Lincoln Journal Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • 22

Page' 22 Lincoln Journal-Star HUSKERS Saturday, November 26, 1994 2fe defense does job Osborne says Gibbs' preparation outstanding. NORMAN, Okla. Tom Osborne expected the strength of the Oklahoma football team to be defense. And the Sooners met his expectations. The Cornhuskers managed only 136 yards rushing, a season low.

"We played them well," said Oklahoma Coach Gary Gibbs. "We knew it had to be low scoring." That's because the Sooners were even less successful against Nebras I I ka defense, which allowed only 179 yards in the 13-3 victory at Owen Field. The Sooners gained only 47 yards, total, in the second half. They had a minus-5 net in the fourth quarter. "I was real proud of our defense.

1 said Osborne. "I thought they carried AUOCiG lotto Prist theday. Oklahoma Coach Gary Gibbs looks on from the sidelines during his final home game as the Sooners' head coach. Oklahoma defensive end 'David Tad KirfcLlnrnln Jaurml.ilfnr Tad KirkyLlnrnln Jaurml.ilfnr Cornhusker tight end Mark Gilman fights to reach the end zone, while OU linebacker Broderick fi IMU-Oklahoma Notes aimpson makes the hit early in the fourth quarter, liilman was brought down only inches from the goal line, setting up Brook Berringer's touchdown dive on the next play. IMU captain Zatechka remembers line mates suppose we could have gone three yards and a cloud of dust like we did against Kansas State, but we tried to pass to open up the run.

Rob Zatechka thus ending his school-record streak of 11 games in a row of 100 yards or more rushing. But Phillips.did finish the year with 286 carries, breaking the NU record of 275 set by Mike Rozier in 1983. Phillips' 1,722 yards is second-best in Husker history, behind Rozier's 1983 total of 2.148. Phillips said, "It was a great streak. It had to end sometime.

Even the Oklahoma defensive players were kind of teasing me about it In the fourth quarter. All I said was look at the NU quarterback Tommie Fra-zier was on the sidelines and available to play for the first time since he was hospitalized on Sept. 25 for blood clots in his leg. He tost his appeal to the NCAA for an extra year of eligibility Tuesday, and Wednesday was cleared by team doctors to play for the first time since Nebraska's fourth game of the year. Frazier did not see action Friday but Osborne quipped, "I looked over at Tommie a few times." Frazier said to a Sports Information Department spokesman after the game, "I felt good.

It would have been better if I could have played. But that's still all right." Husker senior tackle praises Oklahoma defense. By Mark Derowitsch Lincoln Journal-Star I NORMAN, Okla. As a captain, Nebraska offensive lineman Rob Zatechka accepted the Orange Bowl's official invitation to play in the New Year's Day football game. But Zatechka made sure the rest of his fellow linemen who helped the Huskers earn the bid had something Nebraska improved to 12-0 on the season, the fourth time in school history the Huskers have won a dozen games and the third time under Coach Tom Osborne.

It also marked the fifth year, and second straight, the Huskers have ended the regular season undefeated. The Huskers also won their 40th Big Eight title and fourth in a row. In 22 years under Osborne, the Husk-. ers have shared or won outright 11 Big Eight crowns. Nebraska will play In a New Year's Day or Jan.

2 bowl for the 14th straight year. The last time the Huskers failed to play in a January bowl was in December 1980, when they beat Mississippi State 31-17 in the Sun Bowl. Oklahoma had 196 yards of total offense with five minutes left in the third quarter. By the end of the game, the Sooners had 179 yards, including minus 4 in the fourth quarter. "That's playing defense the way we're supposed to play defense," said NU comerback Barron Miles.

"We showed defense against Colorado, UCLA, Kansas State and now Oklahoma. "As long as we play the way we're supposed to play, we can get by with a field goal or two and still win." he said. Miles helped Nebraska In the first half. He sped around the right side of OU's offensive line and partially blocked the Sooners' 33-yard field goal attempt that would have tied the game with 8:58 left in the half. It marked the fourth kick block by Miles this season and the seventh of his career.

"The guy who was supposed to block me just brushed me and I got a hand up in front of the ball," said Miles. "They got a block on me the rest of the time." Nebraska l-back Lawrence Phillips was held to 50 yards rushing, to remember it by. Zatechka, a left tackle who helped the Huskers down Oklahoma 13-3 Friday at Owen Field, received an official Orange Bowl hat during the ceremony when the Huskers ac Phillips on Run Ax. Zatechka cepted the invitation. Shortly af- Campbell took little consolation in the effort "We did what we had to do to stop the running game," he said.

