The Lincoln Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • Page 30

Airmen Rebound To Scare Huskers Stpttmbff 26, Lincoln Sunday Journal and Stttr C3 Continued from Page 1C from Churchich to Wlilte, the final paia of the day for White, Nebraska moved the ball five and six yards per play until they reached the 21. Churchich then pitched out to Solich who got a key block from Kirkland and raced into the end zone with 50 seconds still left in the opening quarter and cars still trying to get into the parking lots. Even after the Falcons came back with a ID as the result of a Churchich fumble that gave them the ball at the Nebraska 27, the Huskers appeared to be in command, driving into Air Force territory each of the next two times they got the ball. But as the Huskers went into the dressing room with the 21-7 halftime lead, concern began to spread through the 10,000 NU fans who followed the team here. Falcon quarterback Paul Stein proved early in the second half that their concern a warranted.

Stein completed 11 of 19 passes for 148 yards in the first half as NU defenders looked like they were trying to defend against the Baltimore Colts Johnny Vnitas. Time after time. Air Force receivers behind or in open countiy against the NU secondary. The Falcons closed the gap to 21-10 two minutes and one second into the third quarter when Dan Radtke kicked a 30-yard field goal and the collar became tighter when an onside kickmf found its way into the mitts of Falcon Jim Hogarty at the NU 46 as Husker tackle Jim Brown watched the ball bound past him. Stein found end Guy Ho- gle behind Ted Vactor and lofted a pass that carried to the Nebraska six-yard line.

Second-string wingback Bob Barnes carried the final six yards on the next play and PAT kick put the Air Force within four at 21-17 with 11:53 remaining in the third quarter. At this point, the Huskers began applying the No. 1 pass defense keeping flie on his back and these chores were handled by defensive ends Bill Haog and Langston that shut off any more Air Force threats. The Huskers added an insurance tally late in ttie third quarter when Solich took advantage of a pause on the Falcon part. With a fourth and two situation at the Air Force 41, a Falcon lineman jumped offside, but Churchich went through with the handoff to Solich, who slid along the relaxed Air Force line and went unmolested into the end zone while the Falcons waited for the whistle to blow.

There was no whistfa and Nebraska dedlnad dm alty, taking the and the 27-17 lead that stood up through the final qctar- ter. liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitiiiitiiiiiiMiiiiiiiiiiimimitnittHigi I Football Photos by I Bob Gorham I Web Ray illtllllllMlllllllllllllimNlimiNHHIIIIIinilllHNIli Statistics Player AIR FORCE RusUag Att. Net Stein 13 9 Ondrejkn 5 7 Cook 3 13 Manning 24 Barnes 2 8 LIta 1 -1 Player Passing Att. Comp. Yds.

Stela ...34 It S89 7 3 21 Pass Receiviiis Player Caught Yds. Cook Ill Manning 3 38 Jansen 3 24 Shultz 4 57 3 38 Mueller 1 Punttag No. Ave. Bogarty ...................7 34 Kickoff Retuma Player No. Yds.

Bogle 41 Barnes 31 NEBRASKA Rushing Player AtL Net Churchich 8 11 Kirkland 12 54 Wilson 12 97 Solich 17 204 Tatman IS 1 -1 Duda 2 Passing Player Att. Cmdp. Yds. Churchich ........7 4 Pass Recdving Player Caught Yds. White .....................2 S3 1 7 Wilson 1 4 Punting Player No.

Ave. Kirkland Kickoff Returns Player No. Yds. White 1 Tatman .......................1 IS Pnnt Raturna Player Nn. Yds.

Wachholta 4 48 Pass InteretpthNis Player No. Yds. Wachholts .....................1 JVoi a Too Quick Qukdc paasea Illw fMs one baiped Ait Vomw liddUe NUmaka'a paai dafanaa for 290 yafda. Leaping Frank Solicfa picks up yarda behind fleroa block. Walt Barnes blocks a paith.

Two Key Plays Hurtf But Falcons DorCt Cry LV', fe''' This play fooled nearly Frank Solich, who ran 41 yards for final NU touchdown when Air Force players thought the ball was dead because of a whistle and a penalty flag (arrow). The play stood and gave Huskers 27-17 advantage. USAF Academy, Colo. A matter of a whistle and six inches may have cost the Air Force Academy a second straight upset victory over Nebraska here Saturday afternoon. But none of the neither coach Ben Martin nor the players were in a crying mood.

blame it on Martin told hii team after they entered the dressing room, a 27-17 loser to the Huskers. good luck is coming His squad, which had come back from a 21-0 first quarter deficit to outscore the No. 2 ranked Huskers, 17-6, in the final 45 minutes, agreed bet we shouted one member of the group, have eight of coming The two controversial plays came at critical moments. Just before the first half ended, with NU leading, 21-7, Air Force quarterback Sonny Litz, on a fake field goal try from the Nebraska 15, got to his feet and passed to end Carl Janssen at the one-half yard line. The gun sounded to end the half as Janssen fell into the end zone.

The official ruled the play dead on the six-inch line despite a protest by Martin. Had the official ruled it a touchdown the score at the half would probably have been, 21-14. sure if I was Janssen said after the game, thought the official could have ruled either played it back on video tape at Martin said. was visually acute enough so that what we thought we saw was Martin said. But the play which really broke the AFA trend came in the third period whan Fullback Frank Solich, needing two yards for a first down, broke over left tackle, was apparently stopped but spun off a host of tacklers to score from 41 yards out.

Falcon defenders admitted they stopped, first when an offside flag was thrown at the start of the play and again when they heard a whistle with Solich tied op hy three Falcons. heard the whistle on the Martin said. Umpire Monk Saunders of Wheatridge, also had a so informed referee Ed Dubio. Dubio said after the game, told me he heard the whistle but when I checked to find out who blew no one would admit having blown the play dead. I had no choice but to call it a touchdown since the Air Force was offside on the When told that Notre Dame had lost and NU had a chance at being No.

1 in the polls this week, Martin said: know they were No. 1 today. They are an outstanding team as as the one we beat in 1963. There is no reason why they be on top as far as we are concerned. say they are as powerful as Notre Dame was here a year he added..