Official recap
Helped by awesome offensive line play, Penn State tailback Curt Warner ran through and around the Nebraska defense for 238 yards, and the Nittany Lions came from behind in the fourth quarter to post a thrilling, 30-24, win over the Huskers.
The game saw a total of five lead changes, three in the first half when the Lions moved out to a 17-10 lead only to see Husker quarterback Mark Mauer throw two touchdown passes in the third quarter to give Nebraska its second lead of the game, 24-20, entering the final 15 minutes. However, Penn State took the lead for good early in the fourth quarter when Joel Coles capped a 61-yard drive with a two-yard TD run. Then, helped by a 56-yard run by Warner, the Lions put Brian Franco in position for his fifth field goal of the day and the game's final points with 4:54 left. Roger Craig had another fine day for the Huskers with 121 yards, but it wasn't enough to offset Warner's performance.
SPORTS ILLUSTRATED
SERIES HISTORY
SEASON STATS | NU ROSTER
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Penn State 30
Nebraska 24
Sept. 26, 1981
Lincoln, NEPenn State 3 14 3 10 — 30
Nebraska 0 10 14 0 — 24
PSU — FG Brian Franco 29
NEB — Roger Craig 2 run (Kevin Seibel kick)
PSU — FG Franco 48
PSU — FG Franco 39
NEB — FG Eddie Neil 30
PSU — Kenny Jackson 33 pass from Todd Blackledge
(Joel Coles pass from Blackledge)
NEB — Jamie Williams 9 pass from Mark Mauer (Seibel kick)
PSU — FG Franco 20
NEB — Scott Woodard 16 pass from Mauer (Seibel kick)
PSU — Coles 2 run (Franco kick)
PSU — FG Franco 32
A—76,308
PSU NU
First downs 18 18
Rushes-yards 56-327 52-255
Passing yards 87 142
Return yards 38 0
Passes 4-13-0 9-22-1
Punts 6-39.7 5-44.4
Fumbles-lost 7-4 6-3
Penalties-yards 2-10 4-30
Time of possession 32:38 27:22
INDIVIDUAL LEADERS
Rushing
Penn State, Curt Warner 28-238, Jon Williams 11-30, Mike Meade 6-27, Coles 5-21.
Nebraska, Craig 24-121, Phil Bates 10-40, Mike Rozier 5-23, Mauer 4-20.
Passing
Penn State, Blackledge 4-13-0-87.
Nebraska, Mauer 8-21-1-87, Mason 1-1-0-55.
Receiving
Penn State, Jackson 1-33, Mike McCloskey 1-30.
Nebraska. Woodard 3-46, Williams 2-64, Craig 2-9.
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