Lincoln Journal Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • 23

Uncoil Journal Star Sunday. November 2. 1997 150 Page design: Karl Vogel HUSKER EXTRA 1 mmmmmMmnsmv 1 -j-Jtir-fWi iaiiii J-tr niiiWlilitiTiMill awl 'ii iltimiiiniiM RompOsborne uneasy, early on Mistakes? costly for Sooners BY RYLY JANE HAMBLETON Lincoln Journal Star if) I A "fuA "i 1 TED KIRKAJncotn Jounvl Star Nebraska l-back Correll Buckhalter (36) breaks loose from the grip of Oklahoma's Darryl Bright (95) and runs into the end zone for a first-quarter touchdown that put the Huskers ahead 20-0, with Kris Brown's extra point. Continued from Page 18 of the struggling team of the pre-. sent' The Huskers' other two jump-starts in Oklahoma territory in the first half were the result of a 43-yard fumble return by Nebraska's Octavi-ous McFarlin and a 57-yard punt return by Newcombe.

"I was uneasy early and we went through the first quarter and part of the second quarter without many yards but plenty of points," Osborne obviously had a big impact. "Maybe after a few bad things happened they (the Sooners) may have lost heart a little bit" The Huskers dissected the rest of the Sooners' vital organs. By the time a double-rainbow arched across the sky and pelting rain sent many fans scrambling for the exits, Nebraska had a string of remarkable and very un-Sooner- Husker-like results, including: Rush. end Grant Wistrom and defensive tackle Jason Peter personally tore through the Oklahoma defense. The two seniors enjoyed )what Nebraska defensive coordinator Charlie McBride said was, "The 'best day by two players as good as Nebraska has had on defense.

They got it done like no two others I can remember." 552 yards of offense, "And it was after we sputtered early, if you can say sputtered," said Nebraska center Josh Heskew. 142 points in two seasons against Oklahoma. DA fullback record of three from Makovicka, who gained 101 yards and said, "It was nothing really special. We were just Running right at them and the linemen did a good job all day." A seventh straight game of 100 yards for I-back Ahman Green. "It was a good day for the offense.

I think the Big 12 has changed a lot of things," he said. fit The biggest day for freshman receiver-returner Newcombe, who had 88 yards in catches, 19 yards in rushes and his first touchdown. It evened Osborne's career record against the Sooners at 13-13. Ended the legendary rivalry with Oklahoma for at least two years except a possible meeting in the Big 12 playoff next year with a resounding thud, punctuated hy fireworks after Osborne's award was presented. Nebraska had the game in such control that after building a 55-0 lead, even Makovicka said he could relax a bit "I remember (former Oklahoma tight end) Keith Jackson making those catches in 1986 in the last two minutes to beat us," he said.

"Every one of us who know the history of this series has seen the Oklahoma comebacks that would crush your hopes as a Nebraska aa" But the memories of Oklahoma's Jackson, Buster Rhymes, Brian Bos-worth, Bud Wilkinson and Barry Switzer couldn't make up the 62-point difference. The Sooners lone bright spot, a touchdown after the score was 55-0, ended Nebraska's shutout string at 2'i games. "I was disappointed in losing the shutout string," said Wistrom. "I had a dream that we had them down 34-0 and at halftime today we were ahead 34-0. 1 told Chad Kelsay about my dream and he told me I just woke up at halftime." Wistrom was the one providing the nightmares, though.

He was to blame for three Oklahoma fumbles. On one play in the second quarter, he sacked Moore, stripped the ball and recovered it He had two quarterback sacks and two other tackles for losses among his 10 total tackles. Peter finished with six tackles, one sack and caused another fumble. For the afternoon, Nebraska allowed just 154 yards of offense, limiting Oklahoma to 2.6 yards per play and setting the Sooners back for 73 yards in losses. "We didn't feel their new quarterbacks had played in a lot of traffic and thought we might be able to take advantage of that inexperience," McBride said.