"But it was the passing that hurt us." Nebraska quarterback Brook Berringer completed 13 of 23 passes for 166 yards. He was 9-oM2 in the second half, for 143 of those yards. It was his fifth consecutive game of passing for 100 or more yards. "You have to credit Nebraska because they (the Cornhuskers) controlled the ball so well," Gibbs said. "A game like this comes down to a few good plays, and Nebraska is the one who made those plays." Oklahoma's play, particularly on defense, was based on the emotion following Gibbs' announcement that he was resigning, according to Osborne.

"Oklahoma has some good players," he said. "And they were smoked up with emotion. They gave a great effort Gary Gibbs is a good defensive coach, and I am sure he had a lot to do with the way their defense played today. His preparation today was outstanding." The Sooners responded to what might have been a distraction well, senior split end Albert Hall said. Hall, who caught three passes for 51 yards, and Campbell were among 12 Oklahoma seniors playing in their final home game on Friday.

"They have given a lot to this program," Gibbs said. "They made a commitment to come here when we were down, and their due will come in time." That time wasn't Friday, however. "I'm glad it's almost over because when you play so hard and you don't come out a winner, it is very disappointing," Campbell said. Oklahoma finishes the regular season with a 6-5 record. Because of Big Eight Conference agreements, the Sooners will play in a bowl game before Gibbs' six-year tenure ends.

Gibbs is "an outstanding coach," Osborne said. "He ran a clean program and graduated his players. "To me, it is a little bit of an embarrassment to college athletics if a guy like Gary Gibbs is not allowed to continue coaching. But that is certainly beyond my control." Huskers set bowl ticket order policy The Nebraska athletic ticket office will accept orders for Orange Bowl tickets begining Monday. Orders will be taken from 8 a.m.

to 5 p.m. next week. Orders will then be prioritized and notices of confirmation or refusal will be mailed at the completion of business Friday. The Orange Bowl has allotted 12,500 tickets for Nebraska fans. All other tickets for the New Year's Day game have been sold.

A maximum of four tickets per person will be allowed. Tickets are $42 plus $3 handling. To order by phone with a charge card, call 1-80O-8BI-GRED (1-800-824-4733) or 402-472-3111 or mail your order with payment to University of Nebraska, Athletic Ticket Office, Box 82848, Lincoln, Neb. 68501. made four of his Ave catches after intermission for 87 yards.

Muhammad's reception midway through the third quarter enabled the Huskers to take the lead for good. Berringer found Muhammad for a 24-yard gain to the Oklahoma 15-yard line. As soon as he caught the ball, he was hit in the back by Sooner corner-back Larry Bush but managed to hang onto the ball. "As soon as I caught it, I locked it in," Muhammad said. "I didn't feel the guy behind me I didn't know he was there." Berringer found Muhammad again early in the fourth quarter for a 44-yard gain to the OU 13, setting up Berringer's 1-yard touchdown run to give Nebraska a 13-3 lead.

MUHAMMAD SAID the Sooners were using an effective bump-and-up coverage to keep him quiet in the first half. So good in fact, a few Huskers welcomed a chance to play Miami in the Orange Bowl, even though it would be a home game for the Hurricanes. If Miami beats Boston College Saturday, the Hurricanes would all but lock up an Orange Bowl invitation to play the Huskers. The Hurricanes are 3-0 against Nebraska in the Orange Bowl, beating the Huskers 31-30 in 1984, 23-3 in 1989 and 22-0 in 1992. "I think everybody on this team wants Miami right now," Zatechka said.

"We'd love to get a crack at Miami." season 6-5. In fact, he said the Sooners' defense was better than it showed during a 45-7 loss to Colorado onOct.15. "They have good personnel up front," said Zatechka, a senior from Lincoln East. "(End) Cedric Jones was far and away the toughest guy I've faced this season. Their defense is a little underrated.

People look at the score of the Colorado game and probably think they suck, but that's not true." Oklahoma held Nebraska to 63 yards of offense in the opening half, but the Huskers had 239 after half-time. Most of Nebraska's second-half yards came through the air, as quar-. terback Brook Berringer completed 9 of 12 passes for 143 yards. According to Zatechka, the Huskers broke tradition and used the pass to establish the run. "We tried to open it up a little," he said.

