Lincoln Journal Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • 27

Ipage design: Jule Koch HUSKER EXTRA Sunday, November 9, 1997 15B MwmmfhM ,1. 1 RANDY HAMPTONLineotn Journal Star Missouri running back Brock Olivo (27) gets a block from fullback Ron Janes on NU linebacker Jay Foreman (44) on a 1 -yard touchdown dive in the first quarter of Saturday's wild game at Columbia, Mo. Tigers9 emotions so fro -A- MISSOURI 7, NEBRASKA 0 Brock Olivo 1 run (9:23) Driv 78 yardi in 12 play. Othr play K. Layman 6 pass from Corby Jones, Otvo 3 run, Jones 1.

0. 1, 13 runs. E. Blackwel 3 run. E.

Brooks 34 pass from Jones, R. Janes 4 run, Jones Incomplete pass, Jones 17 run. Conversion Scott Knickman kick. MISSOURI 7, NEBRASKA 7 Scott Frost 15 run (5:09) Drive 74 yards in 11 plays. Other plays Frost incomplete pass, Ahman Green 2, 10 runs.

Frost 13 run. Green 9 pass from Frost, Green 0 run, Frost 4, runs, Green 18 run, Joel Makovtcka 2 run. Conversion Kris Brown kick. NEBRASKA 14, MISSOURI 7 Frost 1 run (00:25) Drive 42 yards in six plays. Other play Set up by 24-yard Missouri punt.

Green 15, 6 runs, Makovicka 8 run. Frost 11 run, Green 1 run, Conversion Kris Brown kick. SECOND QUARTER MISSOUR1 14, NEBRASKA 14 T. Coleman 1 8 pass from Jones (1 4:1 6) Drive 48 yards in four plays. Other play Jones incomplete pass, J.

Murchison 28 pass from Jones, Blackwell 2 run. Conversion Knickman kick. NEBRASKA 21, MISSOUR1 14 Green 7 run (10:08) Drive 71 yards in nine plays. Other plays Green run, Frost 15 run, Sheldon Jackson 15 pass from Frost, Green 2, 6, 21 runs, Makovicka 4 run. Frost 1 Conversion K.

Brown kick. NEBRASKA 21, MISSOUR1 17 Knickman 39 field goal (5:26) Drive 68 yards in nine plays. Other play Olivo 5 run, R. Ross 15 pass from Jones, Jones incomplete pass, Janes 4 run, R. Ross 36 pass from Jones, Blackwel 3 run, Jones mmus 6 on sack, Olivo 1 1 pass from Jones.

MISSOURI 24, NEBRASKA 21 Olivo 34 pass from Jones (3:29) Drive 34 yards in one play. Other plays Set up by S. Criss interception of Frost pass, 40 return and personal foul penalty on NU. Conversion Knickman kick. THIRD QUARTER sky-hign to roek-botto BY RYLY JANE HAMBLETON Lincoln Journal Star TED KIRKA-incom Journal Star1" NU fullback Joel Makovicka bulls for some of his 24 yards Saturday at Columbia, Mo.

FOURTH QUARTER NEBRASKA 31, MISSOURI 31 K. Brown 44 field goal (1 0:50) Drive 44 yards in 1 1 plays. Other plays Green 4 run, Frost 2, 4 runs. Green 8 run, Frost 1 1 run, Frost incomplete pass, Green 3 run. Frost 3 run.

MISSOURI 38, NEBRASKA 31 Brooks 1 5 pass from Jones (4:39) Drive 30 yards in four plays. Other plays Set up by Piersey interception. Blackwell 3 run, Olivo 5, 7 runs. Conversion Knickman kick. NEBRASKA 38, MISSOURI 38 Matt Davison 12 pass from Frost (00:00) Drive 67 yards in 10 plays.

Other plays Kenny Cheatham 27 pass from Frost, Frost 2 incorrK; plete passes, Davison 13 pass from Frost, Cheatham 8 pass from' Frost. Frost incomplete pass, Cheatham 7 pass, Frost 2 incomplete passes. Conversion K. Brown kick. "We still went out believing we'd get it done," Jones said.

"I just made one bad decision. I think I could have run for six or seven yards on the first play but it was a pass play and I went ahead and threw it to Ron Janes and it was a little behind him. I should have run because we would have been in better shape." On the second play, Jones started to his right but Husker rush end Chad Kelsay tripped him up. Jake Stueve just missed a third-down pass before Grant Wis-trom and Mike Rucker combined to sack Jones and end the drama. "We were out there going after them," Smith said.

