Nebraska's offense unstoppable at Fiesta Bowl TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) - At its best, the option is unstoppable, and Nebraska was at its best in the second half of the Fiesta Bowl. In touchdown drives of 96 and 99 yards, followed by a marathon, 7-minute, 25-second march to end the game, the third-ranked Cornhuskers used a deadly combination of speed and strength Sunday night to beat No. 6 Tennessee 31-21. "We had to be the most physical team," Nebraska quarterback Eric Crouch said. "I think it showed." Crouch was the game's MVP. The shifty, lightning-quick sophomore at the controls of Nebraska's offense never was corralled by the Volunteers for long. This time, after Tennessee cut the lead to 17-14 following a fumble by the Huskers on the first play of the second half. Then, Nebraska's offense took over. The Cornhuskers went 96 yards in nine plays, with Crouch throwing to wide-open tight end Aaron Goliday for a 13-yard touchdown and it was 24-14 with 4:44 left in the third quarter. Crouch never threw another pass. A perfect punt pinned the Huskers at their own 1 the next time they got the ball, and they went 99 yards in 10 plays to take a 31-14 lead on Correll Buckhalter's 2-yard touchdown run with 12:01 left. When Tennessee cut the lead to 31-21 on a trick 44-yard pass play from wide receiver Cedric Wilson to Donte' Stallworth with 7:25 to play, it looked like a comeback was possible. But the Huskers, whose only loss was by four points at Texas, never gave up the ball again and the Vols could do nothing as time ran out. It was a sobering end to Tee Martin's magnificent college career, and it happened on the same field where he directed Tennessee to a national championship a year ago. In his last college game, Martin completed 19 of 34 passes for 223 yards and a touchdown. He threw two interceptions. One of them bounced off of Wilson's chest into the hands of Nebraska's Joe Walker. Mike Brown, the game's defensive MVP, made a diving catch of Martin's long bomb for the other interception. AP PHOTO The Cornhuskers dominated the second half offensively to defeat Tennesse in the Fiesta Bowl, 31-21. Originally on page 2B in the 1-5-2000 issue of the Daily.