The Lincoln Star from Lincoln, Nebraska • Page 43

NU Hopes as Deflate OSL STAFF photo by HAPALD DPEIMANIS A fumble by the Skip Taylor (28) late in the second quarter on the NU 5 was good news for Nebraska. Three Husker Black Shirts Jeff PuUen (86), Kerry Weinmaster (42) and Ron Pruitt (91) go after the ball, but Pullen recovers. Skeeter Bites Bugged Cowboys All Day By Dave Sittler SUff Sporu Wriler Praise the Lord and pass the ball to Chuck Malito. That was the ammunition Nebraska used at Memorial Stadium Saturday afternoon to uncork a staggering offense and stage a dramatic, white-knuckle 14-10 comeback win over Oklahoma State Mabto, Nebraska's semor split end who a deeply religious young man. had the sellout congregation of 76,272 Nebraska fans singing his praises as he came up with clutch catch after clutch catch With quarterback Vince Ferragamo throwing the bullets, Malito time and again sneaked through enemy defensive lines to snare four passes good for 80 yards and one touchdown The scoring play was a 34-yard work of art.

Malito, who had beaten the OSU defender, latched onto the aenal over his right shoulder deep in the right comer of the end zone with 4 02 left in the Uurd quarter. I knew I vfas going to catch up with it I the said Mabto. who is nicknamed Skeeter because of his spindly stature, "but I didn know if it would be in the end zone or the bleachers." Mabto said the play, which saw him make a simple move inside and then blow to the outside past the defender, was just a routine move "It was a takeoff pass," Mabto said "We finish every practice with Vince throwing us at least four or five of those takeoffs on each side of the field Mabto said a halfume conversaUon involving himself, fellow spbt end Bobby Thomas and Nebniska receivers coach Moore set up the scoring bomb. "We just felt that Oklahoma State is such a run-oriented team on offense that their defen.se surts thinking the same way." Mabto explained. "We knew we could blow right by them Mabto, who had some ups and downs his first three years at credited his newfound faith as the major contributing factor to what has been a fine semor season.

"I feel so much better this year because I know 1 wallung wnth the Lord and doing things for him," the Lakewood, native said "I've finally found mv-self and my concentration is so much better Mabto joy was shared by a Nebraska smrm Best Read Sport Red November 7,1171 ID locker-room scene that was about as emotional and spirited as any in recent seasons Hugging, backslaps, dancing and shouts of glee dominated the Big Red dressing room. obviously relieved Coach Tom Osborne greeted the press with a sigh and said: "That was rather The Husker I kks who made the rounds congratulaung his players, admitted the outcome of the Big Eight battle could have gone either way "I was scared to death they were going to give the ball to Miller ihaUback Terry) and he would pop one," Osborne said of the exciung fimsh "There were times where it looked like we were going to throw the game Noting he was displeased with Nebraska's tackbng effort in the first half and the offense's inability to score, Osborne shouldered much of the blame. "I don't think I adjusted well when we were having trouble running the Osborne said. When one reporter asked Osborne if he is surprised that Nebraska has such great success throwing the ball, the Husker boss said "We think we can pass on To a man. the Nebraska coaches and team praised Oklahoma State's running backs and offensive bne, which gained yards rushing "Their backs start as quick as any I've Osborne said.