"Wistrom and Peter caused a lot of traffic jams in their backfield. They set their sights on Oklahoma, knowing that a good day for our defense would be a bad day for Oklahoma's of fense. "I think it was a good sign early when Grant caused that fumble on their third play of the game." Osborne said the early success diminished his worries. "For whatever reason, I felt a little bit more on edge going into this game," he said. "I guess it's kind of the trigger of so many times in the past where even though you knew they didn't have quite the same record or maybe it wasn't quite the same magnitude of the game, that they still have some really good athletes.

"It's kind of sad not to play them for a couple of years because of the history, but life goes on and we have to play Missouri next week." i FIRST QUARTER Drive 72 yards in 1 0 plays. Other plays Ahman Green 7 run, Green 8 run, Green 3 run, Scott Frost 6 run. Frost 7 run on third-and-1. Frost 3 run, Frost 2 run, Sheldon Jackson 1 8 pass from Frost, Green 9 run. Conversion Kris Brown kick.

NEBRASKA 48, OKLAHOMA 0 Joel Makovicka 37 run (8:23) Drive 46 yards in 2 plays, set up by Brandon Harrison 17 punt return. Other play Ahman Green 9 run. Conversion Kris Brown kick. NEBRASKA 55, OKLAHOMA 0 Joel Makovicka 32 run (5:09) Drive 71 yards in 4 plays. Other plays Ahman Green 20 run, Bobby Newcombe 12 pass from Scott Frost, Makovicka 7 run.

Conversion Kris Brown kick. NEBRASKA 55, OKLAHOMA 7 Seth Littrell 2 run (2:05) Drive 61 yards in 7 plays. Other plays Littrell 7 run, Littrell 1 run plus NU 5 face mask penalty, J.T. Thatcher loss of 5. Litreil 8 run.

Littrell 3 run, Stephen Alexander 40 pass from Eric Moore on fourth-and-4. Conversion Jeremy Alexander kick. NEBRASKA 3, OKLAHOMA 0 Kris Brown 24 field goal (12:49) Drive 1 yard in 4 plays, set up by Octavkxis McFarlin 43 fumble return to OU 8. Other plays Ahman Green 3 run, Green loss of 2, Scott Frost pass incomplete to Shevin Wiggins. NEBRASKA 10, OKLAHOMA 0 Joel Makovicka 3 run (9:26) Drive 27 yards in 6 plays, set up by Bobby Newcombe 57 punt return to OU 27.

Other plays Ahman Green 1 2 pass from Scott Frost, Green 5 run Makovicka 4 run. Green loss of 1, Green 2 run. Convention Kris Brown kick. NEBRASKA 13, OKLAHOMA 0 Kris Brown 42 field goal (7:56) Drive -1 yard in 4 plays, set up by Jason Peter recovery of Brandon Daniels fumble at OU 23. Other play Scott Frost pass incomplete to Jeff Lake, Ahman Green loss of 1 Frost pass incomplete to Green.

NEBRASKA 20, OKLAHOMA 0 Correll Buckhalter 15 run (2:43) Drive 28 yards in 4 plays, set up by Tony Ortiz 8 return of Brandon Daniels fumble and OU face mask penalty to OU 28. Other play Joel Makovicka 3 run, Buckhalter 3 run, Frost 7 run. Conversion Kris Brown kick. The rainbow that lighted Oklahoma's only touchdown drive was one. of the few bright spots for the Soonr ers Saturday.

v-; Nebraska closed out the 72-game continuous series with a 61-7 victory that contrasted the drama, tension and thrills of previous Nebraska-Oklahoma games. The Comhuskers have won nine of the last 11, but the; Sooners still lead the overall 39-36-3. "First of all, there is no question Id my mind that Nebraska is a great football team I don't think that surprised any of us," Oklahoma Coach John Blake said. "You can't go out in the first have and make turnovers' like we did and give them that type of field positioa You can't cause yourself to make mistakes and turnovers and expect to have a chance. "We hurt ourselves.

