This Date in College Football Belt History – August 29

August 29, 1998

Louisiana Tech at Nebraska

The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs of coach Gary Crowton opened the season in Lincoln against the 4^th ranked Nebraska Cornhuskers of first-year coach Frank Solich.  The Cornhuskers withstood a record-setting passing performance from Louisiana Tech’s QB Tim Rattay & WR Troy Edwards as Nebraska retained The Belt with a 56-27 win.  It took the Cornhuskers just 3 plays to drive 70 yards for the lead.  Two 12-yard runs from RB Joel Makovicka & WR Shevin Wiggins put the ball at the Bulldogs’ 46-yard line.  Nebraska’s QB Bobby Newcombe then threw a 46-yard touchdown pass to TE Sheldon Jackson giving the Cornhuskers a 7-0 lead just 0:52 into the game.  After forcing a quick punt from Louisiana Tech, Nebraska drove 60 yards in 14 plays with the touchdown coming on a 1-yard run from Newcombe.  Early in the 2^nd quarter, the Cornhuskers pushed the lead to 21-0 as RB Willie Miller finished a 10-play, 63-yard drive with an 8-yard touchdown run.  The Bulldogs finally mounted a drive using short passes to shred Nebraska’s Blackshirts defense.  Rattay led a 16-play, 80-yard drive in which he threw on 14 of the plays & scrambled on another.  The touchdown came on a 1-yard pass to WR Sean Cangelosi but Louisiana Tech still trailed 21-6 after the missed extra-point attempt.  On the ensuing kick-off, Cornhuskers’ CB Joe Walker returned the kick 99 yards for a score pushing the lead to 28-6 with 6:57 to play in the half.  A quick punt from the Bulldogs allowed Nebraska another chance to score before the half.  The 5-play 64-yard drive was highlighted by a 48-yard pass from Newcombe to Jackson to the Louisiana Tech 1-yard line.  Newcombe carried the final yard giving the Cornhuskers a 35-6 halftime lead.  The Bulldogs came out of intermission determined to keep Nebraska on edge.  Rattay connected with Edwards on a 52-yard touchdown pass on the opening drive making the score Nebraska 35 Louisiana Tech 14.  After a punt from the Cornhuskers pinned the Bulldogs at their own 6-yard line, Rattay & Edwards hooked up again this time for a 94-yard touchdown as Louisiana Tech closed the gap to 35-21 with 7:06 left in the 3^rd quarter.  Nebraska stopped the Bulldogs’ passing attack long enough to drive 77 yards in 6 plays with RB Dan Alexander scoring on a 4-yard touchdown run pushing the lead to 42-21 as the 3^rd quarter ended.  The Cornhuskers got a 4-yard touchdown run from RB Correll Buckhalter after a 5-play, 42-yard drive pushing the lead to 49-21 with 13:02 to play.  On the next play from scrimmage, Rattay & Edwards connected again.  This time the pass resulted in an 80-yard touchdown for the Bulldogs.  After Nebraska’s DT Jason Wiltz intercepted Rattay & returned it 27 yards to the Nebraska 45-yard line, the Cornhuskers were in the end zone 5 plays later as Buckhalter broke a 43-yard run for the final points.  Rattay finished with 590 yards passing; completing 46 of 68 pass attempts while Edwards finished with 21 catches for 405 yards, a new single game NCAA record for receiving yardage.  Nebraska did hold the Bulldogs to –21 yards rushing on just 14 attempts.  Newcombe finished with 168 yards with a touchdown as he completed 9 of 10 pass attempts but left early in the 4^th quarter with an injured left knee, Buckhalter finished with 143 yards rushing with his 2 touchdowns, & TE Sheldon Jackson added 2 catches for 94 yard with a touchdown for the Cornhuskers.  Nebraska finished the season 9-4; ranked 19^th nationally while the Bulldogs finished 6-6.  Louisiana Tech would play for The Belt again in 2000.

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