Said defensive coordinator Kiffin: "we hadn't faced the veer offense for a couple of years and that bothered us they came up with some blocking assignments we didn't Defensive tackle Ron Pruitt labeled Terry Miller "the best running back I've seen this season I'd compare him with Joe Washington (Oklahoma's all-American last year)," Puritt continued "I have a lot of respect for Puritt said. "He was hurting out there and we were giving him some great shots But he kept coming back He knew it was a championship Reflecting on the Big Eight Conference race which saw the Comhuskers enter Saturday's game tied for first with Colorado and Oklahoma State, Osborne said he thought Nebraska has the roughest road to the conference title "I think we had the toughest schedule going into game." Osborne said "To win the Big Eight, it going to take a good team that has to stay healthy and have a little luck We still have two tough games with Iowa State and Talking on a radio show after the wild contest. Kiffin was passing out good news to bsteners. "People keep asking me if we are going to the Orange Bowl." Kiffin said "You bet we re going These kids are Asked if he knew had whipped Colorado. Kiffin replied; so tired and e.xcited right now I don't care a bit about Are you sure we Is the game really I just want to enjoy this one right now coach' Purdue Shocks Michigan, 16-14 Firit sffi PiU.ng Fi.mp.fi i.n» Punti MicSigan 24 12 0-0 14 21 61 2S1 109 22 10 14 2 3 1 3B 141 Season (1-1) 40 WiiCflniifl 22 St 0 70 aw 14 31 Forti) 0 42 MiCMigsn StsftlQ 31 7 Rtcords PUROUC (4-S) 31 19 WEST LAFAYETTE.

Ind. iUPI) All Purdue's Boilermakers wanted Saturday was to regain their respectability. Instead, they shocked the college football world with the biggest upset of the season a 16-14 thriller over No. 1 ranked Michigan on Rock Supan's 23-yard field goal with 4 20 left to play A week ago, Purdue was blasted at Michigan State. 45-13 for its third con- sevutive Icm ui what Coach Alex Agase called a performance This past Monday the MSU em- barassment had been forgotten.

"We have any problems getting our players for Agase sai(l Monday out to regain our The which was missing in the Miclugan State game was apparent from the opening whistle Saturday and even when Michigan grabbed a 14-13 lead in the third period, none of the more than 57,000 fans went home A tense feeling of excitement prevailed in Ross-Ade Stadium The home fans were not disappointed "We couldn't have gained back our rapect any better than by beating the No. 1 said a gnnning and perspinng Agase the jubilant and steaimng dressing room. "Thu is the happiest moment of my lifetime. It was a peat, team he refused to single out any ome player, Agase called veteran tailback Scott Dierking, who scored Rirdue's two "stiU the best back in thu Big Ten one of the beid in the "We came to get our respect Agase said. "We took a badiward last week but went steps forward Saturday.

Thank God our guys 33 4S 14 tllmflii 0 13 use 31 42 ami 0 20 WiKOnim 17 IHmoii 21 3 OXifl Sia'r 24 13 Michigan l6 14 lOMa indiana believed in themselves and the things doing I wouldn't trade this win for anything Dierking said Purdue "had to wm the game fw Coach Agase. the peatest guy I've ever been associated Supan said have time to get nervous before hu game winning field goal, hu fifth oi the season. just went out and kidied the ball, and the feelmg 1 had was the best my said. The loss wrecked bid for an unbeaten season and the 5-1 Wolverines now may have to beat Ofuo State ui their season finale Nov. 20 to qualify for the Bowl It was the first time since 1966 that the Wolverines lost to a conference nval than Ohio State and the first time thetr last eight meeUngs that Purdue has beat Michigan who misaed the last two and iMie4uiH pmes with a spramed ankle, scored two toucMowns and gained 162 yards in a scIkioI record 38 carries.

Michigan, lighting the clock, had one more shot at puUing the game out but the (hive fizzM on the Purdue 19 and with 14 secon(h left, Wood missed a 37-yard fwld goal attonpt 7 0 7 0-14 Puf 7 6 0 I run (Wood Puf 4 run Pur run efl; VhI) I Smilft (IfKflOd Pur FG 304 INDIVIDUAL LIADSRS 123 DiiffAiou M-ii2 RECEIVING- MicSiuan. 2 SkiOtfliAi 6 Jl. Imiti) U. OM- I 17 LMCI) 2S-0. 1014-2, 64 Ifom Leach 21 fToods Peps Mizzou, 16-7 Fifit flO'Af'i BuihOi yarfli Pavi.ng yarfli Reiurn yarfli Pa ili i Fumplei (Oil Penailiiivarfli $3113 20 167 10 26 114 644 32 6 $2 Miiiogri 23 46 29 II 1 713 42 44C COLUMBIA.

