Seattle, Wash. (Sept. 20, 1997) - A week after a sluggish performance against Central Florida dropped Nebraska to seventh in the polls, the Huskers faced their toughest test of the young season at No. 2 Washington. The Huskies were favored by a touchdown playing in their home stadium, but Nebraska set the tone early in the game and dominated throughout in an impressive 27-14 victory.

Washington took the opening kickoff and marched deep into Husker territory, but the Blackshirt defense stiffened and forced a missed UW field goal attempt. Nebraska turned to its power running game and marched 80 yards in six plays capped by a 34-yard run by Scott Frost.

On NU’s next series, the Huskers again ran successfully right at the Washington defense, marching 56 yards in 10 plays, capped by a 30-yard Frost run. An Ahman Green four-yard TD run midway through the second quarter pushed the Husker lead to 21-0.

Washington later rallied to within 21-14, scoring a touchdown just before halftime and another late TD in the third quarter, but Nebraska monopolized the clock in the fourth quarter, marching for two Kris Brown field goals to clinch the win.

Nebraska rolled up 472 yards offensively, including 384 on the ground, while limiting the high-powered UW attack to 342 yards and just 43 on the ground. Green and Joel Makovicka each ran for 129 yards and Frost nearly gave the Huskers three rushers over the century mark with 97 yards on the ground.

Defensively, Jay Foreman had nine stops while Octavious McFarlin had seven tackles. The Huskers harassed UW quarterbacks all afternoon, recording four sacks and 13 quarterback hurries.

The win vaulted the Huskers to third in both national polls and set the stage for a run at a third national title in four seasons.

Q: Do you remember who Washington’s quarterback was? Find out tomorrow as we recap the Nebraska vs. Kansas State game.

Nebraska’s 1997 Starting Lineup

Offense:
SE: 89 Jeff Lake, 6-4, 210, Sr., Columbus, Neb. (9 starts)
-or- 6 Kenny Cheatham, 6-4, 205, Jr., Phoenix, Ariz. (4)
LT: 73 Fred Pollack, 6-4, 305, Sr., Omaha, Neb. (13)
LG: 67 Aaron Taylor, 6-1, 305, Sr., Wichita Falls, Texas (13)
C: 59 Josh Heskew, 6-3, 280, Jr., Yukon, Okla. (13)
RG: 64 Jon Zatechka, 6-2, 290, Sr., Lincoln, Neb. (13)
RT: 70 Eric Anderson, 6-4, 305, Sr., Lincoln, Neb. (13)
TE: 90 Tim Carpenter, 6-3, 250, Sr., Columbus, Neb. (11)
-or- 34 Vershan Jackson, 6-0, 240, Sr., Omaha, Neb. (7)
-or- 88 Sheldon Jackson, 6-4, 245, Jr., Diamond Bar. Calif. (1)
QB: 7 Scott Frost, 6-3, 220, Sr., Wood River, Neb. (13)
FB: 45 Joel Makovicka, 5-11, 235, Jr., Brainard, Neb. (11)
IB: 30 Ahman Green, 6-0, 215, Jr., Omaha, Neb. (13)
WB: 14 Lance Brown, 5-11, 190, Jr., Papillion, Neb. (7)
-or- 5 Shevin Wiggins, 5-11, 190, Jr., Palmetto, Fla. (2)
PK: 35 Kris Brown, 5-10, 205, Jr., Southlake, Texas (13)

Defense:
LR: 84 Mike Rucker, 6-6, 250, Jr., St. Joseph, Mo. (3)
-or- 57 Chad Kelsay, 6-3, 250, Jr., Auburn, Neb. (10)
DT: 99 Jason Wiltz, 6-3, 310, Jr., New Orleans, La. (11)
-or- 96 Steve Warren, 6-1, 295, So., Springfield, Mo. (2)
DT: 55 Jason Peter, 6-5, 285, Sr., Locust, N.J. (13)
RR: 98 Grant Wistrom, 6-5, 255, Sr., Webb City, Mo. (13)|
SLB: 37 Tony Ortiz, 6-0, 215, So., Waterbury, Conn. (4)
-or- 46 Brian Shaw, 6-1, 215, So., Deweese, Neb. (8)
MLB: 44 Jay Foreman, 6-1, 235, Jr., Eden Prairie, Minn. (13)
WLB: 4 Octavious McFarlin, 5-11, 200, Sr., Bastrop, Texas (12)
LCB: 16 Erwin Swiney, 6-1, 180, Fr., Lincoln, Neb. (10)
-or-11 Jerome Peterson, 5-7, 185, So., Port Allen, La. (3)
FS: 3 Eric Warfield, 6-0, 195, Texarkana, Ark. (12)
ROV: 21 Mike Brown, 5-11, 205, So., Scottsdale, Ariz. (13)
RCB: 22 Ralph Brown, 5-10, 180, So., Hacienda Heights, Calif. (13)
P: 19 Jesse Kosch, 6-0, 190, Sr., Columbus, Neb. (13)

Did you know? Nebraska had 10 players on offense who earned starts and called Nebraska their home, while the defensive starters hailed from 10 different states.