@hastingstribune.com
LINCOLN - The Nebraska defense put together its most complete game of the 2009
season in the 55-0 win over Louisiana Lafayette in Lincoln Saturday, holding the
Ragin' Cajuns to just 222 total yards and generating turnovers, including a
touchdown in the second quarter.
The Nebraska defense finally gets the big play it was looking for - a 74-yard
interception return for a touchdown by safety Larry Asante in the second quarter.
The play put a charge into a record crowd at Memorial Stadium, but Asante came up a
bit gimpy at the end of the run and was helped off the field with what NU Defensive
Coordinator Carl Pelini said was a minor leg injury. NU inserted redshirt freshman
P.J. Smith in Asante's place.
It was one of the few dark moments for the Nebraska defense, that otherwise made
more big plays against the Ragin' Cajuns than it has all season.
Pelini said he pushed his defense to play with more abandon and create turnovers,
one week after defensive breakdowns were fatal against Virginia Tech and NU forced
no turnovers against the Hokies.
"That's something we harp," he said. "We were on them about it this week. We didn't
have any at Virginia Tech. We want them to be more aggressive to the football, take
chances and get after 'em and don't let an opportunity go by. It was a huge point of
emphasis. We have to learn to finish and it looks like we're they're starting to get
it. You can't take a play off. You worry about that after the game's over. While
you're playing you've gotta approach each play with great focus. Tonight we did
that."
Safety Matt O'Hanlon recovered a fumble after LL receiver Ladarius Green had the
ball stripped while fighting for extra yardage at the Lafayette 27 at the start of
the second quarter. That turnover led to an Alex Henery field goal.
Linebacker Sean Fisher recovered a fumble late in the third quarter, and had clean
sailing down the sideline before tripping.
Fisher said it was important to get a shutout at home one week after a tough loss.
"I think it was big for us to come out here and get a shutout," he said. "It was
good for our confidence and we played all four quarters. We just didn't come out
last week and play four quarters."
Pelini said he was impressed at how when Nebraska started emptying the bench how
there was no drop off on defense.
Head Coach Bo Pelini said although the loss to the Hokies was difficult, his team
had no trouble refocusing.
"I don't think there was ever a sense of feeling sorry for ourselves," he said.
"They were pissed. That's kind of the attitude we have."
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