November 11, 2001 TAKIN' CARE OF BUSINESS. Huskers come alive in second half to streak past Kansas St. 31-21. Trailing Kansas St. 14-13, the Nebraska Cornhuskers got a signed, sealed and delivered wake-up call at halftime, then put things into overdrive to beat Kansas St. 31-21 Saturday in Lincoln. The Huskers are a perfect 11-0, 7-0. Kansas St. falls to 4-5, 2-5. Nebraska is now one step closer to a spot in the Big 12 championship game and can now see a rosy light at the end of the tunnel. That rosy light is a spot in college football's supreme game: the national championship game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. Saturday's game wasn't pretty at all times, with the Huskers down 14-13 at halftime, but the Huskers owned the second half to cruise past the Cats. Husker quarterback Eric Crouch had a good game, rushing 23 times for 106 yards. In the air, Crouch was not as sharp, completing just 3-7 passes for 60 yards, but two interceptions. Dahrran Diedrick rushed 24 times for 108 yards. At times during the first half, it seemed Nebraska was doing all it could to give the game away to the Wildcats. Turnovers hurt the Huskers and Kansas State was able to get into the end zone twice in the final 3 minutes of the second quarter. Husker Kyle Larson had a punt blocked to set up the first Wildcat score, then after stopping Nebraska's next drive, K-State drove 65 yards in five plays for the tying touchdown and go-ahead point after. But the Huskers had a response in the second half. Make that a booming response. The Big Red put together an impressive 77 yard drive to open the second half, added a two-point conversion, and Nebraska was ahead for good. In terms of statistics, Nebraska won that contest too, outgaining the Wildcats on the ground 264 to 239. In the air, the Wildcats managed just 37 yards, while the Huskers settled for 60. An impressive Kansas St. team showed up to play in Lincoln, and at halftime many Husker fans were scratching their heads saying..."This team did lose four games in a row, right?" But after the Huskers started strong in the second-half, Husker fans were able to settle back, relax a bit, and enjoy a huge win over one of its most bitter rivals. Revenge is sweet. The loss may have knocked Kansas St. out of a bowl game this year, as they must win their final games against Louisiana Tech and Missouri to even have a shot at going anywhere during bowl season. Nebraska on the other hand will be in a bowl game and quite possibly the grand daddy of them all. The Rose Bowl! But first, the Huskers must beat Colorado on the day after Thanksgiving in Boulder, a team that has played Nebraska very close for five straight years. Should be a helluva game. Way to go, Big Red! Husker Hot Pics NU-KSU Game Story from ESPN NU-KSU Box Score Nebraska Stats Game story from AP NEW POLLS DON'T AGREE ON #1:Nebraska grabs top spot in new USA Today/ESPN poll, but remains #2 in AP Poll. USA Today/ESPN Poll AP Poll Feedback