Official recap
Playing their finest game of the season, the Cornhuskers turned their Big 8 showdown into an easy 33-10 win over the fired-up Colorado Buffaloes.
With a record crowd of 52,128 and millions via ABC-national television looking on for what had been billed as a title game for a year — except for CU's upset loss to Oklahoma State — the Huskers ripped the Buffs for 19 first-quarter points.
Colorado valiantly battled back in the second quarter to pull up, 10-19, but the Huskers settled the issue in the third quarter with a 77-yard drive after the kickoff.
Nebraska scored the first three times it got the ball — the second time after a Buff fumble at the CU 17 — for a 19-0 lead. But the Buffs refused to fold and retaliated with an 80-yard scoring drive, and kept the Huskers from generating any more threats. A 44-yard field goal just before the half and a Husker fumble got the Buffs close, and they left the field with momentum, despite the 19-10 halftime deficit.
The Cornhuskers regained the momentum early, however, taking the second half kickoff and rolling 77 yards to score. After that the Nebraska defense — led by middle guard Rich Glover and linebacker Jim Branch — completely bottled up the Buffs.
Nebraska's final TD came after Colorado gambled at the CU 45 and Jim Branch blasted in to drop Bo Matthews for a loss. The Huskers took the ball right in for the frosting.
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Nebraska 33
Colorado 10
Nov. 4, 1972
Boulder, CONebraska 19 0 14 0 — 33
Colorado 0 10 0 0 — 10
First Quarter
NU — Dave Humm 1 run (Rich Sanger kick), 10:33
NU — Gary Dixon 1 run (Sanger kick blocked), 7:27
NU — Bill Olds 1 run (run failed), 2:57
Second Quarter
CU — Bo Matthews 18 run (Fred Lima kick), 13:35
CU — Lima 44 field goal, 1:47
Third Quarter
NU — Johnny Rodgers 2 run (Sanger kick), 10:17
NU — Rodgers 11 pass from Dave Humm
(Sanger kick), 6:31
NU CU
First Downs ........... 22 15
Rushing, Net .......... 219 116
Passing, Net ......... 130 85
Comp-Att-Int ......... 11-17-1 11-29-1
Total Offense .......... 349 201
Return yards ........... 175 19
Punts .................. 4-37 8-42
Fumbles-Lost ........... 1-1 1-1
Penalties-Yards ........ 6-41 2-38
LEADING NU RUSHERS:
Gary Dixon 94, Bill Olds 76.
LEADING NU PASSER:
Dave Humm 11 of 16 — 130.
NU TOTAL OFFENSE LEADER:
Dave Humm — 118.
ATTENDANCE: 52,128
NU OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF GAME: Johnny Rodgers.
NU DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE GAME: Jim Branch.
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