The La Crosse Tribune from La Crosse, Wisconsin • 9

D-3 La Crosse Tribune, Monday, January 2, 1995 Sports: College football ORANGE BOWL PEACH BOWL N.C. State Mississippi State High: yards for tying end goo-neer; ooohor Low; 7. coals by Hogeo-. ft The Stat: three poroeeooro one booh borono: first ig The Quote1 but when you benod neo you o. points, you n.oo'; to do boe belter SViisasooOi Si.

coacb JacMe Shis its N.C. State does its homework APpholo TOM OSBORNE is carried off the field by his Cornhusker players after winning the national title Sunday with a 24-1 7 victory over the Miami Hurricanes. Quarterback shuffle pays off ATLANTA (AP) It came down to simple mathematics for No. 23 North Carolina State in the Peach Bowl Sunday night. "They got field goals and we got touchdowns," Wolfpack coach Mike O'Cain said after his team beat No.

16 Mississippi State 28-24, holding the Bulldogs to only one touchdown and five field goals on six drives that reached the N.C. State 21 or better. "I can't say enough about our defense in that situation," O'Cain said. "It was an outstanding performance." Terry Harvey passed for one touchdown and set up another just over three minutes later with a 62-yard completion to give the Wolfpack their comeback victory. Harvey connected with Dallas Dickcrson on a 3-yard scoring pass with 1:12 left in the third quarter and then ran for a 2-point conversion that tied the game at 21.

After State failed to get a first down, Harvey took the Wolfpack (9-3) 80 yards in four plays, with Carlos King getting the final 11 yards with 13:06 to play. The key play in the drive was Harvey's 62-yard pass to "That was one of the loudest atmospheres I've ever played in at that end of the field," Harvey said. "They took us out of our game with their quickness," Mississippi State's star receiver, Eric Moulds, said. He had only one catch for 5 yards, facing-double coverage most of the night. "Kicking five field goals is OK, but when you're behind and you've got to score points, you have to do a little better," coach Jackie Sherrill said.

Mississippi State (8-4) reached the Wolfpack 28 in the closing minutes, but couldn't overcome a 15-yard penalty for an offensive face mask violation. The Bulldogs, a one-touchdown favorite, had numerous opportunities to take control, but had to settle for the five field goals by Tim Rogers, covering 37, 21, 29, 36 and 30 yards. Mississippi State broke a 13-13 halftime tie early in the third quarter when Andre Bennett blocked Chad Hobson's punt from the Wolfpack 39. The ball ended up in the end zone where Kobson fought off Bulldogs defenders for the recovery that gave the Mississippians a safety. Keffcr McGee's 50-yard return with the free kick to the 6 It's kind of a tough situation, knowing that if you make one mistake you're coming Brook Borrlngor MIAMI (AP) Turned out of Tom Osborne knew what he was doing, no matter what anyone else thought.

rL. i The coach's plan to play both of his quarterbacks wound up working well enough, as Brook Berringer kept No. 1 Nebraska in the game before Tommie Frazier won it Sunday night. Osborne, knowing he would be second guessed for starting Frazier after a three-month layolf, instead came out looking like a champion after virtually clinching his first national title wilh a 24-17 win over No. 3 Miami in the Orange Bowl.

"Both quarterbacks contributed to the win. Os-borne said. "We're just pleased with everything that happened." No one on the Nebraska side, however, was too happy at the start. Not that anyone was saying that, "We don't talk during the game," Berringer said. Frazier, who expertly ran the Cornhiiskers op ion offense for four games before being sidelined in late Septcmtwr because of blood clots, was pulled arter an ineffective first quarter that included an mtereep- didn't get down, I just stayed patient and ready to come back in," he said.

"1 thought I got another ChBehmd 10 0. Berringer, more of a passer, rallied Nebraska in the middle two quarters. Bu early In the final period, on a first and goal from tlu Mi. wilh Nebraska behind 17 9. Berringer threw an Interception into the end zone, Berringer.

his eyes wide and his mouth ohmi. banged his helmet with his hands after the poor throw. That was his last play. 15 was wasted, with Mississippi "I was trying to throw the ball away," he said. "It's kind of a tough situation, knowing that if you make one mistake you're coming out." "But we both have nothing to hang our heads about.

We both make some mistakes, we both made some good plays, we both helped our team win," he said. Frazier returned with 12:07 left and Nebraska still down by eight points. "1 just felt like it was time to get Tommie In. Osborne said. "I was prepared to play the rest of the game with Brook, but I felt it was time for Tommie." Osborne's instinct was right.

Nebraska quickly tied it at 17 on Cory Schlesmgor's 13-yard run and Frazior'B two point conversion pass. Then, after Nebraska stopped Miami, Frazier ran the option for 23 yards on a third and 4 at the Cornhuskers' 48, setting up another touchdown run by Schleslngor. "If I'd plaved the whole game. I might have been tired." said Frazier, slowed slightly by a cold. "I might not have Nth so fast," "But I came back In the fourth quarter and I was the freshest one out there." Jimmy Grissett to the Mississippi State 13.

Grissett made the catch at the Bulldogs 45 between defenders, who collided, allowing Grissett to race away before being knocked out of bounds by Clay Mack. "It was not one of my better games," said Harvey, who completed 11 of 18 passes for 139 yards. Harvey still had cowbells ringing In his ears. Bulldogs fans constantly rang their cowbells throughout the game. State settling for a field goal.

Four plays later, Larry Williams sacked Harvey, forced and recovered a fumble at the NC State 21. Once again, the Bulldogs had to settle for a field goal and a 21-13 lead with 8:36 left in the period. Harvey then engineered the scoring drives of 69 and 110 yards that lifted the Wolfpack to victory,.