Second (Quarter) to None for Hurricanes

First Quarter

Scoring: Miami 7, Nebraska 0: Johnson, 49-yard pass from Dorsey at 6:51. One play. PAT--Todd Sievers (kick).

Impact player: Andre Williams, a 6-foot-4, 260-pound junior defensive end, made two big stops on Nebraska’s first possession. After the Hurricanes managed only one first down after taking the opening kickoff, the Cornhuskers started at their 34. On second and eight, Williams limited I-back Dahrran Diedrick to one yard going up the middle. On the next play, Eric Crouch appeared to have an opening on the left side but Williams seemed to come out of nowhere to drop Crouch for a one-yard loss, and Nebraska had to punt.

Missed opportunity: Cornerback Keyuo Craver’s interception gave the Cornhuskers a first down at their 33 and a pass from Crouch to Tracey Wistrom gained 18 to the Miami 49. Two plays later, linebacker D.J. Williams tackled Crouch and caused a fumble that was recovered by Miami lineman William Joseph at the Nebraska 49. Miami scored on the next play, with Ken Dorsey throwing a strike to Andre Johnson streaking down the right sideline.

Did you notice? Crouch threw only three passes in the first quarter. He had five rushes for 23 yards, but take away one nice run he had for 27 yards and you’re left with minus yardage.

Best number: Jeremy Shockey, Miami’s leading receiver, had only two catches but one went for 20 yards and the other for 22 yards.

Worst number: Nebraska fumbled twice, and lost both.

Second Quarter

Scoring: Miami 14, Nebraska 0: Portis, 39-yard run at 14:33. 86 yards, five plays. PAT--Sievers (kick).

Miami 21, Nebraska 0: Lewis, 47-yard interception return at 12:52. PAT--Sievers (kick).

Miami 27, Nebraska 0: Shockey, 21-yard pass from Dorsey at 10:40. 66 yards, two plays. PAT--Kick failed.

Miami 34, Nebraska 0: Johnson, eight-yard pass from Dorsey at 3:35. 55 yards, seven plays. PAT--Sievers (kick).

Impact player: Clinton Portis, who had only 17 yards in six carries, started the second quarter with a bang. On the third play, he went to his left, almost fell down, cut back to his right and ran 39 yards for a touchdown that set the tone for the Hurricanes’ dominant quarter.

Missed opportunity: There sure weren’t many for Miami, and nothing went right for Nebraska. After Portis’ touchdown, Nebraska ran three plays, then on third down a Crouch pass intended for Wistrom was intercepted by James Lewis, who returned it 47 yards.

Did you notice? Crouch finished the first half with two completions in seven attempts for 22 yards. Dorsey was 12 for 20 for 258 yards and three touchdowns. Dorsey’s 21-yard touchdown pass to Shockey made the score 27-0 with 10:40 left in the half.

Best number: Miami had 320 total yards by halftime, Nebraska 119.

Worst number: The number of Nebraska fans who came to the game.

Third Quarter

Scoring: Miami 34, Nebraska 7: Judd Davies, 16-yard run at 2:39. 68 yards, 11 plays. PAT--Josh Brown (kick).

Impact player: Through three quarters, Dorsey had completed 17 of 29 passes for a school bowl record of 324 yards. The old mark of 321 yards was set by George Mira in the 1962 Gotham Bowl, also against Nebraska.

Missed opportunity: Miami entered the second half 12 points from a school record for most points in a bowl game and got none in the third quarter. The record of 46 was set against Texas in the 1991 Cotton Bowl and tied against North Carolina State in the 1998 Micron PC Bowl. The first time the Hurricanes had the ball in the quarter, they were moving downfield when a holding penalty nullified a nine-yard gain on a screen pass to Portis. But a pass to Kevin Beard gained 22 and Miami was rolling again. But the drive stalled and Sievers missed a 49-yard field-goal try wide right.

Did you notice? Crouch completed one of three passes in the quarter and had only 41 passing yards through three quarters. Coming into the game, the Nebraska record for fewest passing yards in a bowl game was 108 in the 1955 Orange Bowl. Crouch did have 66 yards rushing in 19 carries through three quarters.

Best number: Nebraska held Portis to 16 yards in six carries in the third quarter and, better yet, held Miami to no points.

Worst number: Nebraska being outgained, 410 total yards to 185, through three quarters.

Fourth Quarter

Scoring: Miami 34, Nebraska 14: Groce, 71-yard punt return at 14:28. PAT--Brown (kick).

Miami 37, Nebraska 14: Sievers, 37-yard field goal at 10:04. 59 yards, 11 plays.

Impact player: Sophomore receiver Johnson was named co-player of the game along with Dorsey. It was Johnson’s best game of the season, as he finished with seven catches for 199 yards and two touchdowns. Coming into the game, Johnson was the team’s second-leading receiver behind Shockey with 37 catches and he led the team with 685 receiving yards. He averaged 62 receiving yards a game and 18.4 yards a catch.

Missed opportunity: It appeared briefly that the Cornhuskers had a chance to get back in the game. On the first play of the fourth quarter, a Miami punt went out of bounds at the 12. But because of a holding penalty, Miami had to punt again. This time, Nebraska’s DeJuan Groce returned it 71 yards for a touchdown and suddenly the Nebraska throng had something to cheer about. But Miami came back with a time-consuming drive that ended with a 37-yard field goal, and that was that.

Did you notice? On Nebraska’s final series, Crouch, after completing a pass to Wilson Thomas, threw four consecutive incomplete passes.

Best number: The game ended at 8:34 p.m.

Worst number: Crouch finished five for 15 for 62 yards with one interception and no touchdowns. He did have 114 yards rushing.