The Lincoln Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • 47

Sunday Journal-Star OCTOBER 30,1988 1 Washington 'State knocks down top-ranked UCLA PASADENA, Calif. (AP) UCLA's dream of losing streak into the game, has a 2-3 Pacific-10 Conference record and a 5-3 overall mark. UCLA ell to 4-1 in Pac-10 play and 7-1 o'veralL After Alfredo Velasco's 30-yard field goal with 11:39 to play put the Bruins ahead 30-27, Washing Pve been involved with." Rich Swinton's 1-yard touchdown run with 0:21 remaining capped the remarkable Washington State comeback, but the Cougars needed a goal- line stand in the final minute to put the Bruins away. ton State drove 80 yards in 13 plays all on the The Bruins got to Washington State's 6-yard ground to score the winning touchdown. on a 36-yard field goal attempt with 3:16 remaining.

UCLA then moved to the Washington State 45-yard line, but Aikman pass was intercepted by Artie Holmes at the Washington State 38 with 1:59 left "I read the quarterback's eyes, I read him Holmes said; "I took it from him (the potential receiver). It had to be done so I took It from him. Coach (Erickson) told me, 'We need a so I got it i "I wouldn't want to be the next team UCLA plays." A 31-yardVit return by Darryl Henley and a 33-yard pass from Aikman to Charles Arbuckle put the Bruins in position to win the game, but the Washington State defense did what it needed to "We couldnt get it done when we had to get it done," UCLA Coach Terry Donahue said. "I thought we'd get it done but it just didn't work out That's coaching, that's the way it is. "The league Is really good.

You just can't afford to not play well every week. Washington State played very well and they deserved to win. "I think everybody wants to knock off No. If you're good enough, you handle that and you de-See UCLA on page 2E winning a national championship now appears to be all but gone. Upstart Washington State, a 19-point underdog, outscored UCLA 28-3 in the second half on Saturday to win a wild 34-50 decision over the top-ranked Bruins.

"The biggest thing about this team, we get beat by Arizona State last week at our place and everybody writes us off," Washington State Coach Dennis Erickson said. "And we come back and beat the No. 1 team in the country. "How can you talk about anything but a great effort? Tm still in shock. This is the biggest win line with 35 seconds remaining, but Troy Aikman The march was aided by two personal foul penalties against UCLA.

On the ensuing kickoff, Washington State kicker Jason Hanson recovered a fumble by Brian Brown at the UCLA 37-yard line. The Cougars then marched to the Bruins' 19 where the drive stalled, and Hanson left urew four straight incompletions to finish UCLA. "We were the No. 1 team in the country and on track to the Rose Bowl and a national championship and we lost," Aikman said. "Words dont describe bow If eel" Washington State, which brought a two-game 0 survives: 1 1 attack; Jh lis By Ken Hambleton There were gasps of surprise in the first half as Missouri defenders slammed Nebraska quarterback Steve Taylor to the ground with a thud five UIIICS.

The gasps were followed by boos at halftime. Then, cheers, propelled the Corn-husker defense that held Missouri away from the end zone all but once, despite Missouri drives to the Nebraska 8-, 5-and 2-yard lines. And finally, one long sigh of relief after Bryan Carpenter scored on a 49-yard run to help No. S-ranked and 8-1 Nebraska pull out a 26-18 victory over 2-5-1 Missouri on Saturday. The gasps, the cheers, the relief all seemed to be a part of the game for Nebraska Coach Tom Osborne as well as the crowd of 76,316 fans at Memorial 7 "They blitzed from every angle.

And blitzed 70 to 80 percent of the time today. It's a Russian roulette type of deal," Osborne said. "Through the first half they won. "It's a deal where you're going to have big plays or nothing." Without the big plays, Nebraska had nothing. That's why there were sighs after Carpenter's winning touchdown.

"Oh, you bet there was a big sigh of relief when Carp made that run," said quarterback Taylor, who had been beaten, battered and baffled by the blitzing Missouri defense all afternoon. "I kept thinking big play, big play. And that was the biggest of the day," Taylor said. I 1111 1 4 f. i fyWOY HAMPTON SUNOAV JOURNAL-STAB The football is on the ground for one of 1 2 times Saturday as Nebraska l-back Ken Clark (partially hidden) coughs it up midway through the third quarter.

Missouri's Adrian Jones (2) and Nil's Morgan Gregory (19) join the scramble before the Tigers recovered at their 37. Carpenter broke open the Nebraska rushing game that had been cornered an afternoon. The Comhuskers led the nation in rushing and were second in scoring. Before Carpenter's run, Nebraska, which averaged 6.6 yards a carry an season, was able to gain only 0.6 per carry on 42 rushes. The clamor raised by the Missouri defense had Nebraska struggling to 15 yards of total offense in the first halt Blitzes by linebackers AJ.

