The Lincoln Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • 31

Sports SECTION journal anb fetar Nov. 4, 1979 Lincoln, Neb. Home-Garden WMew! NU finally breaks Powers' spell HrtV rtf i kf Wf i fib (Ss I. 5 fw. fW I i fioi: MO 71 5J-99 170 24? 24 nnuin yaras 37 rasses Punts $-13-1 18-H-l Fumblevlost 4.1 4-40 S-4i Penaltios-vards i-66 Time of possession 2:02 Third down conversions 3-13 Fourth down conversions 0-0 3- 1 4- 30 30:48 9-l 2-3 By Virgil Parker Sports Editor Mo.

The Nebraska Cornhuskers survived two narrow escapes Saturday. The first was a typical Nebraska-Missouri football cliffhanger. Then, when leaving Columbia airport after a narrow 23-20 victory, their char-; ter plane blew out a tire on takeoff. That required an emergency landing in Omaha before reaching home. Coach Tom Osborne's Cornhuskers were able to keep their perfect record intact after Mizzou Coach Warren Powers made a last-play decision that will likely be debated and discussed in Tiger Coun- Sea son's Nebraska (8-0) records.

Missouri (4-4) San Diego St 45-15 Illinois 14-4 Mississippi 33-7 Texas 0-21 Okla. St 13-14 Colorado 13-7 Kansas St 3-19 Nebraska 20-23 10 at Iowa St. 17 Oklahoma N24at Kansas Utah St 35-14 Iowa 24-21 Penn State 42-17 N.Mex. St 37-0 Kansas 42-0 Ok 10. St 34-0 Colorado 38-10 Missouri 23-20 NIOat Kansas St.

17 Iowa State N24at Oklahoma try for some time. Powers declined the chance to tie the nation's No. 2 ranked Huskers with a chip shot field goal on that final play, instead trying a go-for-broke pass play from the NU 11-yard line. But NU defensive end Derrie Nelson foiled the attempt by sacking Tiger quarterback Phil Bradley to end the heart-stopping action. "Our football team wasn't ready to play a team like Nebraska for a tie," Powers said.

"We needed that win in a bad way to stay in the conference race. I never did consider going for the field goal. I don't think our kids wanted to go for the field goal either. They wanted a win." Osborne refused to second-guess his ex-assistant coach, who had upset the Huskers the past two seasons with his Washington State and Missouri teams. "I've been over on the other side of the field when other coaches have second-guessed something I did," Osborne said.

"I didnt like it And I won't second-guess him." Unlike a lot of Husker faithful in the crowd of 74,575, the second-largest in Faurot Field history, Osborne said "I was breathing throughout that last play and had both eyes open." The Huskers had lots of heroes Nelson was the final one but as in the Iowa game, when he kicked a winning field goal in the final five minutes of play, placeklcker Dean Sukup grabbed the brass ring. Sukup had three field goals on the day the last break a 20-20 deadlock with 3:15 left in the game and a perfect HUSKERS: Continued page 2D TV Sports Scene Sunday Bowling Leisure Lanes, noon, Football Notre Dame football, 8 a.m., Giants vs. Cowboys, noon, Chargers vs. Chiefs, 1 p.m., Saints vs. Broncos, 3 p.m., QD Jets vs.

Packers, 3 p.m., National Horse Show, 6:30 p.m., CD Maverick highlights, 10:45 p.m., Specials i Outdoor Nebraska, 5:30 p.m., IB Hockey Rangers vs. Whalers, 6:30 P.m., CD Basketball Kings vs. Nets, 6:30 p.m., QD Neb. First downs ig Rushes-yards Passing yards 54 Total offense ,345 The physical intensity ol the play during the Nebraska-Missouri game Saturday resulted in sev- picked up just one yard before being tackled. The Huskers eral injuries on both sides of the field.

But Cornhusker quarterback Tim Hager (10) avoided in- average as the Tiger defense allowed just 345 yards by jury despite being collared on this play. Hager got the pitch off to I-back I.M. Hipp (32). who ground. Craig Johnson led Big Red rushers with 98 yards.

STAFF COLORPHOTO RAND't HAAAPTON were held well below their per game the NU offense, including 291 on the Gritty Nelson proud of key play Powers' TD gamble backfires for Tigers ize different schemes and certain techniques. Sc we started Jimmy Williams in the third quarter." When Mizzou scored two touchdowns within eight seconds of each other in the final seconds of the third period, Darlington talked to Dan Lindstrom about playing the fourth quarter. But Nelson cleared his mind, answered the right questions and returned to the lineup. Shortly thereafter, he sprained his ankle on a crackback block when Wilder caught a screen pass. "I couldn't catch him," Nelson said.

"I couldn't even run." True grit, and a taped ankle, kept Nelson going. "I was hurting so much that L.C. and I were shifting sides without even asking the coaches," Nelson said. "I asked him to take the wide side, so I could take the weak side and not have so far to run every time." "Yeh," said Cole, Nebraska's captain who was hoarse and coughing in the locker room. "I did the work and Derrie got the glory.