Mo. (AP) Steve Pisarkiewicz became all-time passing leader Saturday, but Pete Woods replaced him amid a savage defensive struggle and directed the Tigers to nme fourth-quarter pcnnts and a 16-7 victory over Colorado. The loss was Colcmdo's second ui Big Eight competition and knocked the 14th- ranked Buffaloes out (rf a first-place tie with Nebraska, which defeated CNdahoma State for sole possession of the top spot. After exchanging first quarter touchdowns, the two Big Eight powers battled through the next two periods. Woods, coming in with three minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, zipped the Tigers' 73-yard ui 10 pkys for the go-ahead touchdown.

Colorado appeared to have halted the dnve, but a pass intolarence on Odis McKinney on fourth and goal revitalized the (hive and Curtis Brown plunged over from the oiw with 12:28 remauung the game. Missouri comerback Rob Fitzgerald intercepted Jeff pass on the next play and Woods, with an 26-yard pass play to Kellen Winslow, brought the Tigers to the five. Three plays later, Tim Gibbons booted a mneteen-yard field goal. Colorado immediately marched downfield but was halted another tur- the uitended receiver Billy Waddy the ball into Jim Leavitt's bands. Colorado, with less than one minute to play, drove to the two yard line but was stopped (Ml fourth down.

choiud with disappoinunent over losing to tlw Tigers, 16-7, and being knocked out of a tie in the Big Eight, coach Bill Mallory was magnanimous "It was a typical good, hard-fought Big Eight football he said. wanted it and ew did, too. We vme just beaten today." "It was obvious t'oukin't get immng saul his had played almost three whole quartos and anythinf goiiii. WBb Steve, their MISSOURI (6-3) 46 use 6 Mlmon 22 OD'O $1 24 No Carolina 21 ansai $1 17 iflwa $1 34 NtpraiKa 19 Oklahoma l9 Colorado Ohiahoma Lansas Season Record COLORADO 6 3 7 Tf.as 24 31 21 21 33 i- 3 45 Orane 24 21 12 NeP-aioi 24 21 10 24 13 $1 14 20 42 anoma 31 7 7 iioun I6 hansas at Kaniai defense was ihmking pnmanly of pass But with Pete came the hope of doing some other things They rush so "It was a smart move to put Pete in. Pisarkiewicz agreed "No one wants to come out but we weren't moving the ball and It was a key point in the game I was a little rusty "I wanted to play just as much as I wanted to see Steve do well." said Woods.

"But I knew if I came in it would be under adverse tDnditions Holding the Hth ranked Buffs to their lowest point total of the year delighted and somewhat surprised the defenders a team I would say that this was by far our best defensive effort, said tackle Cole "We hud a lot more gang- tackling than last week Everyone was working together well individual LtAOEBS "6' 6 KtCfc V'NG l4t NG 6 Nebraska Leading Big Eight OK. ST. WEB. First downs .....................................15 17 38-121 Passing 23S Return 5 Passes 17-25-2 Punts 4-44 Fumbles lost 3-3 Penalties-yards 2-22 By Virgil Parker Sports Editor For 41 minutes of action Saturday afternoon, Nebraska's Big Red football fans wondered if the gas in their hebuni filled balloons would last until the Comhuskers scored. Finally, vvhen a touchdown came, the fans wondered if the Huskers would have enough gas left to hold off the Oklahoma Slate Cowbovs.

They did Barely The 14-10 Husker victory was another typical Nebraska- Oklahoma State matchup a hearl- throbing struggle that was a hard-fought, physical battle And close to the end. Coupled with a 16-7 Missouri win over Colorado. Nebraska is alone atop the Big Eight standings. The Huskers. OSU and Colorado were tied for the lead with one loss.

