Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 28, 1994)
By Pfk t«m»on Senior Reporter NORMAN. Okla. — The combi nation of quarterback Brook Berringer and wingback Abdul Muhammad proved costly for Okla homa, as the Comhuskcrs overcame a disastrous second quarter to capture a 13-3 win Friday and a fourth straight trip to the Orange Bowl. Thanks to Berringer and Muhammad, the Huskers remained No. 1 in both polls, collecting 41 more first-place votes than Penn State. Nebraska is 43 points ahead of the Nittany Lions in the coalition poll. Berringer connected with Muhammad five times for 98 yards to help Nebraska bounce back from a sluggish second quarter in which Oklahoma gained 117 yards. The Huskers finished the second quarter with minus 8 total yards. Despite the Huskers’ lack of of fense, Nebraska was able to ride its defense into the locker room with the game knotted 3-3 at the intermission. Nebraska coach Tom Osborne said - the defenses should be credited rather than the offenses criticized. “I was real proud of our defense; I thought they carried the day,” Osborne said. ‘‘We felt the strongest part of Oklahoma's football team was their defense. We were concerned about moving the ball. I guess they didn't miss our prediction by much. The story of the game was the two defenses.” But it was Nebraska that came up with the big plays. After a scoreless first quarter, the Huskers opened the second quarter by finishing off a 30-yard drive with a 46-yard Darin Erstad field goal. Nebraska got a big play on Oklahoma’s next possession. : The Sooners drove 76 yards but were denied points when Barron Miles blocked Scott Blanton's 33 yard field goal attempt. Oklahoma, however, managed to tie the game on its next field goal at tempt — Blanton’s 25-yard field goal with 2:19 leff in the half. Linebacker Ed Stewart said giv ‘7 was real proud of our defense; I thought they carried the day. We felt the strongest part of Oklahoma’s football team was their defense. ” TOM OSBORNE NU football coach ing up a field goal was three points too many for the Huskcr defense. “As a defense, if we get three points or whatever (from the offense), we’ve got to try to make that hold up,” Stewart said. “Wejust try to take it upon ourselves to stop the other team from any kind of scoring and let the offense do their job.” Muhammad then began producing the big plays in the second half, when he had four of his five receptions. Nebraska look its first drive of the second half 76 yards in 11 plays and ended it with a 26-yard Tom Siclcr field goal. On a third-and-five play from the Sooncrs’ 39-yard line, Berringcr hit Muhammad for a 24-yard gain, which pul the Huskcrs in field goal range. Muhammad, who hung onto the ball after taking a hard hit in the back immediately after making the catch, said practice paid off in situations like that. “As soon as I caught the ball, I locked it up,” he said. “I didn’t sec the guy behind me. I didn't really know he was even there. We do drills like that in practice, and it worked in the game.” On Nebraska's next possession, Muhammad hauled in a pass on a third-and-10 play for a 44-yard gain down to the Oklahoma 13-yard line. Two plays later, Berringcr’s 1-yard plunge put Nebraska up 13-3 with 13:25 left in the game. SS33?^2SS jfi55RS “**d *"• *«»•'• on Frtdiy ’ •■' -tar «“ Huohon Osborne said the second hair dem onstrated the attitude Nebraska had displayed all season. “Our team, as a whole, has done an outstanding job or working to gether,” Osborne said, “ir there is any one strength or it (the team), it's been that they've been a real team. I've been real proud or their attitude and work ethic. “Obviously, they’ve been really goal-oriented. We’ve got one more step to go, and hopcrully we’ll get that I done.” Nebraska ran 24 plays on its next two possessions to run the clock out on the Sooners. The victory gives Nebraska its first two consecutive unbeaten and untied seasons in 91 years “ ^ flad lo be 12-0," Osborne 7®1100 many teams go unde back?nlhI2Ig5>i!l.C rcgu,ar a" "‘Ending job oflcad Jaff Hallar/DN ' ’• C„_ L_J- ***» dvaa to SMccMsfMlIy Mock a field goal attaint by Oldthomm’% Scott Blmton In tlie first I_A . Nebraska tbacfc Lawvanoa PMII yaada nnMig In Friday’s gaa« fcMtathaatrte flaM gaal attempt In Friday 's gi