You turn the ball over that many times in that area, that territory, it's going to come out to field goals and touchdowns." The Sooners lost three fumbles in the first quarter deep in their terrn tory, which led to two field goals and a touchdown. Nebraska used a 57-yard punt return set up its other first-quarter score for a 20-0 lead. Less than two minutes into the second quarter, the Sooners lost their fourth fumble, also on Oklahoma's side of the field, and Nebraska scored on the next play. "Considering the field position we gave them, I thought we played pretty well," Sooner linebacker Corey L. Ivy said.

"They're good. What can you say? I think we hurt out-selves, but a good team like that will make you make mistakes." Blake agreed. "I thought the defense did a good job," he said. "We held them to field goals after two fumbles. You have to make first downs and the offense has to feed off the defense.

They wore us down." The Sooners didn't give the Huskers the ball again in the game' but by that time, Nebraska's offense had found its rhythm. "Their offense takes so much time off the clock, running the ball," Sooner quarterback Eric Moore said. "You don't have too many possessions, so you have to take advantage of them when you have them. I think it just kind of happened on the touchdown drive. SA (Stephen Alexander) was side open and we got the ball him.

We didn't have any penalties that brought it back or mistakes." Oklahoma finally scored late tjn the third quarter after Nebraska had raced to a 55-0 lead. Moore found Alexander for a 40-yard gain to the 2-yard line and freshman running back Seth Littrell scored on the next play. "We just didn't work together as an offensive unit," Moore said. "Nebraska is a good defense, but evefy team has a weakness. You could see a little weaknesses in Nebraska, but their front four, especially (Grant) Wistrom, is so good that it helps everybody else." Youth, inexperience and a three quarterback rotation hindered tlje Oklahoma attack.

The Sooners left starting tailback DeMond Parker at SECOND QUARTER FOURTH QUARTER I think at times, things just didn't go their way," said Nebraska quarterback Scott Frost, who threw for 107 yards and ran for 66 more. NEBRASKA 27, OKLAHOMA 0 Bobby Newcombe 40 pass from Scott Frost (13:28) Drive 40 yards in 1 play, set up by Grant Wistrom recovery of Eric Moore fumble. Conversion Kris Brown kick. NEBRASKA 34, OKLAHOMA 0 Scott Frost 12 run (7:29) Drive 54 yards In 3 plays. Other plays Frost 24 run, Bobby Newcombe 18 run on reverse.

Conversion Kris Brown kick. 5 NEBRASKA 62, OKLAHOMA 7 Correll Buckhalter 5 run (10:21) Drive 90 yards In 1 4 plays. Other plays Buckhalter 7 run, Frank ie London 2 run, London 13 run, Buckhalter 8 run, Buckhalter no gain, Buckhalter 3 run, Buckhalter 1 run, Bobby Newcombe 36 pass from London. Conversion Ted Retzlaff kick. NEBRASKA 69, OKLAHOMA 7 Willie Miller 7 run (3:03) Drive 37 yards in 10 plays.

Other plays Joel Makovicka 4 run, Dan Alexander loss of 1, Alexander 3 run. Miller 5 run, Alexander 3 run, Miller 5 run, Alexander 4 run, Miller 5 run, Josh Cobb 2 run. Conversion Dan Hadenfeldt kick. THIRD QUARTER NEBRASKA 41, OKLAHOMA 0 Lance Brown 9 run (10:56) rtx vWsk Pa 1 1 1 1 Yards 10 13 9 4 Yards 43 8 0 0 A Gregg Ust 1 0 Aaron Taylor 1 0 Khari Reynolds 0 1 Brandon Quindt 0 1 SACKS Player No. Grant Wistrom 2.0 Mike Rucker 1.0 Tony Ortiz 1 .0 Jason Peter 1.0 FUMBLE RETURNS Player No.