"We had a couple of chances in overtime. Corby came within a shoelace of breaking that one option and the pass over there to Jake was just off his fingertips. "I don't think any Missouri fans or players are ashamed of that game, but it's still in the record books as a loss. That's certainly no reprieve or consolation. My concern now is bouncing back.

Come Monday, you have to put your biggest victory or your biggest loss behind you. That will be tough, especially mentally." There was a sense among the Tigers that this was very possibly the biggest fish they would ever try to reel in. "I thought we totally outplayed them for four quarters," said tight end Eddie Brooks. "If they're No. 1, then we're not far from it." "We gave it our all and had just a few bad breaks at the end of the game," Criss said.

"We had this game. We just let it slip away." Smith said the history of the series, which Nebraska has dominated, added to the emotion of the game. That and Criss interception, which set up Missouri's go-ahead score just before halftime to give the Tigers a 24-21 lead. "I told the kids at halftime that we had them right where we wanted them. It was a run-and-hit, block-and-tackle kind of game," he said.

"That interception was a big momentum play. We went into halftime with momentum on our side. "I think the confidence was there from the start, though. When you answer a play with a play, whether it's the offense or the defense, that spurs you on. The fact it's been since 1978 since we've beaten them is a motivating factor.

It was a great college football Receiver Ricky Ross summed up the emotions of the Missouri Tigers. "You go from so high to so low so fast," he said after Nebraska rallied to beat the Tigers 45-38 in overtime. A cloud of shock and disbelief hung over the Missouri team after Matt Davison's diving catch of a deflected pass as time ran out gave the Cornhuskers extended life. "I didn't have a vantage point," Missouri Coach Larry Smith said. "Some of our players thought it hit the ground, but I couldn't see." Defensive back Shad Criss may have had the best vantage point as the defender on intended receiver She-jvin Wiggins.

"It was close," Criss said. "I'm no referee and I'm not 'going to down the refs. They make the calls. They (Nebraska) got a couple calls, but I'm not going to make ex-Icuses. They're No.

1 in the nation and they played a Igreat game and we played a great game." Missouri's touchdown with 4:39 left in the fourth quarter had the second-largest crowd in Tiger history anticipating the biggest win in MU history. The sprin- klers that suddenly came alive in the south end zone had Cthe mascot dancing in the rain. The Huskers were forced to punt and Missouri pick- ed up a first down on a 14-yard scamper by quarterback Corby Jones, but the Tigers finally gave up the ball with 1:02 left That's why Jones wasn't as sure of victory as i the fans. J- "We've scored with a minute left and I knew with their firepower and the protection they were giving rtheir quarterback, they had the opportunity to do so," Jones. "But a fluke play in the end zone? What can yousay? "I never paid attention to the clock.

I was looking at down and distance and I didn't even know time had run out. The next thing I knew, the referee put his hands up." Overtime didn't scare the Tigers. They were 3-0 in overtime in two years and 1-0 this year, a dramatic double-overtime win against Oklahoma State two weeks ago. That confidence remained even after Scott Frost put Nebraska on top with a 12-yard scoring run. NEBRASKA 28, MISSOURI 24 Frost 1 run (3:00) I Drive 99 yards in 1 0 plays.

I Other plays Makovicka 1 run, Bobby Newcombe 33 pass from Forst, Green 6 run, Frost 3 run, Green 2 run, Makovicka 2 run, Green 39 pass from Frost, Makovicka 4 run, Frost 8 run. OVERTIME I Conversion K. Brown kick. MISSOURI 31, NEBRASKA 28 Jones 6 run (00:43) Drive 35 yards in six plays. I Other plays Set up by D.

West 62 kfckoff return. Brooks 15 pass from Jones, Jones 3 run, Blackwell 8 pass from Jones, Blackwell 2 run, Jones 1 run. I Conversion Knickman kick. NEBRASKA 45, MISSOURI 38 Frost 12 run Drive 25 yards in three plays. Other plays Green 9, 4 runs.

Conversion K. Brown kick. sfe Was- Pin i 1 1 Yard 23 20. 7 Yard 0 TT 8 6 8 6 6 6 5 4 3 3 2 2 2 Billy Legate 0 1 Clint Finley 0 1 CorreU 0 1 SACKS Player No. Grant Wistrom 3 MikeBucker 3 Eric Johnson 1 INTERCEPTION RETURNS Player No.

