The Lincoln Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • 36

rrrrrrrrn 6D 4, 197? Lincoln, Sunday Journal and Star or wam9t it 4 -frFX iff wwr i-iif mull- frTfiffniiWiliM Kt i The most controversial call of the game occurred just before halftime and it was one in which both Missouri Coach vin, a wo.i-o nrw- inftx tAi- m.0!1t intaroct Micnri nnartprhark (81) as Keirj-Wetamaster (51) moves official in the backfield before Bradley in (below left) to help. The problem was had actually been brought down. The pass miiarort Qhnvo rmht hpinw wn hv Nil riPfPTisive Pnd i.awrinpp. Cole tackle Bill Bamett, but, because of the quick whistle, the Tigers retained possession. JfSdS was intercepted by Husker defensive year in a row.

And untU Derrie Nelson sacked Phil Bradley on the game's final play, such a possibility could not be dismissed. "The first time I ran the ball, I thought 'Hey, this is going to be the same as last year," Missouri running back James Wilder said. Last year in Lincoln, the 6-2, 215-pounder gained 181 yards and scored four touchdowns against the Huskers; he was MVP in the Liberty Bowl. But injuries have slowed him this faE Wilder missed two days of practice during the week, and he wore a vest to protect his upper body Saturday. He and Bradley, who also wore'Oiie, were the last players to leave the Tiger lockerroom.

Wilder finished the game with 87 yards on 29 carries, his best rushing effort of the season. He also was the Tigers' leading receiver with four receptions for 44 yards. "Nebraska is a physical team, and you have to get nasty with 'em," Wilder said. "They make you play." Ray was one of the nastiest Tigers Saturday afternoon, and no one on either team played any harder. As the big defensive end was preparing to shower, Missouri weight Coach Dave Redding came by to congratulate him on his performance.

"Think Junior (Miller) had his fill of you today?" Redding asked. Ray figured Nebraska's tight end PhH Rrarfipv HmnnoH Sfl Jlfir UT comes Only the shadow Ray knows Miller's moves tag with Miller, but he was also attributed with 10 tackles: one solo and nine assists. That total was second only to Tiger linebacker Eric Berg, who was credited with 14 tackles. Ray was convinced Missouri should have won the game without needing a touchdown at the end. "You know we were supposed to win," he said.

"We spotted them that first touchdown, and then we had those controversial calls happen to us like they do every year against Nebraska. "It was like they just slipped by us." Ray and his defensive teammates held the nation's No. 2 total-offense machine to 345 yards, well under its average of 517.1 yards per game. But Ray was willing to sacrifice that effort and gamble for the victory in the closing seconds of the game. He was behind Coach Warren Powers' decision to go for the win rather than try to kick a field goal and tie.

"I would rather do like we did," said Ray. "I had the same feeling. It was door-die in that situation, and that was a heck of a call I hope people realize that. "Coach Powers could have been 'Coach of the Year' if we had scored," Ray said. If Missouri had scored, the Tigers also would have frustrated Nebraska's bid for a national championship for the second By Mike Babcock Staff Sports Writer COLUMBIA, Mo.

It takes a big man lo Junior Miller, and Missouri defensive end Wendell Ray figures he has the size to handle such a task. The Tiger junior from St. Louis, stands 64 and weighs 228 pounds. According to Missouri defensive ends Coach Mark Heydorff, Ray and Miller make for a good match. "Coach (Heydorff) told me it would be just him (Miller) and me today.

It would be like the 'Super Fight' all over again," said Ray. His responsibility was to stay with Nebraska's big tight end Saturday afternoon. "Wherever he went, I was his shadow. The coaches said, 'Hey, just follow that dude' we had a good battle," Ray said. Naturally, the Missouri defender figured he got the best of it.

Miller didn't catch a pass, and h'f finished with only one yard of offense. That came on an end-around two plays before Dean Sukup kicked the first T)f three field goals. The same play produced gains of 34 and 17 yards last week against Colorado. "He's gotten a lot of build-up about being an All-American tight end and everything, but he was getting pretty frustrated out there today," Ray said. Ray was one of the busiest Missouri defenders Saturday.

Not only did he play Crrfafeer I -back Crato Mmsan (SO) was an important part of Nebraska's iDSTth-qaarter cotnebikck Jotaaon carried seven times to the winning 63-yard drhw wbjch vesulkd in a Dean Sukup field goal Here, he romps 12 yards to tbe ttoee-jwd Ira, setting up a first-and-goaL tmm? Si.