Octavkxis McFarlin 1 Tony Ortiz 1 Jason Peter 1 Grant Wistrom 1 SPECIAL TEAMS PUNTING Player No. Yards Jesse Kosch 1 30 PUNT RETURNS Player No. Yards Bobby 2 60 Brandon 1 17 KICKOFF RETURNS Player No. Yards Joe Walker 2 34 DEFENSE TACKLES Player UT AT TT Mike Brown 4 7 11 Grant Wistrom 9 1 10 Octavkxis 3 6 9 Jason Peter 4 2 6 Carlos Polk 0 6 6 Eric Johnson 3 2 5 Tony Ortiz 2 3 5 Mike Rucker 2 2 4 EricWarfield 1 2 3 Joe Walker 0 3 3 Jason 0 2 2 Kyle Vanden Bosch. 0 2 2 Ralph Brown II 2 0 2 Clint Finley 0 2 2 Sean Apptegate 0 1 1 Josh Kohl 0 1 1 Chad Kelsay 1 0 1 Travis 0 11 Ross Tessendorf 0 11 Jay Foreman 0 11 Julius Jackson 10 1 Brian Shaw 10 1 Rod Baker 0 11 Brandon Harrison 0 1 1 OFFENSE RUSHING Player No.

Yards Avg. Ahman Green 18 105 5.8 Joel Makovicka 10 101 10.1 Scott Frost 8 66 8.3 Correll 9 54 6.0 Willie Miller 4 22 5.5 Frankie London 3 20 6.7 Bobby 2 19 9.5 Dan Alexander 4 Lance Brown 1 9 9.0 Ben Kingston 1 2 2.0 Josh Cobb 1 2 2.0 PASSING Player C-A-l Yards TD Scott Frost 6-10-0 107 0 Frankie London 1-2-0 36 0 RECEIVING Player No. Yards Avg. Bobby 3 88 29.3 Lance Brown 1 26 26.0 Sheldon Jackson 1 18 18.0 Green 1 12 12.0 Jeff Lake 1 -1 i tt. -'it 'Of I IAN DOflEMUSUncdn Journal Stir iNebraska defenders (clockwise from lower left) Brian Shaw (46), Grant Avg.

30.0 Avg. 30.0 17.0 Avg. 17.0 tWistrom (98), Clint Finley (20), Mike Rucker (84) and Mike Brown (21) si 1 to stop Oklahoma J.T. Thatcher (28) tor a snort gain in ine 'first quarter. Continuous series ends with a resounding thud OU notes OFFENSE RUSHING Player No.

Yards Avg. Seth Littrell 21 88 4.2 J.T.Thatcher 9 28 2.9 Buster Kuhn 3 9 3.0 Brandon 10 -6 Justin 1 -10 Eric 6 -22 PASSING Player C-A-l Yards TD Eric Moore 2-4-0 58 0 Brandon Daniels 1-2-0 11 0 Player 0-3-0 0 0 RECEIVING Player No. Yards Avg. Stephen 2 58 29.0 Mo Little 1 11 11.0 Ryan Fischer 0 1 ComeKus Burton 0 1 Dale Allen 0 1 Chris Lewis 1 0 Cedric Stephens 0 1 J.T. Thatcher 1 0 Stephen 0 1 Stephen 0 1 FUMBLE RETURNS Player No.

Corey L. Ivy 1 SPECIAL TEAMS PUNTING Player No. Yards Brian 8 259 KICKOFF RETURNS Player No. Yards JarraH Jackson 7 96 Chris Lewis 2 43 DEFENSE TACKLES Player UT AT TT Gana Joseph 6 6 12 KellyGregg 3 8 11 Travian Smith 5 4 9 Brandon Moors 2 4 6 TerryWhite 2 3 5 Martin 2 2 4 Sedrie Jones 0 4 4 Mike Woods 2 2 4 Rodney Rldeau 2 2 4 Corey Callens 2 1 3 Corey Ivy 2 13 Ontei Jones 3 0 3 Darryl Bright 0 2 2 Corey T. Ivy 0 2 2 Shaq Brown 10 1 Steve Williams 0 1 1 Yards 0 Avg.

32.4 Avg. 13.7 21.5 long. The players could see what it takes to win and play a team the caliber of Nebraska." Moore said the history of the two programs also has affected how the teams have fared recently. "Nebraska is on top right now," he said. "Their program is clean-cut.

They really never had big problems with the NCAA, like probation like OU did back in its prime. We're still home, along with their top two fullbacks, Michael Rose and Jermaine Fazande. Two true freshmen, J.T. Thatcher and Littrell, started in the backfield for the Sooners for the first time since 1983, when Spencer Tillman and Earl Johnson started in Oklahoma's 28-21 loss to Nebraska. "DeMond Parker is so good and so elusive, he gives us an added dimension," Moore said.