Miller, Darren MacDonald and Ron Walters and strong safety Otis Smith had the Comhuskers reeling like no other defense had since Missouri in 1981 (a 64) NU win) and Oklahoma State in 1983 (a 14-10 NU victory), Osborne said. "Missouri has big, strong, physical people, and they played emotionally and hard," he said. "I hope people understand what they saw was a good game, The student section was booing us at halftime. Yet Missouri, when they play wen, they've got the people they can play with anybody. This was the most ridiculous point spread I've ever seen." Nebraska was favored by as many as 39points.

Taylor not only was sacked five times -for losses of 66 yards but also was stripped of the ball five times, losing three. "Tliis was a tough day to be a quarter I back," said Taylor, who was limping from a sprained left ankle and a twisted -right knee. "You just try to find some- thing that win work. There comes a time when you just cant stand things any-more and you go out and do it" See HUSKERS on page 6E Close isn't good enough for Missouri I By Ryly Jane KamWeton Coming close was little consolation for the University of Missouri football players Saturday. "This is the hardest loss ever In my career," Tiger sophomore linebacker'-Ron Walters said of the 26-18 loss to braska.

"I've never cried after a game but we came so close today. And then when we walked off the field and the fans were clapping for us, it broke me down. Because they realized how hard we had tried." The Missouri defense had given Nebraska fits throughout the first half, holding the Comhuskers to 15 yards of total offense in the first half. "In the last few weeks, the defense had been having at least one big lapse, so we stressed taking it a play at a time," said Missouri Coach Woody Widenhofer. "Our defense had a good scheme and during the first half, we had Nebraska a little confused.

We were aggressive and blitzed the strong safety from different positions. "As the game went along, the kids got going and got into a tempo, a better gear." See TIGERS on page 7E Hiiskers 9 Taor did tvfwt he had to Quote of the game Mike Babcock Columnist NU Coach Tom Osborne: "It's (blitzing) a Russian Roulette type of deal. Through the first half they won." Scoring, team stats Missouri 3 3 9 318 Nebraska 0 17 926 Missouri FQ Jacks 25 Missouri FQ Jacks 32 Missouri FQ Jacks 19 NU Milllkan 82 pass from Taylor (Drennan kick) NU Knox 1 run (Drennan kick) Missouri Jones 3 run (run failed) NU FG Drennan 29 Missouri FQ Jacks 51 NU Carpenter 49 run (run failed) NU FG Drennan 23 Say what you want Steve Taylor should have solidified his position as the All-Big Eight quarterback Saturday afternoon at Memorial Stadium. Never mind that he finished with a minus-38 yards rushing and completed only three of nine passes. It doesnt even matter what the films, show or how he graded.

Taylor put on arf all-conference performance. And Nebraska won. 1 That's the bottom line. "Steve got up and did the job," said teammate Broderick Thomas. Taylor was sore when he came to the interview room after Saturday's game.

That's understandable. It seemed he spent most of the afternoon on his back, looking up at a gray sky. i A blitzing Missouri defense sacked -him three times and rushed him countless others. "Those guys were, coming from everywhere," Thomas 14 from Nebraska's 30-yard line. An All-Big Eight play? "Steve showed he's a great football player today," Thomas said.

"You get eight games down the road. You haven't been hit And you get hit Things arent going your way. That's when you find out if you're a player or not" Taylor and those who watched him should have found out Saturday. "He's a great quarterback," said Jake Young, Nebraska's All-Big Eight and All-America candidate center. "I don't think there's any better in the country." Taylor never let his pain show, according to John Roschal, who played most of the second half at offensive left guard after Andy Keeler suffered a severe ankle sprain.

"Steve kept his composure," Roschal said. "He came out a leader. Once he got in the huddle, he was all business. "We knew he had to be in pain. But he didnt bring it into the huddle.

He left it where the hurt occurred. He shook it of f. That was inspiration for the line and the rest of the offense to keep going." When Nebraska took possession at the 50-yard line after Mike Creel's blocked punt with 6:42 remaining in the game, Taylor said in the huddle It was gut-check time," said Roschal Then he showed his teammates that applied to him as wen. Taylor took some good licks during the final scoring drive, which culminated in Chris Drennan's second field goal of the game and put the Comhuskers ahead by eight "The last hit he got, I didnt know if he could get up," Thomas said. He knew Taylor would if he could.

"I was screaming at him while he was on the ground, telling him to make sure he got up," said Thomas. "Steve always complains to me when I don't get up." Thomas didnt want anybody lending Taylor a hand, lifting him up off the hard, artificial surface. "I told 'em, 'Leave him alone. Steve doesn't need any help. He's going to get up.

He doesn't need Taylor got up on his own and led the Comhuskers to victory. His performance was All-Big Eight It was the sort of effort you'd expect from a Heisman Trophy candidate, even though Taylor's statistics Saturday afternoon were such that whatever slim chance he might have had almost certainly disappeared. "I haven't seen other quarterbacks who are supposed to be Heisman candidates take that kind of punishment" Thomas said. Taylor took it got up and had enough left to pull out a victory. "That's what makes you a Heisman candidate," said Thomas.

And, for sure, An-Big Eight and did. The senior from Fresno, is a bottom-line quarterback. Statistics are for losers. There are no statistics to measure Taylor's courage Saturday. Imagine what it feels like to be hit full force in that instant of vulnerability after releasing a pass.

