LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Nebraska backup quarterback Eric Crouch managed in a little more than two quarters to do something no Cornhusker had done in nearly 26 years.

Crouch became the first Nebraska player since Johnny Rodgers in 1973 to run, throw and catch a pass for a touchdown as the No. 5 Cornhuskers beat California 45-0 Saturday.

"Any time I'm on the field I have to take advantage of any opportunity given," said Crouch, who scored three touchdowns and passed for one despite sitting out most of the first quarter and all of the fourth. "It's a chance to let this team shine, a chance for me to make a big play, a chance to lead the offense down the field."

Crouch, who lost a preseason battle with Bobby Newcombe for the starting quarterback job, was 2-for-2 passing for 102 yards and a touchdown, had nine carries for 21 yards and two scores and caught one pass for a 60-yard touchdown.

"The last time I caught a pass? It was in practice this week. In a game I've never caught a pass," Crouch said.

Rodgers ran, passed and caught a pass for a touchdown in Nebraska's 40-6 win over Notre Dame in the 1973 Orange Bowl. Rodgers was the Heisman Trophy winner that season.

Crouch's big plays and another shutout by the Nebraska defense made up for a lack of a rushing game. Cal (1-1) held Nebraska to 114 yards rushing on 48 attempts.

"The difference was big plays. You cannot be satisfied with holding down their rushing yards," Cal coach Tom Holmoe said.

Sam Clemons led Cal with 84 passing yards before leaving the game in the third quarter with an injured leg. Kyle Boller, a freshman, was 2-for-10 for 21 yards with an interception.

Cal managed just 40 rushing yards, led by tailback Marcus Fields' 29 on 14 carries. The Bears were also hurt by drawing 14 penalties for 110 yards. Nebraska (2-0) held the Bears to nine first downs and got two turnovers. The Cornhuskers have outscored their opponents 87-7 this season, but the wins have been over Cal and Iowa.

"Where we're at... I don't know," Solich said. "I don't want to take away from the defensive unit, but they will get tested down the road."

Newcombe ran for a touchdown and threw a pass to Crouch for another. He finished with 11 yards on 12 carries and completed 3-of-7 passes for 85 yards.

Solich alternated Newcombe and Crouch in each series of the second quarter and the move led to two big plays that broke the game open after a slow first quarter.

With the Cornhuskers leading 14-0 late in the second quarter, Crouch and Tracey Wistrom connected on a 70-yard scoring play to put Nebraska up 21-0. Newcombe took over on the next series and threw a short pass to Crouch, who had lined up at split end. Crouch caught it at the Nebraska 41-yard line and took it all the way for his second touchdown of the game.

Crouch's touchdown on a 1-yard dive capped a 9-play, 80-yard drive midway through the second quarter and put the Huskers up 14-0.

(5) NEBRASKA 45, California 0
(Recap)


                   1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH  FINAL
                   --- --- --- ---  -----
California          0   0   0   0     0
Nebraska            7  21  10   7    45

First Quarter
     Neb-Newcombe 12 run (Brown kick), :28.
Second Quarter
     Neb-Crouch 1 run (Brown kick), 8:44.
     Neb-Wistrom 70 pass from Crouch (Brown kick), 2:36.
     Neb-Crouch 60 pass from Newcombe (Brown kick, :50.
Third Quarter
     Neb-FG Brown 37, 3:55.
     Neb-Crouch 4 run (Brown kick), 2:54.
Fourth Quarter
     Neb-Alexander 5 run (Long kick), 11:47.
	
	
                       Cal      Neb
                       ---      ---
First downs              9       15
Rushes-yards         35-40   48-114
Passing                105      187
Comp-Att-Int        8-26-2    5-9-0
Return Yards             9       79
Punts-Avg.            8-44   6-49.5
Fumbles-Lost           1-1      3-1
Penalties-Yards     14-110     6-65
Time of Possession   30:53    29:07

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
	
RUSHING-California, Fields 14-29, Igber 4-17, Muhammad 4-13,
Echema 4-9, White 2-1, Clemons 5-(minus 12), Boller 2-(minus 17).
Nebraska, Diedrick 5-29, Alexander 6-26, Crouch 9-21, Perino
4-18, Newcombe 12-11, Miller 3-10, Evans 6-5, Kingston 2-4,
London 1-(minus 10).
 	
PASSING-California,Clemons 6-16-1-84, Boller 2-10-1-21. Nebraska,
Newcombe 3-7-0-85, Crouch 2-2-0-102.
 	
RECEIVING-California, Ainsworth 4-53, Fields 1-24, Surgener 1-14,
Igber 1-8, Young 1-6. Nebraska, Wistrom 2-102, Crouch 1-60,
Davison 1-18, London 1-7.
A-77,617.