Now five teams all but the two Kansas schools are deadlocked for second place with two defeats Cornhusker coach Tom Osborne's troops had to fight from behind twice before claiming the triumph the 41 minutes the fans faithfully held on to those balloons was the longest wait in eight years to celebrate a score. 1 was really the way the kids fought back in the second half," Osborne siiid with a sigh of relief "We got off to a great start But we took the momentum away from ourselves with mistakes and turnovers Nebraska took the opening kickoff and made three first downs on as many plays, sLirting with an l8-yard pass from quarterback Vince Ferragamo to split end Bobby Thomas Season Record NEBRASKA (7.1.1) 4- i -a i -J 6 4 i- -4 oach Osborne made that decision and It was a great call. Ferragamo said We usually open up with a running play and they were bum hed up to stop the run We have great confidence in our passing echoed "Oklahoma Slate has a fine defense against the run We wanted to loosen them up we did But then we killed ourselves with mistakes. The only difference between this and the Missouri loss was the fact that Oklahoma State made some errors too Nebraska made seven first downs on its first two yet failed to tally a puint The first drive ended with a pass in- teneption, the at the OSC two Vvirdline on a Thoiuas fumble following a 2.1-yjrd reception In all, the had the ball five umes in the tirst half Thev were five-for-five in the error dcp.irtnu two fumbltK, a pu.M« interception and two chpping penaltie- In the second quarter. Oklahoma State had the ball for 27 offensive plays.

Nebr.i-Ka just nim The owboys devasuting ground game got in gear late in the fir-t quarter OSl ran off 13 light plays Ten of them gained either four, five or iv vards Nebraskas Blat Shirt imally held on a fourth- and-one play at the 13, but three plays later, the Huskers fumbled the ball back ugam I'hn tim settled for a laid li.ijl bv Laigie to Uke a 3 Tn. -wboy to increase their tir-d-hal! adv.int.ige They ran lb more piav, on the next pc none for more than nine vard- to the Nebraska three in the doang seconds belore interiiaNSion untinued: Page 6D, Col. 3 Prep Ratings By Bandy York Class a v9-0: 7 .3 3-Ajioacn 8 A 4-Fans SH 8-1) 9 5-Dorcbester (91 :0 Ceda I S'il 72 2 (H 7 3 Class A 1-Lincoln SE (7-1-2) 2-Ralston (8-1) 3-Creighton Prep (8-2) 4-Grand Island (7-1-2) 5-Northwest (7-3) South (8-2) Platte (8-2) (8 1) (7-3) High (5-31) 1 ifl-O; 2 i '0 J-Lymao -9-Oj 4-Ha'73pfoo 5-Odeo 7 )i Eight-Man oieioy er i8 7 2 1 -Gordon (9-0) 2 -Lincoln Plus 3-Schuyler (9-1) 4-Gering (6-2) 5-GI CC (7-1-2) Class (9-1) 7 7-Gothenburg (7-2) 8-Lexington (8-2) 9-Col Scotui (7-3) 10-Fairbury (7-2) Class C-1 1-Centennial (10-0) 2-Hebron (9-0-1) 3-TeKamah-Merman (10-0) 4-Battle Creek (10-0) 5-Glbbon (8-1) Central (7-1-)) 7-0 Holy Name i6-3) 8-Bridgeport (9-)) Point (8-2) (6 2) Class C-2 1-Pleasanton (9 0) 2-St Edward (9-0-1) 3-Alma (10-0) 4-Aniley (9-0-1) (l-M) 6-Meridian (9-1) 7-WV8lthl(l (8-2) 8-Grant (6-2-1) 9-Orchard (8-1) 10-NC Lourdes (7-2) Prep Football Playoff Picture Friday's Pairings ALL GAMES FINALS Class A Prep 12 Class Of ti Class C-1 lU-O; Class c-2 A .103) ot St Class 0 in et Agr.et .9 Eight-Man MeOrid yV 7 lO-O; Hempion i1iH)i See Prep Fage ID.