When football historians review the 1970s, they’ll probably list the Nebraska-Southern California 21-21 tie in 1970 as one of the great games of the decade.
It was that kind of game as Nebraska’s two-TD underdogs three times led the highly regarded Trojans in a game that left 73,768 fans breathless on the last play — a 50-yard incomplete USC pass.
Nebraska got the jump on the Trojans in the second quarter — Husker Joe Orduna early had fumbled at the USC 5 — when fullback Dan Schneiss took a handoff from quarterback Jerry Tagge and threw a surprise 17-yard pass to Guy Ingles.
USC tied it on a 4-yard run by Jimmy Jones, but Nebraska roared back for a 14-7 halftime lead on Tagge’s 15-yard pass to Johnny Rodgers to cap a 74-yard drive.
Back stormed the Trojans in the third quarter to tie it at 14-14, but on the second play after the next kickoff, Orduna tore 67 yards on a great run to put Nebraska ahead again, 21-14.
Nebraska’s chance for icing a victory misfired in the final quarter when a bad snap caused Paul Rogers to miss a 22-yard field goal that would have given NU a 24-14 lead.
USC then moved 80 yards for the tying TD, with Clarence Davis going the last nine yards with 8:16 left in the game.
Both teams had final chances in the wild finale, but a great college game ended 21-21.
H’MAX NOTES: Johnny Rodgers’ 30-yard punt return helped set up the Huskers’ first TD. … The tie preserved USC’s 23-game regular-season unbeaten streak. Coach John McKay said he would have gone for a two-point conversion if the last touchdown had occurred with five minutes or less remaining. … The Trojans entered the game ranked third nationally by AP, Nebraska ninth. .. USC’s Davis finished with 116 rushing yards on 27 carries. Orduna had 135 yards on 18 attempts. … Bob Devaney shuffled the defense during the week before the game. … The Huskers got a postgame visit from comedian Bill Cosby.
Fourth Quarter USC — Clarence Davis 9 run (Ayala kick) 8:16 NU USC First Downs .............. 19 22 Rushing, Net ......... 44-208 52-175 Passes, Att-Comp ...... 18-12 25-14 Passing, Net ............ 157 191 Comp.-Att.-Int. .... 12-18-3 14-25-2 Total Offense ........ 62-365 77-366 Punts-Avg. ............. 4-41 4-37 Fumbles lost .............. 3 2 Yards penalized .......... 42 45 RUSHING NEB: Orduna 18-135; Kinney 11-31; Rodgers 5-23; Schneiss 4-15; Tagge 6-4 USC: Davis 27-116; Cunningham 10-52; Harris 4-11; Evans 6-7; Jones 5-(-11) PASSING NEB: Tagge 11-17-3 140; Schneiss 1-1-0 17 USC: Jones 14-25-2 191 RECEIVING NEB: Ingles 5-65; Rodgers 2-40; List 1-16; Cox 1-13; Orduna 1-12; Kinney 1-6; Schneiss 1-5 USC: Chandler 5-83; Dickerson 3-39; Cunningham 2-29; Evans 2-20; Morgan 2-20 MORE STATS HERE
NU BACK OF GAME Joe Orduna: Rushed for season high of 135 yards and a 7.5 average. His 67-yard TD run gave NU a 21-14 lead to ensure tie.
NU LINEMAN OF GAME Jerry Murtaugh: Sensational defensive job, with 14 unassisted tackles and 11 assisted tackles. Also deflected a pass. Attendance: 73,768