I would have been the weak-side end on that last play." Cote, of course, was only kidding. He was as relieved as Nelson by the sack. "The tight end released and I used my goal line technique to get by him," Nelson said. "Their tackle picked up our tackle and I had a clean shot at Bradley. "I was hobbling and I had to be coming in awfully slow, but I got in there quicker than I thought I would.

There must have been good pass coverage. I thought Bradley would start scrambling, but he didn't. 1 could see his eyes grow a utile NELSON Continued pose 20 By Randy York Staff Sports Writer COLUMBIA. Mo. Derrie Nelson's game-saving tackle was achieved or.

one leg and with a semi-clear mind and should have been L.C Cole's against Missouri here Saturday. But Nebraska's junior defensive right end wasn't about 10 piay Mr. Humility. He was proud of his sack of Tiger quarterback Phil Bradley on the game's final play in Nebraska's 23-20 win over Mizzou and he had every right to be. After all Nelson probably shouldn't even have been in the game.

He'd been knocked dingy late in the first half, missed almost all of third quarter, then suffered a severely sprained ankle shortly after he returned. Most players would have been down for the count. But Nebraska's athlete from Class Fairmont made a Class A recovery to nail Bradley for an 18-yard loss when the Missouri quarterback tried to find James Wilder on a delay pass from the NU 11 with no time remaining. "For a one-legged guy, it wasnt bad," Nelson said when Nebraska Defensive End Coach George Darlington approached him in the locker room to offer his congratulations. Just before the half ended, Nelson knocked out Missouri's Paul Gadt on a punt return and knocked himself a little dizzy in the process.

"I didn't have a grip on things," he admitted. "I was hurting. I was really hurting." "He didn't know his responsibilities," Darlington said. "He knew his name and things like that, but he couldn't conceptual By Mike Babcock Staff Sports Writer COLUMBIA, Mo. Missouri quarter-nack Phil Bradley was supposed to throw the football to James Wilder coming out of the Tiger backf ield.

Wilder would delay, go through the motions of blocking, and then slide underneath Nebraska's pass coverage. It was nothing fancy, but it was designed to utilize the bullish strength of Missouri's 6-2, 215-pound running back. The same play had worked on a fourth down and seven to keep Missouri's 90-yard touchdown drive alive late in the third quarter. Bradley tossed the ball to Wilder for 16 yards and a first down at the Nebraska 18-yard line then, and Tiger Coach Warren Powers figured it would be good for II yards and a game-winning touchdown with three seconds left in Saturday's game. Most of the 74,575 fans in Faurot Field seemed to think Powers was willing to bet a tie that the play would work.

They were certain Missouri could have kicked a field goal. Wilder thought the Tigers would. "I figured we'd go for a field goal," he said. "But we needed to beat Nebraska; a tie wouldn't have done us any good." So Powers wagered the field goal and lost final score: Nebraska 23, Missouri 20. "Wilder got hung up in there and just couldnt get out in time," said Powers, trying to hold back tears long after the game had ended.

"I wasnt going for a field goaL If we had been 6-1 and still in contention for the conference championship, sure we'd have gone for it (the field goal) because we'd still have Oklahoma to play. "But we needed to win this game. Besides, nothing says you're going to make the field goal" he said. Ron Verrilli, who missed Missouri's only attempted extra-point kick, would have tried the close-to-30-yard field goal. Powers said, admitting that such an attempt was a distant second to trying the pass to Wilder.

Nebraska defensive end Derrie Nelson translated Powers' decision into an 18-yard loss and the eighth straight victory for the No. 2 Cornhuskers. "I was looking for Wilder across the middle, but he got knocked down. By the time he got up, he was covered," said Bradley, the victim of Nelson's sack. Bradley connected on seven straight passes during Missouri's final drive, which carried 69 yards.

The junior from Macomb, II, finished tl. day with 18 completions in 28 after its for 170 yards and one touchdowa finished as his No. 1 targeL catching ii ur for 44 yards Gerry Ellis, the Tigers' other running back, also caught four passes for 34 yards. "We just kinda took what they gave us. Their defense gives you the short passes," said Bradley.

But the Huskers didn't give him that critical 11-yarder. "Basically, that's a one-man pass," Bradley said of his alternatives on the short toss to Wilder underneath the secondary coverage. "I didn't have time anyway. By the time I realized I couldnt get him the ball, I was on the ground." Bradley avoided criticizing Powers' Ml SSOU Rl Continued pose 20 Norris eager for chance to play Pius ing the panic-button in calling such a Saturday practice Just because the Titans are playing Pius that's not necessarily so. "We took a portable radio out onto the field while we stretched out today," Pool admits.