Joe Walker 1 SPECIAL TEAMS PUNTING Player No. Yard Jesse Kosch 2 70 PUNT RETURNS Player No. Yards Bobby 1 17 KICKOFF RETURNS Player No. Yard JoeWalker 7 185 OFFENSE DEFENSE RUSHING TACKLES Player UT AT Pfcy Vwd Av9- 6 2 Ahman 30 189 6.3 Jay Foreman 5 3 Scott Frost 23 141 6.1 Mike Brown 3 5 Joel 7 24 3.4 Correl 1 -1 jaSon Peter 4 2 PASSING Grant Wistrom 3 2 1- 1 i Mike Rucker 2 2 Player C-A-l Yard TD Erwin Svviney 2 Scott Frost 11-24-2 175 1 joeWalker 1 2 RECEIVING Ralph Brown 2 0 Brian Shaw 2 0 Player No. Yard Avg.

Johnson 1 Kenny 5 54 10.8 Chris Kelsay 1 0 Ahman Green 2 48 24.0 Tony Ortiz 1 0 iiu 1 19 Kyle Vanden Bosch 1 0 Matt 2 25 12.5 JoMakovlcka 0 Bobby 1 33 33.0 steve Warren 0 1 Sheldon Jackson 1 15 15.0 Eric Anderson 0 1 disappointment hard to hide Avg. 35.0 Avg. 17.0 Avg. 26.4 i It T'tT- BY RYLY JANE HAMBLETON Lincoln Journal Star COLUMBIA, Mo. There were ears in the Missouri locker room and misgivings about lost opportuni- But as disappointed as senior defensive back Shad Criss was, he was rv.able to put the game in perspective.

XJe tmrt iorsA if Via UiA a elixir foolinCT DEFENSE TACKLES OFFENSE RUSHING No. 21 11 Yard 0 Yard. 40 Player Corby Jones Brock Otvo Ernest Devin West Ron Janes 9 3 2 when Nebraska rallied for the victo- jy. "I'll put it to you this way: I'm going to see my family right now and that will end that sick feeling," tisaid Criss, whose interception set up J'a game-turning touchdown just be-jjfore halftime. "It was hard for me to i leave the field.

I told Coach that I just wish I could be there next year on the field when Missouri plays at Nebraska. I just might have to fly up 5- 13 10 10 9 7 5 5 3 2 2 2 2 Jason Smith 0 1 Player FUMBLE RETURNS Player No. Steve Erickson 1 INTERCEPTION RETURNS Player No. Shad Criss 1 Harold Piersey 1 SPECIAL TEAMS PUNTING Player No. Yards Jason Smith 2 61 Corby Jones 1 36 VinceSebo 1 11 PUNT RETURNS Player No.

Yard Ricky Ross 1 3 KICKOFF RETURNS Player No. Yards Devin West 2 72 Ricky Ross 2 67 PASSING Player C-A-l Corby Jones 12-20-1 RECEIVING AT 4 2 5 3 2 0 1 3 1 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 1 1 1 UT 9 8 5 6 5 5 4 2 2 1 1 1 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 Player Donnell Jones Wade Perkins Barry Odom Harold Piersey Al Sterling Caldrinoff Easter Marquis Gibson Justin Wyatt. Shad Kevin Ford Martez J. Marriott Terrence Binion Jay Murchison Brian McKeown Brock Olivo Steve Erickson Tim Mittelstadt Ron Janes Avg. 2.9 38 3.3 4.3 4.0 TD 3 Avg.

21.3 25.5 22.5 95 280 18.0 8.0 Yards 60 42 30 13 8 Yard 233 Yard 64 51. 45 19 28 18 8 Avg." 305 36.0. TED KIRKLmcom Journal Star Nebraska's Joe Walker (25) wends his way through a passel of Tigers Saturday. No. 3 2 2 2 1 1 1 Player Eddie Brooks Ricky Ross Brock Olivo Kent Layman Jay Torey Coleman Ernest Blackwell and see the game in Lincoln.

Criss was composed enough to make light of the moment when he was asked about his interception. "I don't want to talk about that because I didn't score," he said with a grin. "Actually, I kept looking for 360 33.5.- your quarterback is the No. 1 trigger Missouri notes guy. He was pulling the trigger.

them to cut back and cut back. It Hessler rallies Buffs past ISU NU's next foe as definitely a turning point in the first half, but I knew there was still a long way to go." Missouri Coach Larry Smith admitted his bias but he was also adamant. "If Corby Jones isn't the Big 12 quarterback, I don't know who is," Smith said. "Scott Frost is a very fine quarterback, but Corby really played with a lot of courage and heart." TT Smith showed he wasn't going to hold back anything early in the jgame when he called for his team to go for a fourth-and-1 from the Tiger Pl-yard line. Ernest Blackwell dove pver right tackle for the first dowa "When you're in a big game, you have to make some calculated risks fcnd gambles," Smith said.

