Official recap More | Hide
Oklahoma spotted Nebraska 14 points, then roared back in the final quarter to pull out a 17-14 victory and spoil Nebraska's bid for a fourth straight Big 8 title.
With a record crowd of 76,587 Thanksgiving Day celebrants on hand, and millions of fans across America tuned into ABC's telecast, Nebraska found the going mighty tough against the fired-up Sooners. But the Cornhuskers capitalized on an early Sooner miscue — a fumbled punt — and ripped 49 yards to score in the first quarter.
Bill Olds tore through a draw-play hole for the final 14 yards of the nine-play drive and Nebraska was on top, 7-0, with 7:32 left in the quarter. That held up until the third quarter when Joe Wylie fumbled another punt and the Huskers got a break at the Sooner 40. Six plays later, Dave Goeller leaped over the pile to score and Nebraska led 14-0 with 6:45 left in the third period.
Oklahoma refused to buckle, and retaliated by driving 76 yards in 11 plays to pull up 7-14. Key plays were two passes by Dave Robertson to Al Chandler and Tinker Owens to keep the Sooners rolling.
Joe Washington got the ice-breaker for OU with a one yard run on fourth down.
Early in the fourth quarter, the Sooners got possession at the NU 36 on a punt and six plays later it was all tied up, 14-14, with 11:45 left in the game. A 22-yard Robertson pass to Owens and a pass-interference call in the end zone set up the tying Sooner score, punched in by Grant Burget from the one.
Riled by memories of Nebraska's historic 35-31 win at Oklahoma in 1971, the Sooners' great defense forced Dave Humm to fumble with 10:07 left and OU had its chance. Three tries from the NU 27 netted only two yards, but on fourth down Rick Fulcher kicked a 41-yard field goal for the winning points.
It was Nebraska's first loss at home since 1969; only the Huskers' second loss anywhere in three years and the first Husker loss ever on artificial turf.
Nebraska closed the season 8-2-1, giving Coach Devaney a final three-year record of 32-2-2.
SPORTS ILLUSTRATED
SOONERSTATS.COM | SERIES HISTORY
SEASON STATS | NU ROSTER
 |
Oklahoma 17
Nebraska 14
Nov. 23, 1972
Lincoln, NEOklahoma 0 0 7 10 — 17
Nebraska 7 0 7 0 — 14
First Quarter
NU — Bill Olds (14, run; Rich Sanger kick), 7:32
Third Quarter
NU — Dave Goeller (1, run; Sanger kick), 6:45
OU — Joe Washington (1, run; Rick Fulcher kick), 2:15
Fourth Quarter
OU — Grant Burget (1, run; Fulcher kick), 11:45
OU — Fulcher (41, field goal), 8:44
NU OU
First Downs ............ 12 15
Rushing, Net ........... 141 77
Passes, Comp-Att-Int ... 10-33-3 10-22-0
Passing, Net ........... 104 186
Total Offense .......... 181 327
LEADING NU RUSHER:
Dave Goeller 63.
LEADING NU PASSER:
Dave Humm 10 of 33 — 104.
NU TOTAL OFFENSE LEADER:
Dave Humm — 75.
ATTENDANCE: 76,587.
NU OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF GAME: Dave Goeller.
NU DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF GAME: Rich Glover.
|