"I suppose we could have gone three yards and a cloud of dust like we did against Kansas State, but we were ass-backwards. We tried to pass to open up the run." THE HUSKERS finished the game with 166 passing yards and 136 yards on the ground, the first time this season the Huskers have gained more yards through the air. The last time the Huskers passed for more yards than they rushed for was the 1994 Orange Bowl against Florida State. Nebraska wingback Abdul Muhammad was Berringer's favorite receiver, especially in the second half. He Lawrence Phillips' game-by-game rushing Alt Yd TO X-West Virginia 24 126 0 at Texas Tech 19 175 2 19 178 1 9 138 1 Wyoming 27 168 3 Oklahoma State 33 221 3 at Kansas State 31 117 1 at 22 110 1 24 103 0 Kansas 21 153 2 at Iowa State 36 183 2 at Oklahoma 21 50 0 Total 286 1,722 16 Career 368 2,230 21 x-Kickoft Classic terward, Zatechka made sure a member of the bowl committee gave him three extra hats to give to the other starting linemen who aren't captains.

Right tackle and co-captain Zach Wiegert also received a hat when the invitation was extended, so Zatechka picked up hats for center Aaron Graham, left guard Joel Wilks and right guard Brenden StaL Nebraska's offensive performance against the Sooners wasn't an award-winner the Huskers gained just 136 yards on the ground and 302 total but it was good enough to send the No. 1 ranked and 12-0 Huskers to Miami for the fourth straight year as the Big Eight Conference champions. AND IT WAS GOOD ENOUGH for Zatechka, considering the opponent was Oklahoma, which finished the Scoring Summary NU-OU Time left Turman nearly gave away fake SECOND QUARTER 3-0 Darin Erttad 45 IMd goal 14:11 Dnve: 30 yards in 12 plays. Set up by short Tim Daughtry punt to NU 42. Highlighted by Lawrence Phillips 3, 6 runs, Damon Bertnmg 3, 4 runs, Brook Berringer 9 pass to Phillips, Berringer 11 pass to Abdul 3-3 Scott Wanton 25 tietd goal 2:19 Drive: 31 yards in 7 plays.

Set up by NU personal foul penalty on Darrlus Johnson punt return. Highlighted by Garhck McGee 25 pass to Albert Hall, Jerald Moore 4 run. THIRD QUARTER 6-3 TomSlekw26fMdgoal 7:03 Dnve: 76 yards in 1 1 plays. Highlighted by Phillips 7, 6 runs, Berringer 28 run, Berringer 5 pass to Reggie Baul, Berringer 24, 5 passes to Muhammad, Cory Schlesinger 6 run. FOURTH QUARTER 13-3 Berringer 1 run i 13-25 Dnve: 82 yards in 10 plays.

Highlighted by Berringer 12, 11 passes to Mark Oilman, Berringer 44 pass to Muhammad. Conversion: Sieler kick. wasn't a mistake. During practice, most of the time Tom Seiler was the kicker when the Huskers worked on the fake. Seiler is the kicker when the Huskers attempt a Held goal from less than 40 that Erstad kicked with his left foot "Tom Is the No.

I guy, so he's the one I've been working with the Turman said. When Turman rolled out, he had the option to run or pass to tight end Mark Gilman, who was open near the goal line. "Mark said after the play he had a couple of steps on his guy," Turman said. "I looked at him and saw someone on his shoulder and decided to keep it" The fact that Turman lined up as the holder should have tipped the Sooners off to begin with. Jon Vedral is normally the holder.

NORMAN, Okla. Nebraska almost tipped off a fake field goal in the first quarter, but substitute holder Matt Turman doesn't think the Sooners noticed. When he set up Darin Erstad's field goal on the right side, Erstad had to remind Turman he was a left-footed kicker. Turman spun around, took the snap and rolled to his left He gained nine yards, but the Huskers needed 11 to keep the drive alive. "Hey, it almost worked," Turman, NU's reserve quarterback, said when trying to explain his minor miscue.

"If it wasn't 4th-and-ll, it would have worked." Turman said the mistake really Individual Statistics Turman yards. When the Huskers used the fake, they lined up for a 46-yard attempt, so Erstad entered the game. That's when Turman had to be reminded IMU-OU Ave. 47 40 30 0.9 PI 2 0 Yds. 51 11 9 Ave.

36.0 Yds. 17 17 13 Yds. 9 Yds. 20 Ave. 24 32 3 7 33 3.0' 9.0 2.0" PI Yds." 98 24- 23 16 5 Ave.

47.0 Yds." 25 19 Yds. -3 15-' Yds. 0 0 Nebraska Offense Rushing No. Yds. Lawrence Philips 21 so Brook Berringer 15 48 Cory 3 11 Damon 3 .10 Jeff Makovicka 3 9 Matt Turman 1 9 Clinton ChiWs 3 6 Abdul Muhammad 1 -7 Passing No.

Co. Yds Brook 23 13 166 RecorvinQ No. AbdU Muhammad 5 Lawrence 3 Mark 2 Eric Alford 2 Reggie Baul 1 Punting No. Yds. Darin 5 235 Kickoff returns No.

