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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 6, 1989)
ICo I or ado jolts NU; Buffs top Big Eight I By Chuck Green Senior Reporter BOULDER, Colo. — Long after most of the 52,877 fans had filed out bf Folsom Field Saturday, the sta dium’s main scoreboard lit up the Chilly night sky. It read: “Colorado 27, Nebraska 21. Things have changed.” But on the game’s final play, things were just a few inches from staying the same. The Comhuskers, trailing by six with a first down on the Buffaloes’ 42-yard line, had six seconds left in the game to work with. Nebraska quarterback Gerry Gdowski, who had completed 11 of 27 passes for 211 yards and three touchdowns, had one more chance. I As he rolled to his left, Husker split end Jon Bostick sprinted into the end /one, under a shrcud of double coverage by Buff defensive backs. The ball came in, Colorado comer back Dave McCloughan hit Bostick and the ball tumbled harmlessly to the AstroTurf. ‘‘I had the ball in my hands for a second,” Bostick said. “But it was gone and on the ground just as quickly.” The goalposts were on the ground a few minutes later, after thousands of Colorado fans poured onto the field. It was the second time in the last ihrcc visits to Folsom Field the Husk ers came away with a loss, and the first time in 28 years the Buffs had defeated Oklahoma and Nebraska in the same season. The win also put Colorado alone at the lop of the Big Eight standings with games against Oklahoma Stale and Kansas State left, and almost assured the Buffs of a trip to the Orange Bowl Jan. 1. ‘‘1 would like to congratulate Colorado,” Nebraska coach Tom Osborne said. “They’re a great team, and today was an excellent day for college football.” The game, which was broadcast to a national television audience by CBS, was expected by many football prognosticators to be a Colorado stampede. But the stampede carnc from the Buffs and the Huskers. Colorado rushed for 205 yards, while Nebraska rolled up 186. Tail back J.J. Flannigan led the Buffs’ rushing attack with 96 yards and two touchdowns, while quarterback Dar ian Hagan added 86 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries. I-Back Ken Clark rushed for 95 yards on 21 carries for the Huskers, and Gdowski rushed for 69. usDome said the Huskcrs deserve a lot of credit for their effort Satur day. “Colorado’s got a great football team, but so do we,” he said. “I think those two teams can play with any body in the country.” Nebraska’s last drive came after it stopped the Buffs on their own 25 yard line. Colorado punter Tom Rouen got the ball off, while Husker wingbatk Tyrone Hughes stood wait ing to field the punt. “I saw the ball coming and I took a step back,’ ’ Hughes said. ‘41 saw the rotation of the ball in the air, and I thought it was going to bounce back to the Colorado side. By the time the ball hit, I was out of position. “Looking back, I should have Fielded it. It was a crucial moment.” But Hughes didn’t, and the ball rolled to the Nebraska 12, pulling the Huskers farther from their end zone and, more importantly, eating 14 seconds off the clock. Nebraska’s final drive was kept alive by two fourth-down conver sions - both passes from Gdowski. It was evident from the start that the game would be a see-saw battle. After Nebraska comerback Tyrone Byrd intercepted a Hagan pass on Colorado’s first possession, the Huskers had the ball on their own 49. On Nebraska’s first play, Gdowski floated a screen pass to fullback Bryan Carpenter, who cut to the in side, juked a defender and ran 51 yards for the score. The extra point by placekicker Gregg Barrios gave Nebraska a 7-0 lead with 13:30 left in the first quarter and stunned the highly partisan Colo rado crowd. But after the teams traded posses sions, the fans again came to their feet. un nrsi-ana-iu at ms own ju, Hagan ran an option to the left and kept the ball for 20 yards before pitching to Flannigan, who sprinted untouched to complete a 70-yard touchdown run. Ken Culbertson’s extra point tied the game at 7-7 with 8:22 left in the first quarter. Hagan added a 1 -yard touchdown run on Colorado’s next possession to give the Buffs a 14-0 lead. The play was set up by a 47-yard return by Colorado split end Jeff Campbell, who gave the Buffs the ball at the Nebraska 4. Campbell also returned a punt 55 yards to the Nebraska 19 in the third quarter, setting up a 2-yard run by Flannigan that gave the Buffs a 24 -14 lead. Nebraska’s other first-half touch down came with 11:30 left in the second quarter on a 12-yard pass » - -.- - — ■ - -.-.