Taylor would tell you, if he could find the words. That's what happened on his 82-yard touchdown pass to Todd MUlikan early in the third quarter. Taylor couldnt see the completion. He was on his back. Two plays earlier, Taylor was knocked down by Missouri defensive end Ben Corl for a 10-yard loss.

"I didnt think Steve was going to get up," said Cornhusker linebacker Chris Caliendo. "But he stuck it out "He stayed in and threw a bomb." Taylor was hit from behind after releasing a 59-yard pass to Nate Turner to keep alive the third-quarter drive that gave the Comhuskers a 17-15 lead. The completion came on a third-and- A 76,318. MU NU First downs 14 9 Rushes-yards 55-156 52-116 Passing yards 97 153 Total yards. 253 269 Return yards 15 21 Passing 6-15-2 3-9-0 Punts FumWes-lost 5-3 7-3 Penalties-yards 3-26 7-47 Time of possession 31:02 28:58 Third-down conversions 4-19 3-13 Fourth-down conversions 2-2 0-1 Sometimes, Taylor got up slowly.

'But he always got up. For that, "you've got to respect Mm," said Thomas, who's dene his share of knocking down quarterbacks. "Like playing (Oklahoma State tailback) Barry Sanders. You pound the guy and pound the guy, and he still gets what he came to get" Taylor came to Memorial Stadium to get Nebraska's eighth victory Saturday On the inside NU defense gives battered offense a chance. Page 6E.

Seniors bring Wesley ran victory shot at NAIA playoffs High school playoffs to begin Page 9E NU women win Big Eight title in cross country Okla. Nebraska, helped by a fourth-place finish from senior Sammie Resh, captured its second women's team title Saturday at the Big Eight Conference cross country The Comhuskers, who also won the' Big Eight title in 1985, scored 41 points to easily defeat host Oklahoma State, second with 6L Iowa State was third with 77 points and Kansas State fourth with 83. The Husker men finished third at the meet, which was run at the Oklahoma State Cross Country Course. Nebraska Coach Jay Dirksen, who coaches the men and women, caned the women's title a "great team effort." "We are really excited about the team's performance," Dirksen said. "We had 33 seconds between our top five runners and in a conference like this one, that's exceptionany good." Resh, a freshman on the 1985 team, covered the course in 17 minutes, 3.82 seconds.

Oklahoma State's Sonia Barry, a freshman from New Zea-See CROSS COUNTRY on page 4E over Dana, By Curt McKeever bad case of senioritls. That as much as anything else, is what led Nebraska Wesleyan's football team to a 17-14 victory Saturday over Dana College. many Plainsman seniors were determined not to leave Abel Stadium -possibly for the final time without at least a share of the Nebraska Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship. Tm not saying we had more desire to win," Wesleyan Coach Jim Svoboda said. "I'm not sure that's true.

They just decided they were going to win." Especially the 12 seniors. They were a reason Dana, the 19th-ranked team in NAIA Division ran out of fourth-quarter magic the stuff that helped the Vikings to four straight come-from-be hind wins before Saturday. They are also a big reason Wesleyan is just one game from winning its second outright MAC title In three years and Colorado stops lova State Doane dumps Midland High school volleyball ratings I feel if we lost" Sweeney sail "I have never wanted a game as bad as today." Another senior, Freddie Martinez, set up NWU's first score a 38-yard field goal by Lee Jameson with 26 seconds left in the first half by blocking a punt and returning it 5 yards to the Dana 29. Want more? How about senior linebacker Mike Surls, whose 19-yard return of a third-quarter interception (his first pickoff of the season) gave Wesleyan possession at the Dana 26. Five plays later, halfback Roger Olson dove over from 3 yards out to put Wesleyan up to stay.

Celebration, however, was a long way off. Dana, 6-2, came to life after Fate's score made it 17-7. Four plays after Marvin Peterson's 58-yard kickoff return, quarterback James Anderson hit Bryan Muschan coming out of the backfield for a 21-yard touchdown to cut the lead'to See WESLEYAN on page 3E earning its first berth in the NAIA postseason playoffs. A win at Concordia on Saturday would give the Plainsmen, 44) in the NIAC and 6-2 overall, their tickets. "The best thing is that just about every senior had a memorable play," said senior defensive back Pat Sweeney, whose 31-yard return of an interception late in the third quarter set up the eventual winning score.

The Plainsmen proceeded to march 57 yards on the ground in seven plays the final one a 3-yard sneak over left tackle by quarterback Gary Fate to go ahead 17-7 with 31 seconds left in the quarter. Sweeney's steal was one of five interceptions by the Plainsman secondary. Senior Doug Evans stopped three of Dana's first-half drives with interceptions in the Wesleyan end zone (after a first-quarter NWU turnover), at the Wesleyan 44 and at the Wesleyan 35. "I worked myself into a frenzy last night because I was thinking how would Page 2E Pare 3E Page 8E Prospects good for pheasant opener Page11E.