Lincoln Journal Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • 10

Lincoln Journal Star HUSKER EXTRA Sunday, November 2, 1997 Page design: Karl Vogel W4 '4 i 4 i i I i V-' i TED KIRKbncci Journal Star Black Shirts Grant Wistrom (98) and Steve Warren (96) force Oklahoma quarterback Eric Moore (3) to fumble that Wistrom recovered in the first quarter iNU's Wistrom hard on OIL then on himself BY STEVE SIPPLE Journal Star the Sooners, turning in his best performance of the season before an ABC regional television audience. "I have much respect for him he's an outstanding player," Oklahoma quarterback Eric Moore said. "He plays hard and he plays with emotion. To me, I feel like he's the leader of their defense. Everybody eke feeds off him.

He definitely deserves all kinds of recognition." Wistrom, one of 12 finalists for the Lombardi Award, forced three of Oklahoma's four first-half fumbles. The Sooners giveaways allowed the top-ranked Huskers to run away with their eighth straight victory. Wistrom finished with 10 tackles, nine of which were unassisted. He recorded two sacks for the second Wistrom's next two forced fumbles led to touchdowns. Wistrom came from behind and tagged quarterback Brandon Daniels on another first-quarter option play, and Tony Ortiz recovered the ball.

Early in the second quarter, Wistrom sacked Moore and recovered the fumble himself. "We knew going into the game -that Oklahoma kind of flags the ball out there," Wistrom said. "One thing this defense hadn't done is force turnovers, and we wanted to do that today." Wistrom said the Cornhuskers also badly wanted to nail down Coach Tom Osborne's 250th victory at Nebraska. "I think a big part of it was we didn't want to let Coach Osborne down," Wistrom said. "We all know who got the program to this leveL We just went out and played as hard as we possibly could today." Wistrom's performance can only help his chances to capture the Lombardi andor other postseason awards.

But he places little emphasis on individual honors. "That's up to you guys," he said, referring to the media. "I'm just trying to help us win games." Nebraska's game next Saturday at Missouri might be tougher than most people once thought. Missouri (6-3) recorded its second straight upset Saturday, beating Colorado 41-31 in Boulder, Colo. "I thought I'd never see the day when Missouri would whip Colorado," said Wistrom, a native of Webb City, Mo.

"That just shows how far Coach (Larry) Smith has taken that program." straight game after having only one through the first six games. Nebraska defensive tackle Jason Peter Wistrom's roommate and close friend said Wistrom was a little irritated by his sack production entering last week's Kansas game. "But Grant was still playing well," Peter said. "Sometimes the sacks just don't come. Then sometimes they come in bunches.

He knew the plays would eventually come his way." For whatever reason, Oklahoma kept running Wistrom's way, and he kept knocking the ball loose. On the Sooners' first possession, he smacked quarterback Justin Fuente on an option play, and the Huskers' Octavious McFarlin scooped up the loose ball and rambled 43 yards to set up a field goal. It would be safe to say Nebraska's most dangerous and disruptive defender against Oklahoma was being a little hard on himself after the game. 'I'm happy with how I played," Cornhusker rush end Grant Wistrom said. "But I did miss a sack I should have made.

That's probably the only play I'll tomorrow." I JWistrom, an admitted television junkie, need only check today's highlights of Nebraska's 69-7 against Oklahoma on Saturday to erase any lingering frustration about one missed opportunity. The 6-foot-5, 255-pound senior was "-a one-man wrecking crew against Makovicka roils up more big numbers Joel Makovicka had a record day for Nebraska fullbacks with three touchdowns and 101 yards rushing, all on 10 carries. The junior and former walk-on from East Butler scored the first Nebraska touchdown on a 5-yard trap, added another touchdown on a 37-yard burst through the middle of the Oklahoma defense and scored his final touchdown on a 32-yard veer-play through the middle again. "It was the biggest holes you've ever seen," he said. "The line was blocking just great all day.

It's hard to stop a runner once he's in the open past their front line and linebackers. We had people knocking down their people all over the Makovicka said Nebraska's offense also benefited from the flurry of short-field situations the Husker defense handed the offense throughout the first half "The defense really did a great job," he said. "We were starting on their 20 and 30 and 40 all through the first half." Nebraska's average starting field position in the first quarter was the Oklahoma 34. In the second quarter the average start was on the Ne? braska 48, and in the fourth quarter, the average start was at the Oklahoma 49-yard line. "It was nice to have that success, but more than me running for three touchdowns is the fact that we sut ceeded as an offensive unit and as a team today," he said.

