Sept. 15, 2007

Final Stats

OMAHA, Neb. - Quarterback Zach Miller threw for two touchdowns, ran for two more and accounted for 354 yards of total offense, leading nationally ranked University of Nebraska at Omaha to a 45-10 victory over Western Washington University in the North Central Conference opener for both schools Saturday before a crowd of 3,872 at Al F. Caniglia Field.

UNO, rated No.8 in the latest American Football Coaches Association/NCAA Division II Coaches Poll and the defending NCC co-champions, improved to 3-0. Western fell to 1-1, having a four-game winning streak that dated back to last season snapped.

Miller completed 16-of-18 passes for 283 yards, including touchdown throws of 39 yards to running back Brian McNeill and 36 yards to tight end Mike Higgins, and ran for a team-high 71 yards on nine carries, with scoring runs of two and nine yards.

Western suffered the loss despite an outstanding performance from running back Craig Garner (So., Tacoma/Lakes), who rushed 140 yards on 34 carries, his fifth 100-yard rushing effort in the last six games.

"They're a good football team," said Western head coach Robin Ross. "Zach Miller might be the best player in Division II. He's big, strong and physical, and he's throwing the ball better now. I was proud of the effort we gave, we played hard for four quarters."

The Vikings scored their only touchdown late in the first quarter, when quarterback Adam Perry (Jr., Longview/R.A. Long) connected with wide receiver Rocki Sandusky (Fr., Ferndale) for a 41-yard touchdown.

That pulled the Vikings within seven points at 14-7. Western attempted to maintain the momentum with an onside kick, and nearly recovered it, but UNO took the ball at the Western 44 and scored just three plays later on Miller's TD pass to McNeill. On the next series, a Viking fumble gave the Mavericks the ball, and the following play, Miller connected with Higgins, putting UNO up 28-7.

"We thought that coming in here we'd have to steal a possession away from them," said Ross about the onside kick. "We had our hands on it, but it got away. If we get that, and go down and score, it's a tie game at that point."

UNO had a 496-326 advantage in total offense. McNeill rushed for 65 yards on 19 carries and had the Mavericks' other two touchdowns on rushes of five and two yards.

Western outside linebacker Caleb Jessup (So, Kenmore/Inglemoor) had 12 tackles, and middle linebacker Shane Simmons (Sr., Kent/Kentlake) had 10.

Placekicker Josh Lider (So., Bellevue/Sammamish) completed Western's scoring on a 37-yard field goal that capped the opening possession of the third quarter.

Perry, who threw for 362 yards in a season-opening victory over NCAA I-AA UC Davis, completed 9-of-22 passes for 104 yards.

UNO, which claimed its 200th victory at Caniglia Field since it opened in 1949, is now 61-8 in home games since 1996.

The Vikings meet No.2-ranked North Dakota in their home opener Saturday, Sept. 22 (6 p.m.) at Bellingham's Civic Stadium.

SCORING SUMMARY
Western Washington   7    0    3    0 --- 10Nebraska-Omaha      14   17    7    7 --- 45
UNO - Miller 2 run (Zuerlein kick)UNO - McNeill 5 run (Zuerlein kick)WWU - Sandusky 41 pass from Perry (Lider kick)UNO - McNeill 39 pass from Miller (Zuerlein kick)UNO - Higgins 36 pass from Miller (Zuerlein kick)UNO  - FG Zuerlein 49WWU - FG Lider 37UNO - McNeill 2 run (Zuerlein kick)WWU - Miller 9 run (Zuerlein kick)Attendance: 3,872