• Larry Asante at the postgame press conference:



LINCOLN — Larry Asante made the kind of hit you hear from across the field.

Anthony West knows, because that's where he was Saturday night when Kansas State tailback Keithen Valentine collided with Asante just before the Nebraska goal line in the third quarter.

The ball came free, the Huskers eventually got it and the NU defense had made another backs-against-the-wall kind of play that has become commonplace during this four-game winning streak.

“I was outside of the play on the edge and, I mean, you could hear it,'' West said. “It was a good hit. A real good hit.''

West said it rang above the din of 85,998 expecting to see Kansas State possibly pull within 17-10. Valentine had taken a pass down the middle from Grant Gregory and was on his way to a 13-yard touchdown reception, or at least first-and-goal from the Husker 1- or 2-yard line.

Asante, though, saw the NU blitz get picked up and a mismatch develop — and he came forward with bad intentions.

Valentine and Asante collided, and Asante put his helmet on the football. NU defensive end Barry Turner tried to pick it up before cornerback Prince Amukamara fell on it at the Husker 5 with 8:52 left in the third quarter.

“That was a dream hit, because he caught the ball and took a step and I was right there,'' Asante said. “I came up and hit him as hard as I could. It was a turning point in the game, and I'm just happy we were able to cause a turnover.''

Did he hear it?

“I didn't hear anything,'' Asante said.

Did he feel it?

“Oh, yeah,'' Asante said. “It felt real right.''

And it continues to feel right with this Nebraska defense, which helped secure the 17-3 victory and only the Huskers' second trip to a Big 12 championship game in the last 10 years.

Last week, it was Dejon Gomes poking a ball loose from Kansas receiver Kerry Meier inside the NU 10. This week, it was Asante forcing the fumble and earlier thwarting another Wildcat possession with an interception of Gregory at the Husker 16.

“That's kind of the way we've been all year,'' NU defensive coordinator Carl Pelini said. “We've given up a little bit in between the 20s and our guys rise up and keep people out of the end zone. I'm very pleased. I'm happy. I'm excited. That's a happy locker room in there.''

It should be.

Nebraska has now held 10 of 11 opponents to 17 points or fewer. Kansas State was the sixth to be held under 10 by NU, and also the eighth team that failed to reach 300 total yards (293).

On Saturday night, five senior starters helped hold it together in their final game at Memorial Stadium.

Asante had a team-high 10 tackles to go with his forced fumble and interception. Defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh had nine tackles, 1½ sacks and batted down two passes; linebacker Phillip Dillard eight tackles, a sack and a forced fumble; safety Matt O'Hanlon five tackles; and Turner three tackles, a split sack and two quarterback hurries.

“What they've been through here, I'm just so proud of them,'' Pelini said. “So much respect for them as people and where they were when we got here to where they are now. And they only accomplished it through hard work and determination.''

The turnovers made and caused by Asante on Saturday night helped the Huskers improve to plus-seven in turnover margin during the four-game winning streak, including 11 forced.

The Husker secondary continued to play a role in the season totals, now accounting for 11 interceptions, eight forced fumbles and four recoveries. By comparison, a year ago the NU secondary had six interceptions, four forced fumbles and two recoveries.

“It's just becoming more mature as a group,'' said Marvin Sanders, the secondary coach. “Guys are understanding our scheme better and playing with more confidence. Because once you have that ability to make plays, the confidence gives you the opportunities, because then you'll start taking some chances.''

Asante's was hardly a risk. Just a well-timed arrival.

“Larry's just a physical football player who loves to bring it,'' Pelini said. “You've got a guy like that at safety and he's going to make those hits that cause fumbles and cause interceptions, and he's done it a number of times. He made a great play. It was a big play, a pivotal play in the ballgame.''

Just two weeks before, Asante had taken a knee to the back of the helmet and got knocked woozy against Oklahoma. It never came to mind as Valentine barreled towards him.

“You have to forget about it,'' Asante said. “You can't have that on your mind when you're out there, or you're going to play timid.''

Kansas State threatened often against the Huskers, but it never scored after kicking a field goal on its first possession.

The Wildcats were stymied in NU territory on their final two series of the first half, with the Asante interception and a missed field goal. After the third-quarter fumble, the Huskers tightened when K-State followed with first downs at the 18 (missed field goal) and 32 (punt after a third-down sack by Dillard), and again in the fourth after a first down at the 25 (on downs after Suh and Turner shared a sack on third down).

“One thing I always talk about is how resilient our guys are,'' Sanders said.

Two of them in the secondary — Asante and O'Hanlon — won't be around much longer. Sanders shook his head at the thought.

“Those two guys have been real special to me,'' he said.

Contact the writer:

444-1042, rich.kaipust@owh.com

• Ndamukong Suh after the Huskers' 17-3 win over Kansas State:




• Nebraska-Kansas State highlights:

« Sports - Big Red Today

Share