Damon Banning 1 Chiton CMC 1 Punt returns No. Kareem Moss 2 Reggie Baul 1 Interception returns No. Barron 1 Kareem Mom 1 Defense Tackles UT AT Troy Dumas 9 2 Donta Jones 5 3 Terry 3 1 Prd Ellis imHMiiimniHi 3 1 Christian 3 1 Dwayne Hams 3,0 Barron Miles 2 0 Kareem Moss 1 0 Tyrone 1 Grant Wktrom 1 0 OougColman 0 1 Tony Veland 0 1 Oklahoma Offense Rushing No. Yds. Jerald Moore 15 71 Garhck McGee 5 20 Dwayne ChanrJer 3 9 James Allen 9 8 Passing No.

CO. Yds Garrick 17 6 71 Terence 1 0 0 Receiving No. Albert Han 3 Michael McOaniel 2 James Alen Punting No. Yds. TlmDaughtry 7- 266 Kickofl returns no.

James 1 Darrlus Johnson 1 J. Mis 1 Punt returns No. Darrlus Johnson 2 Interception returns No. Wendel Davis 1 Defense Tackles UT AT Tyred Peters 7 2 Anthony Fogle 5 2 Broderick Simpson 5 2 Larry Bush 4 2 Cedric Jones 4 2 Wendell Davis 4 1 Rod Henderson 4 0 Brent 3 1 Martin Chase 1 3 Arthur Atkins 3 0 Darrius Johnson 3 0 Maylon Wesley 3:0 2 1 David Campos 11 Baron Tanner.k........ 1 1 Mario Freeman 0 2 Fred Lewis 0 '1 From Page 17 ers came up short on a 3-yard pass from McGee to HalL The short pass with three minutes left in the third quarter was the last positive yardage the Sooners recorded in the game.

"That's defense for you," Peter said. 'They were playing as a spoiler, trying to keep us from the national title and the Orange BowL That helped them give a great effort "But wanting something as much as we did helped us get a great effort We just wanted to get back to Miami and play for No. 1. That's all That's enough." Osborne said, he was pleased with the effort and the result "This team has done an outstanding job of playing together, and if there is one strength of this team, it is the fact they have been a team," he said. "I have been really proud of their attitude and work ethic.

We have one more step to go before we can call it a complete season." one," Osborne said. "In light of what has gone on here this week, I predicted Oklahoma would play very well, and I do not believe we missed on our prediction. "They were smoked up, and their defense gave a great effort" Oklahoma provided the evidence by keeping Lawrence Phillips to just 50 yards rushing the first time this season the sophomore I-back was held under 100 yards. The Cornhuskers were held to their lowest point total of the season and didn't score a first-half touchdown for the first time this season. The Cornhuskers were stopped on downs and again on a fake field goal on their first two possessions of the game.

On the third try, Nebraska scratched out 37 yards to set up a 46-yard field goal by Darin Erstad with the second quarter less than a minute Old. On the drive, Berringer sparked the drive with a 9-yard screen pass to Phillips on third-and-6 and an 11-yard pass to Muhammad. Nebraska did not get another first down until the third quarter was five minutes old. In the meantime, Oklahoma put together its only scoring drive of the game. The seven-play, 31-yard effort included a 15-yard penalty against the Cornhuskers for a late hit on a punt return and a 25-yard pass from Gar-rick McGee to Albert HalL "That was it" Stewart said.

"One big play that we made a mistake on, and we stuffed them the rest of the game." Oklahoma gained momentum with a 23-yard pass from McGee to Hall to open the third quarter. But the final three plays of the drive were a 3-yard run stopped by Christian Peter, a 2-yard run stopped by linebacker Phil Ellis and an incomplete pass caused when Harris hit McGee's arm. On OlTs next possession, Harris sacked McGee for a 3-yard loss, Peter recorded a 9-yard sack, and the Soon- quarter on third-and-4 from the Oklahoma 38 when Berringer lined up in the shotgun formation and sped 9 yards through the left side of the line. That set up Nebraska's first field goal. Nebraska's defense carried the game much of the rest of the way.

"We figured three points, OK, six points, would be enough with the way we've been playing defense," Stewart said. Osborne said he thought it would be a defensive struggle. "The story of the game was the two defenses and our kicking game," he said. "I felt going in that we had an edge in our kicking game. We had a really long field goal and a couple of long punts." Osborne said he thought the Sooner defense was the strength of Oklahoma's team and that with added inspiration, it would be the key to any success Oklahoma had.

"We knew it would be a four-quarter game from the start, and we got 1' TT 11 4 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 A.