"I thought that was as good a time to do it. Why until the end of the game?" Questions about Nebraska's tenuous No. 1 status in the polls drew -Varied responses. i "Are they No. They're a great Smith said.

"Who cares about (the polls until the last poll." While many Missouri players claimed to have seen the ball hit the turf before Matt Davison scooped it up and broke their hearts, receiver Kent Layman and running back Brock Olivo reacted differently. "I couldn't tell because I was on my knee praying," Layman said. "I was in shock," Olivo said. "I saw the pass get deflected and I figured for sure it would get batted down." Both receiver Ricky Ross and Jones said the Initial drive by the Tigers, a 12-play, 78-yard drive capped by Brock Olivo's 1-yard touchdown run, was crucial. "After we drove down and scored, I figured if we kept our poise, we could stay with them," Ross said.

"We turned things around three weeks ago and took it upon ourselves to go out and play with Jones agreed. "That first drive gave us a lot of confidence," he said. "Your first drive usually does, this against a team like this with a defense like this, that was especially important We knew we could move the ball but we had to prove it right away." "If we go toe-to-toe with No. 1 in the nation, then they're not No. 1," said linebacker Al Sterling.

"If they're No. 1, then we're not far from it," said receiver Eddie Brooks. "If they're No. 1, then we're in the top 10," Jones said. Smith said he will wait until next week to decide if the Tigers won a moral victory, but that the televised performance of his Tigers will help the program.

"In the game of football, you turn corners every week," he said. "We have some respectability with this." The Tigers didn't make any technical changes for this game, according to Smith. "The game plan was simple: just go after them," he said. "We weren't going to sit back. You have to call defenses that way and you have to make decisions tliat way, but you can't be stupid about it.

It was the same football we played all year. We didn't make any changes in the passing game. It just came down to Corby Jones making plays. When your quarterback makes plays, your offense is going to move and score. The rest of the team executed, but Hessler also had 7-yard completions to Anderson and Marcus Stingers, and Herchell Troutman rali yards to the Iowa State 2.

Two plas later, Cherrington burst through the left side for the winning touchdown to cap a third straight high-scorifig game between the two schools. Colorado won 49-42 in Boulder lasft-year and 50-28 in Ames two ago- Iowa State played most of the ond half without running back Da ren Davis, who had rushed for 508 yards in the two previous games. Davis bruised his left thigh late in the first half and carried only twicfc in the second half, finishing with $8 yards in 22 carries. "I'm sure if he did not go down; there would have been a possibility for a different outcome," Avey After rolling up 214 yards in the first half, Iowa State managed only 29 yards in the second half before driving 68 yards to get Kohl's field goal Colorado amassed 466 yards in the final three quarters to finish with 473. AMES, Iowa (AP) For some reason, Colorado and Iowa State run up and down the field all day when they meet.

And for some reason, Colorado always finds a way to win. Saturday, the reason was John Hessler. Hessler shook off two critical mistakes and directed the winning drive as Colorado won 43-38 on Dwayne Cherrington's 1-yard touchdown run with 9 seconds left. The oft-criticized senior quarterback also threw a touchdown pass and ran for a score in rallying the Buffaloes (5-4 overall, 3-3 Big 12) from an 18-point deficit to keep alive their hopes for a winning season. "There's not a lot of quit in this locker room," said Hessler, who was 24-of-40 for 299 yards.

"Nothing was easy. Every yard we got, we earned." Iowa State (1-8, 1-5) had gone ahead 38-37 on Jamie Kohl's 24-yard field goal with 2 54 remaining. -But the Cyclones couldn't make the defensive stand they needed and lost to Colorado for the 14th straight time despite Todd Bandhauer's three touchdown passes and Dustin Avey's 94-yard interception return for a touchdown, the second-longest runback in school history. "We couldn't have played much better in the first half," said Iowa State Coach Dan McCarney, whose team led 28-10 at the break. "We probably could have played a lot better in the second half." Ben Kelly returned the kickoff after Kohl's field goal 33 yards to his own 48 and after three plays gained nothing, Hessler made a huge play on fourth down, hitting Chris Anderson for 16 yards to the Iowa State 36.

"I'd say that was the biggest play of the game," Iowa State linebacker Michael Cooper said. "We held them for three downs. One more down and that would have been the ballgame. They just made the play." iney re not raiea no. i ior now ng.

I think that says something bout us," said Criss. '-1 -rt.