"Plus Jerry (Schmutte) and I listened to the end of the game while driving home from school after practice was over." pion Lincoln Pius Tuesday night at Nebraska Wesleyan's O.N. Magee Stadium. Pool is just awaiting the official word from the Nebraska School Activities Association (NSAA) Sunday to confirm his plans for what he hopes is a busy week after the Titans upset previously third-ranked Crete 7-0 Friday night to clinch the district 1 championship. But before anyone thinks Pool is press By Chuck Sinclair Prep Sports Editor You know Norris football Coach Dennis Pool had his mind on the task at hand when he called Saturday afternoon football practice conflicting with the Nebraska-Missouri football game. The task at hand is an apparent Class state football playoff quarterfinal appearance against defending state cham Projected playoff pairings Instead of pressing the panic-button over the prospects of playing Pius the state's No.

7 ranked Class team this week. Pool Is looking forward to it When he first heard it was a possibility Friday night, Pool greeted the news with a simple reply "good." But his emotional response had nothing to do with the fact that Pius had not won a game since the month of September, nor the fact that Norris is rated four spots ahead of Pius at No. 3 in this week's Sunday Journal and Star prep ratings. It was based on respect of both the Pius and Norris programs. "I'm looking forward to the opportunity," Pool said "When I talk to some people and they find out we're going to open with Pius, they just say, 'oh'.

There's this thing some people have about playing Pius X. Vlnce (Aldrtch) Is a super coach, and he is able to get a lot out of his kids, but I feel our kids are pretty super, too. They deserve a chance to play someone tike Plus. We think we can get them. We really do." The fact that Pius and Norris both come out of the same district, and haven't played each other also makes the PLAYOFFS: Continued pose 11D How AP's top 20 fared Next week opponent 1.

Alabama (84) del. Mississippi State, 24-7 at LSD 2. Nebraska (84) del. Missouri, 23-20 at Kansas St. 3.

USC (84-1 def Arizona, 34-7 at Washington 4. Houston (84) def. TCU, 21-10 5. Ohio State (94) def. Illinois, 44-7 Iowa 6.

Florida State (84) def. Cincinnati, 26-21 S. Carolina 7. Oklahoma (7-1) def. Oklahoma State, 36-7 Kansas 6.

Texas (6-1 def. Texos Tech, 14-7 at Houston 9. Arkansas (7-1) def. Rice, 34-7 Baylor 10. Michigan (8-1) def.

Wisconsin, 544 at Purdue 11. Brtgham Young (84) def. Colorado State, 30-7 at L. Beach St. 12.

Pitt (7-1) def. Syracuse, 21-21 at W. Virginia 13. Notre Dame (6-2) def. Now, 144 of Tennessee 14.

Wake Forest (7-2) lost to Clemsoa 314........... Duke 15. Purdue (7-2) def. Iowa, 20-14 Mich too 14. Washington (4-2) def.

Col, 2S-24 USC 17. Tennessee (4-3) lost to Rutgers, 13-7 Notre Dome 15. North Carolina (5-M) lost to Maryland, 17-14 ClemiM 19. Penn State (5-3) lost lo Miami, 24-10 at N. State 21.

Auburn (4-2) def. Florida, 19-13 Mte. SJ. Norris (8-1), 41.6 at Lincoln Plus (4-2-1), 41.4 Gothenburg (7-1), 41.2 at Portsmouth Aurora (9-0), 45.8 at Columbus Lakeview (8-1), 41.1 Class C-1 Oshkosh (8-1), 42.2 at Fremont Bergan (81), 47.4 Louisville (9-0), 45.8 at Mllford (84-1), 45.5 Grand Island CC (8-1), 44.4 at Bennington (9-0), 45.8 Battle Creek (94), 45.8 at Oakland-Craig (8-1), 43.3 Class C-2 Weeping Water (8-1), 41.1 at Grant (9-0) 46.4 Orchard (84-1), 43.5 at Coleridge (7-1-1), 42.2 Overton (8-1), 42.2 at Cambridge (84), 45.7 Ansley (84), 45.7 otN.lson (8-1), 42.2 Class D-l Harrlsburg (8-1) 42.7 at Spalding Academy (94), 47.6 Shelby (94), 45.8 ot Shlcklev (94), 45.8 Adams (94), 45.8 at Beemer (84), 46.3 Dawson-Verdon (94), 46.4 at Stopteton (94), 45.8 Class D-2 Elk Creek (S-4), 36.1 at Wheatland (8-0-1), 45.2 Hlldreth (8-1), 41.4 ot Snyder (8-1), 41.4 Bortley (6-1), 41 .4 at DU (7-1), 41.8 Trumbull (8-1), 42.2 at Arthur (8-1), 41.1 Class A Millard (4-2-3), 39.4 at Crelghton Prep Omaha Westslde (8-1), 41.6 at Omaha Burke (8-1), 41.1 (IF COIN FLIP MAKES GRAND ISLAND THE NO. 6 SEED) Grand Island (6-2-1), 40.0 ot Lincoln Southeast (8-1), 42.7 Lincoln East (8-1), 43.3 at Fremont (6-2-1), 40.0 (IF COIN FLIP MAKES FREMONT THE NO.

SEED) Fremont (6-2-1), 40.0 at Lincoln Southeast (8-1), 42.7 Lincoln East (8-1), 43.3 at Grand Island (6-2-1), 40.0 Class Plartevlew (8-1), 41.1 at McCook (S-0), 46.3.