"Rose is a good blocker and so is Fazande. missed them. "Littrell did an outstanding job. He ran the ball hard and he didn't quit He even had a smile on his face on the sideline. It was positive to seea young kid come in and step up like that" Littrell rushed for 88 yards in his starting debut and Thatcher gained 26 yards.

"We have three great ninning backs who got hurt, but they taught me a lot," Littrell said. "DeMorJd Parker is one of the best backs in the nation, if not the best." This was the second straight garde the Sooners used three quarterbacks. Sophomore Jvstin Fuenfe started and had six straight plays, including a lost fumble. Junior Moore also lost a fumble and directed the Sooners for 32 plays add sophomore Brandon Daniels took 20 snaps and lost two fumbles. I "Daniel did some good things add Eric made some key checks," Blake said.

"As Brandon gets more advanced, hell be out there. The widd was too strong to throw the ball much, so we had to go and try to run the football You have to have trie threat to throw the ball to havens chance to get some running lanes." Blake said that played into trie strength of Nebraska's defense. "Nebraska is very good," he sai'd. "They are outstanding in quarterback pressure and on the rua They are very basic on offense. They just believe in what they're doing add they've been doing it a long time." McKeever Sooners need a clue By ryly jane hambleton tincotn Journal Star The end of the continuous Nebraska-Oklahoma series obviously isn't as emotional for Sooner players and coaches as it is for Cornhusker players and fans.

"I haven't even thought about yet I am more concerned with tny team getting better and preparing for our next football game," Oklahoma Coach John Blake said. Right now, it's a three-game season nd we have to get better." Quarterback Eric Moore and 'linebacker Corey L. Ivy hadn't given 3he end of the series much thought, either, although they agreed on why they want to see the series continue. "The whole rivalry there's something about that," he said. "I wish we could play them next year because it's a way to measure how good we are." Ivy agreed.

"I would like to see us play Nebraska to see if we can beat 'em," he aid. "They got us the last couple ears." Blake said the Sooners must respond well to the drubbing. "I don't think it is a question of re-! bounding next week," he said. "We just have to go out and get it done. "We've been struggling with obstacles, injuries and thing all year I SS-' 1 IT" fia p.

suffering from that But it a matter of time. Every dog has his day." Ivy said the mood of the Sooner team wasn't good. "Everybody gave up toward the end. I thought we still could get them. Well play the last games for pride, I guess," he said.

BTrue freshman running back Seth Littrell is the son of former Oklahoma fullback Jimmy Littrell, who played for the Sooners in the 1970s dynasty. "I talk to my dad every night," said the younger Littrell. "He tells me what I need to do and what I don't need to do. He's told me a lot about playing Nebraska. He rags on me a bit, but it's to set me in my flace.

If I can be half as good as him, 11 be happy." Osborne, who all week heaped praise on Oklahoma's talent level, said: "I think maybe after a few bad things happened, they lost heart" And perhaps some confidence in the leadership of their coach. "I don't think (it's) necessarily coaching," Nebraska quarterback Scott Frost said of Oklahoma's troubles. "(But) any time you're playing three different quarterbacks, I think it's tough for any one to play welL" Maybe by 2000, when Nebraska and Oklahoma are next scheduled to play, the Sooners' new coach their fourth since Barry Switzer will have a better clue. Continued from Page 1 coming from the Sooners' locker room. The difference: 'Dedication Sooner linebacker Corey Ivy, when asked to explain the difference between a once-glorious program and Nebraska's said: "The players and the coaches.

They are dedicated to their program. I feel like a lot of our players aren't dedicated to our program right now." Oklahoma's defense was game In the early going, but each offensive blunder made It difficult for the Sooners to keep playing. "As it went on, we were ready for it to be over," Ivy said. -1 RANDY HAMPTON Lincoln Journal star NU's Jason Peter celebrates after recovering a fumble. 1.