
Danny Noonan makes life difficult for OSU quarterback Rusty Hilger. | Courtesy of Nebraska Athletics
Swanson’s punt return breaks deadlock
For the first time ever, Oklahoma State (4-0) came into the Nebraska game with a better record than the Huskers (3-1). And for three quarters it looked like OSU might win for the first time in 23 years.
The ninth-ranked Cowboys carried a 3-0 lead into the final period before No. 8 Nebraska finally tied the game with a Dale Klein field goal with 13:05 left. A few minutes later, the Huskers downed a Scott Livingston punt at the OSU 5 and forced the Cowboys to punt on fourth-and-inches. Senior wingback Shane Swanson fielded the ball at the OSU 49 and took it back for an electrifying touchdown to get the Huskers over the hump and on their way to a hard-fought 17-3 win.
The Huskers sealed the victory in the final two minutes when quarterback Travis Turner connected with Jason Gamble on third-and-10 from the Nebraska 36. The freshman split end caught the ball at the NU 47, shook off a defensive back’s hit and took it all the way to the end zone.
NOTES: Coming into the game, Nebraska ranked first nationally and OSU fifth in total defense. … The teams punted a combined 18 times and committed three turnovers apiece. … The Huskers were shut out in the first half of a game for the first time in three years.