"We have so many weapons on offense, and that forces teams to not focus on just one aspect of it." Makovicka said the pressure was on throughout the game. "We said in the third quarter that we were not relaxing," he said. "And that's when I had some pretty major holes to run through." I-back Ahman Green, who has seven straight 100-yard plus said he wasn't worried after he lost a fumble on the second play of the game. "I really thought the ball was down and they ruled the other way," he said. "I didn't get upset because I knew we'd get the ball back and I'd have to concentrate on what was coming up, not what happened in the past" Green finished with 105 His screen pass from quarterback, Scott Frost set up a touchdown in the first quarter.

He gained nine yards to set up another touchdown; and picked up 20 more yards to set up Makovicka's last touchdown. "I wouldn't say Oklahoma is in bad shape, but they seemed tired just when we were really getting it going," he said. "I'm not sorry for Oklahoma. We were just playing a game and we played pretty well. It was big for us to get the 250th for Coach (Tom) Osborne and it was big to take another step toward our goal of a national championship." It was the 15th time in Green's ca- reer that he topped the 100-yard mark.

He moved into third on Ne braska's career rushing chart and with his first carry of the game, a 15-yarder, passed the LOOO-yard mark for the season and the. mark in his career. He now has 3,101 career yards to pass Ken Clark (3,037 yards) for third on the career chart. He is just 52 yards short of No. 2 Calvin Jones' 3,152 yards.

Linebacker Brian Shaw on the play of Grant Wistrom and Jason Peter: "That was really inspiring to all of us on defense. It's exciting when you see it in their eyes that they want to make every play and make those plays all losses and funv. bles for Oklahoma. The whole defense rallied around that kind of excitement." ix Center Josh Heskew, a native of. Oklahoma: "I loved every moment of it.

We didn't get off to a great start with a lot of yards, but to finish with 552 and 69 points says we did something right on offense," he said. "We. adjusted well and I don't know if Oklahoma adjusted that well. "It was just one of those days to" win one for Coach Osborne and get over the next step in our season." Defensive secondary coach George Darlington: "We gave up the one long pass a 40-yarder that set' up Oklahoma's touchdown and that's disturbing because we haven't given up long plays lately," he said: "It shows we have to keep working and keep improving. That pass was against the blitz and we didn't covet the tight end and we should have.

"Overall, with the weather, the three Oklahoma quarterbacks and all the other factors, we played well on defense. But remember, Oklahoma helped us out with four turnovers." In the 71-consecutive game series that dates back to 1928 (the two teams have played 78 times), the' Sooners hold a 39-35-3 edge. But Os-, borne is 13-13 against the Sooners before the series takes two years off because of Big 12 North-South scheduling. Nebraska has streaks of 41 home wins in a row, 36 consecutive conference wins (not counting the playoff loss to Texas last year), seven straight wins over Oklahoma, 36 consecutive winning seasons, 80 weeks being ranked in the AP Top 10, and 220 home-game sellouts since 1962. BPlacekicker Kris Brown owns! the Nebraska career record for field goals with 34 and has made his last nine in a row, which ties Dale Klein's school record.

I. 4W 4 mp 2, 5j OUplan Heavens smiling for NU's Osborae Jt ails badly BY JEFF KORBEUK Lincoln Journal Star BY JEFF KORBEUK Lincoln Journal Star 6 Maybe God was smiling on him or i i something. A 1 Maybe it was a sign. Why else would two not just one rainbows pop out during a monumental day in Tom Osborne's life? The longtime Nebraska football coach was on his way to an historic 250th win when late in the third quarter two colorful rainbows arced over Memorial Stadium. "Maybe God Aaron Taylor, NU lineman 9 was smiling on him or something," Nebraska senior center Aaron Taylor said.

"I have no idea, but it was exciting." Top-ranked Nebraska pounded rival Oklahoma 69-7 Saturday Jmj: TED KIRKUncdn Journal star Freshman Kyle Vanden Bosch (83) gets a hand on a punt by OU's Brian Shackelford (88) as Huskers Jason Benes (24), Mike Brown (21) and Mike Rucker (84) close in. An illegal motion penalty on Oklahoma nullified the blocked punt. ma's next possession. This time rush tion," Wistrom said. "We wanted to end Grant Wistrom forced the quar- attack them a little bit more today." terback to cough up the ball and linebacker Tony Ortiz pounced on it Fullback Seth Littrell was one of Nebraska converted the turnover the few highlights for Oklahoma's into seven points, giving the Huskers offense.

