Official recap
Nebraska's Cornhuskers with a rebuilt squad and minus star Joe Orduna opened the Centennial Year against the mighty Southern California Trojans. Some 67,058 fans saw the Trojans strike for a 14-0 lead before the young Huskers regrouped and fought back to a 28-21 deficit before losing 31-21.
U.S.C. drove 80 yards to score, then hit a 45-yard TD pass to lead 14-0 in the second quarter. A 36-yard run by Larry Frost got Nebraska rolling and soph QB Van Brownson tallied with 5:09 left in the half to get NU back in the game. However, a Husker fumble enabled the Trojans to lead 21-7 at halftime.
After U.S.C. opened the gap to 28-7 in the third quarter, Jerry Tagge came in to spark a fourth quarter rally that had the fans roaring. The big NU soph skippered a 46-yard drive that ended with Jeff Kinney scoring with 6:31 left to play.
Nebraska recovered the onside kick and the Huskers again drove 47 yards to score, pulling up 28-21 with 3:40 left. The Huskers got one more chance, but Tagge's pass was intercepted deep in NU territory and U.S.C. got an insurance field goal in the final seconds.
SPORTS ILLUSTRATED
SERIES HISTORY
SEASON STATS | NU ROSTER
 |
Southern Cal 31
Nebraska 21
Sept. 20, 1969
Lincoln, NESouthern Cal 7 14 7 3 — 31
Nebraska 0 7 0 14 — 21
First Quarter
USC — Berry (1, run; Fred Ayala kick, 3:02)
Second Quarter
USC — Chandler (45, pass from Jim Jones;
Ayala kick 14:42)
NEB — Van Brownson (2, run; Paul Rogers kick; 5:09
USC — Evans (4, pass from Jones, Ayala kick :17)
Third Quarter
USC — Berry (1, run; Ayala kick 5:13)
Fourth Quarter
NEB — Jeff Kinney (12, run; Rogers kick; 6:31)
NEB — Jerry Tagge (2, run; Rogers kick; 3:40)
USC — Ayala (34, field goal; :23)
NU USC
First Downs 24 18
Rushing Net 142 182
Passes Att-Comp 16-31 8-15
Passing Net 148 153
Total Offense 290 335
LEADING NU RUSHERS:
Frank Vactor 56 Larry Frost 44.
LEADING NU PASSERS:
Jerry Tagge 8 for 14—96; Van Brownson 7-11—61.
NU BACK OF THE GAME:
Larry Frost ... Five carries for 44 yards ... 36-yard run
set up TD that got NU back in game, 14-7.
NU LINEMAN OF THE GAME:
Jerry Murtaugh. Led NU defense with 16 tackles.
ATTENDANCE: 67,058
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