• ;
By Mitch Sherman
Senior Reporter
COLUMBIA. Mo. — The Ne
braska defense continued to roll along
Saturday, and after a one-week hia
tus. the Cornhuskcr offense bounced
back to life.
Despite a scoreless first quarter, in
which the Huskcrs gained only 16
yards, Nebraska caught fire and
rolled to a 42-7 victory over Missouri
* _•
in front of a crowd of 50.537 at Faurot
Field
Hampered by a still tenuous left
lung. Nebraska quarterback Brook
Berringcr did not take full advantage
of the Huskcr arsenal, but he man
aged to muster 175 yards of total of
fense and three touchdoyvn passes.
Nebraska coach Tom Osborne said
Berringcr was under doctor's orders
to avoid contact if at all possible. At
times. Osborne said, that may have
limited the effectiveness of the of
fense
“It's a lot more like a pro offense.”
Osborne said of the Huskcr attack
without its trademark option plays.
”1 feel like you're fighting with one
hand lied behind vour back We have
stood there like a pro team and
haven't run any options. But that w ill
change.”
Dormant for the game's first 15
minutes, the Huskcr offense finally
9r
registered a first down on a 13-yard
Berringcr scramble with 14:52 to go
in the second quarter. Twelve plays
and 73 yards later, l-back Lawrence
Phillips found the end /.one on a 5
“It was all just a part of a clay's work. You have just
got to go out and get the thing recovered and get
the hall in the hands of our offense and let them get
going."
ED STEWART
o
NU linebacker
yard run to give Nebraska a 7-0 lead.
“I wasn't sure if we were ever go
ing to get untrackcd," Osborne said
“I couldn't find anything that would
work to start with "
Osborne said Phillips, who ran for
110 yards — his eighth consecutive
game of more than 100 yards — was
practically playing with only one
arm. He injured his thumb on his left
hand last week against Kansas State
and was limited all week in practice
Behind the running of Damon
Benning and Jeff Makovicka. the
Huskers stmek pay dirt again to go
ahead 14-0 with eight minutes left in
the half.
The Nebraska defense, which held
its fourth straight opponent to less
than 50 yards rushing, has allowed
576 yards and 16 points to three Big
Eight opponents.
After taking a 14-0 lead into the
locker room at halftime, the Huskers
almost let the Tigers back into the
game
On the second play of the third
quarter, Berringer lost control of a
pitch to Phillips, and Missouri
corncrback Clayton Baker recovered
the ball at the Tiger 10-yard line.
But on a sccond-and-goal play
from the I-yard line, Nebraska's
Barron Miles jarred the ball loose
from Missouri tailback Joe Freeman,
and Ed Stewart recovered it in the end
zone for a touchback.
“We were just looking to stop
them." Miles said “We wanted to get
a Held goal or a turnover. It just so
happened that we got a turnover. I
believe it was mv helmet (that
knocked the ball loosd) He went out
side. and I was the last man there for
the tackle."
Stewart said his recovery was a
w
major momentum swing in
Nebraska's favor.
“The ball came loose, and I was
able to get over there and fall on it.'
See MISSOURI on 8
I . . .- ■
Nebraska middle linebacker Phil Ellis hits Missouri running back Joe Freeman for a 1-yard
loss In the second quarter. Ellis had six tackles, Including a quarterback sack, In the
game.
t
Photos by Damon Lee/DN
Nebraska l-back Damon Banning tries to escape from Missouri’s
catching a Brook Barringer pass In the second quarter. Banning
rushed for 39 yards against Missouri.
Nebraska quarterback Matt Turman winces In pain as he Is help
tors Pat Clare and Robert Dugas. Turman bruised his right sh
quarter.
