WACO, Texas — Once coach Bo Pelini realized the way Baylor was blocking Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh, he went immediately to Jared Crick with a message.

“Coach Bo told him to take advantage of it,’’ Husker defensive end Pierre Allen said.

The following stats would indicate Crick listened and understood: 13 total tackles, 6½ tackles for losses, a school-record five sacks and a fumble recovery.

“They were giving Suh most of the attention, and he took advantage and came up huge for us,’’ Allen said. “He played tremendous today, some of the best football I’ve seen from Crick since he’s been here.’’

Suh might be the Outland Trophy favorite or Heisman Trophy hopeful, but Crick was the bigger terror Saturday as the Nebraska defense held a seventh straight opponent under 300 total yards.

The sophomore defensive tackle from Cozad, Neb., recorded at least one sack in every quarter as the Huskers dropped quarterback Nick Florence seven times. Most impressive was a second-quarter play when Crick basically drove 315-pound left guard Ivory Wade back into Florence.

“It was a big day for all of us up front,’’ Crick said. “The guys up front were doing work. We just had some good breaks, and a lot of good things happened today.’’

Five Huskers had recorded four sacks in a game, including Mike Rucker most recently in 1996. The tackles for losses matched the school record set by Jim Skow in 1985 — and eclipsed Crick’s total tackles for losses in his first seven games this season.

“I’m honored, but I can’t take any credit for it,’’ said Crick, who had about 25 to 30 family members and friends in the crowd at Floyd Casey Stadium.

Suh deserved a share of the credit. Baylor leaned center J.D. Walton toward the known troublemaker to help its guards — and stuck to the tactic even as Crick immediately started making plays.

“I mean, Crick … he had a monster game,’’ NU safety Matt O’Hanlon said. “I think offenses are going to start hesitating about doing that because it just opens it up for other people.’’

Pelini said Crick is “too good a football player if they’re going to do that.’’ Of the Husker front four, defensive coordinator Carl Pelini said: “Choose your poison, right?’’ Their pressure eliminated any need to blitz and allowed NU to stay heavy in pass coverage.

Suh made five tackles, including 2½ for losses. Allen and Barry Turner combined for six more tackles, and each had their hands in a tackle behind the line.

But this one belonged to Crick, the youngest of that foursome.

“How about that?’’ Carl Pelini said. “Was that a monster game by him? I’m proud of him.

“He just plays his tail off, doesn’t he? He’s strong, he’s fast and offenses … I don’t know, you’ve got to deal with him. He keeps getting better.’’

Crick did meet his match. As Baylor receiver Kendall Wright came back to his left after running a reverse to the right, Crick was in pursuit when tight end Brad Taylor unloaded a blindside block that left Crick on the turf.

He was back the next series.

“I was definitely concerned about him,’’ Allen said. “But he just got the wind knocked out of him. He’s a tough guy. Crick is real tough. So I knew he’d be back.’’

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