— - --— .. ■ David Hansen/Daily Nebraskan Nebraska defensive tackle Ray Valladao upends Colorado quarterback Darian Hagan. from Gdowski lo split end Morgan to light end Chris Garrett, which cut Gregory. Colorado’s lead to 24-21. Culbertson added field goals from But that was as close as the Husk 49 and 28 yards for the Buffs, and ers would come. Nebraska’s only other score was a 26- - yard touchdown pass from Gdowski See LOSS on 10 ^ ' A_] David Hanaan/Daily Nabraakan Colorado outside linebacker Alfred Williams prepares to hit Nebraska l-back Ken Clark. CU coach praises fans, quarterback for Buffs win By Chuck Green Senior Reporter BOULDER, Colo. -- After Colo rado beat Nebraska 20-10 in 1986, Bill McCartney told his team that “it doesn’t gel any sweeter.’’ Now, the Buffaloes’ football coach has changed his mind. “This is sweeter and I couldn’t be prouder of our guys,’’ he said after Colorado’s 27-21 win against Ne braska Saturday. “Obviously, this is the greatest win I have ever been associated with. The things that are going through my mind right now center on all the problems we’ve had to overcome to get here.” Colorado’s main “problem” was the loss of former Buff quarterback Sal Aunese, who died last September after a long bout with stomach and lung cancer. Colorado players and fans have rallied this season to win the Big Eight championship for Aunese. “People think it’s crazy, but those were Sal’s last words: ‘Bring home the Orange Bowl trophy,’” Buff tail back J.J. Flannigan said. McCartney praised the play of Colorado quarterback Darian Hagan, who rushed for 86 yards and a touch down on 25 carries, • Hagan’s biggest play of the day was a pitch to Flannigan early in the first quarter, which went 70 yards for a touchdown. The play tied the score 7-7, after the Cornhuskers had scored on their first play from scrimmage. ‘‘The pitch by Hagan to Flannigan was a play we needed,” McCartney said. ‘‘They (the Huskers) stunned us early in the game with the intercep tion and then coming right back and scoring on a screen play on the very next play.” Flannigan said the play boosted his confidence for the r:*5t of the game. “Hagan is unbelievable,” he said. “No matter where he is on the field, he can always pitch it. As 1 was going down the sideline, I was thinking ‘hold on to the ball, get in the end zone and celebrate.’ “I didn’t think about fumbling any other lime during the game.” See BUFFS on 11 I Women swimmers earn second-place finish at Iowa meet By Jeff Apel Senior Editor _ The Nebraska women’s swim ming team answered a big question during the Iowa quadrangular this weekend in Iowa City, Iowa. Nebraska coach Ray Huppert said the young Comhuskers showed that they have adjusted to collegiate competition. He said adjustment is always a big concern, because some teams take longer to adapt than oth ers Nebraska freshman Michcile I Butcher showed that she is adjusted, as she set a school record in the 1,650 yard freestyle. Butcher’s time of 16:43.84 shattered the old record of 16:51.66 that was set by All-America selection Emily Ricketts in 1985. Butcher’s performance helped Nebraska earn a second-place finish at the two-day meet. Sixth-ranked Michigan won the meet with 199 points, followed by Nebraska with 137. Iowa finished third with 94 points, and Brigham Young was fourth with 57. Huppcrt praised the performance of Butcher, who also became the first Huskcr to complete the 500 freestyle in under five minutes when she re corded a 4:56.42 clocking. Huppert also praised the efforts of Jenell Garcia, Melanie Winner, Chris Frederick and Mindy Mathcny. Matheny finished third in the 50 freestyle and teamed with Lynne Braddock, Frederick and Kristen Neucnfeldl to form Nebraska’s 400 free relay team, which finished sec ond. Winner, a junior transfer from Alabama, teamed with Carol Johnson, Jenny Baucrnfcind and Frederick to form the Huskers’ 200 medley relay team that also finished second. Garcia won the 100 butterfly and finished second in the 200 butter fly. “You can really see the experi ence Jancll has,” Huppcrt said. “She’s been here two full seasons and she knows how to swim her races.” Huppcrt said Nebraska showed that it is a team not to be taken lightly. “I’m very, very happy,” he said. “We’re young, and we’re going to get better.” Huppcrt said the Huskcrs cannot afford to savor their performances, because they face Colorado State and Minnesota Saturday at the Bob Dcva ncy Sports Center. The meet, which is free for Uni versity of Nebraska-Lincoln students who present their IDs, begins at 7 p.m. Huppcrt said this week will be a busy one in practice. “There’s still quite a few things we need to work on,” he said. “It really is going to be an important time.” Huppcrt said he is anxious for Saturday’s meet. “It’s going to be nice to be at home,” he said. “I’m hoping we can get a lot of fans to come Jo the meet. Aihleles always perform belief if their friends arc in the stands.” •