The freshman ran for 88 OSBORNE ''The Oklahoma Sooners guessed they could keep Nebraska's defense off balance Saturday by playing thre'e different players at quarterback. guessed wrong. Instead, the Cornhuskers thrived on the situation, forcing the Sooners to' cough up four of seven fumbles and limiting Oklahoma to just 154 total offensive yards. "We knew they were frustrated," Nebfaska senior defensive tackle Jason Peter said. "They pulled (Justin) Fuente after the second series, so" we knew they weren't confident in what they were doing with him out there.

iitWe knew as soon as they brought in somebody else. We had to keep: the heat on them." ''The Sooners started Fuente, a 233-pound sophomore and at Nebraska with sophomore Brandon Daniels, a converted defensive back playing in only his second game at quarterback, and junior Eric Moore. Fuente ran Oklahoma's first two series and never played again. Daniels and Moore shared the position tlie'rest of the game with Moore running Oklahoma's last three drives. it Unlike Fuente, who is more suited to a passing attack, Daniels and Moore are option quarterbacks.

But against Nebraska, Daniels and Moore were left with little or no options, We were prepared for Daniels to ccrhe in and run the option," Peter said. "We practiced the entire week under the assumption that Daniels would be the Daniels tried, but the 5-foot-10, 6 Fireworks followed the presentation. Husker Vision showed coaching highlights. At the postgame press conference, Osborne said he was surprised by the hoopla. "I've been a very small part of (the success), and I really believe that" Osborne said.

"It's not a phony statement on my part." His reaction came as no surprise to his players and coaches. "He'll be the first person to downplay the significance of 250 wins," Wistrom said. "We all know who got this program to this level. We would give our heart and soul to the man because we know he would do it for us." Charlie McBride's Nebraska defensive coordinator echoed Wistrom's comments. "Tom is not a big guy on individual things," said McBride, who has coached with Osborne for 21 years.

"He'll say it's the assistant coaches and that stuff. You have a leader and you follow a leader. "The whole program has been organized by him. We might be a part of it, but he's about 90 percent of it" Peter said he was honored to take part in the celebration and be a part of the game. "Coach Osborne means the world to me and to everyone else on this team," Peter said.

"He's like a father figure for a lot of guys for out of state. We really wanted to play well for him tonight" We probably didn't do as good of job against pure running as we usually do. We spent a little more time on option football this week and little more time with the pass. Defensive coordinator Charlie Mc Bride at Memorial Stadium to give Osborne his 250th win. The Cornhusker coach has a 250-49-3 record and two national championships (1994 and '95) in 25 years.

He became the first coach in the history of college football (all divisions) to reach 250 wins in just 25 years. Penn State's Joe Patemo did it in 320 games over 28 years. After the game was over, Osborne's players gathered at midfield and seniors Grant Wistrom and Jason Peter presented him with a game ball. Osborne was joined by his family, Nebraska Athletic Director Bill Byrne, Chancellor James Moeser and President Dennis Smith. The players donned hats commemorating the event Peter spoke on behalf of Huskers past and present "We want to congratulate you on your 250th victory over 25 years," he said, his voice booming throughout the stadium.

Osborne recognized the school, administration, coaches and players. "But most of all I would like to thank the fans," he said. "You've yards on 21 carries and scored the Sooners' only touchdown. Nebraska defensive coordinator Charlie McBride said Littrell's success was the result of the Huskers concentrating on the option and passing game. "We probably didnt do as good of job against pure running as we usually do," he said.

"We spent a little more time on option football this week and little more time with the pass." a 20-0 first-quarter lead. Daniels, who had gained 84 on 13 carries against Kansas State, netted a minus six yards on 10 carries; He was sacked four times. Moore, a 6-foot, 188-pounder, didn't fare much better, although he led the Sooners to their only touchdown late in the third quarter. Moore, who had started the previous two games, had a minus-22 yards in rushing and was sacked once. "We played Moore and Daniels pretty much the same on the op- 222-pounder found little success.

On his first series, rush end Mike Ruck-er 'forced him to fumble after a three-yard gain over right end. Peter" recovered the loose ball. Nebraska converted the fumble into three points. been very aithf uL" Daniels fumbled agaiiyn Oklaho- li.