Nebraska defensive tackle Tim Rother gets past a South Carolina offensive lineman. | Courtesy of Nebraska Athletics
Huskers escape with fourth-quarter comeback
South Carolina scored twice within four minutes to take a 21-13 lead in the third quarter, but the Gamecocks netted only 9 offensive yards after that and second-ranked Nebraska rallied to post a 30-21 win.
The rally started with an 18-play, 96-yard, 9:01 drive in which quarterback Steve Taylor was lost to a shoulder injury. The go-ahead touchdown was set up by a
Gamecock fumble, then Mark Blazek’s
late interception set up the clinching field goal.
Keith Jones rushed for 129 yards and was named Big Eight offensive player of the week.
H’MAX NOTES: Clete Blakeman finished the game at quarterback after Taylor’s injury, which came on a hit by safety Brad Edwards on the final play of the third quarter … The game was close even though the Huskers enjoyed a nearly 2-1 advantage in time of possession and a 406-242 edge in total offense. … For the second time in four games, the Blackshirts held an opponent to negative yards rushing (-14). … The game marked the debut of the redesigned
Herbie Husker mascot.
Recap source: 1988 media guide
Third Quarter SC: Sterling Sharpe 80 pass from Ellis (Mackie kick) 11:18 SC: Bethea 17 run (Mackie kick) 7:27 Fourth Quarter NU: Keith Jones 3 run (Jones run failed) 9:58 NU: Jones 4 run (Jones run) 7:38 NU: FG Drennan 43, 2:07 A-76,061 SC NU First downs ............ 18 24 Rushes-yards ...... 22-(-14) 68-268 Passing yards ......... 256 138 Comp-Att-Int..... 17-36-3 7-17-2 Total offense ...... 58-242 85-406 Returns-yards ........ 3-17 4-72 Sacks by ............. 3-17 6-53 Punts-avg. ........... 5-39 4-38 Fumbles-lost .......... 2-1 1-1 Penalties-yards ...... 6-31 10-93 Time of possession .. 20:12 39:48 Third-down conv. ...... 2/9 6-15 Fourth-down conv. ..... 0/1 0-0 RUSHING SC: Harold Green 6-18, Bethea 2-14, Sharpe 1-3, Brown 1-1, Bing 1-(-4), Ellis 11-(-46) NU: K. Jones 25-129, Micah Heibel 15-82, Bell 2-15, Knox 5-15, Clark 2-13, Sheppard 1-12, Carpenter 2-5, Taylor 13-1, Clete Blakeman 3-(-4) PASSING SC: Ellis 17-36-3-256 NU: Taylor 6-16-2-130, Blakeman 1-1-8-0 RECEIVING SC: Bethea 4-66, Sharpe 3-87, Danny Smith 3-44, Green 2-22, Andrews 2-16, White 2-9, Brown 1-12 NU: Rod Smith 4-52, Bell 1-78, Hawkins 1-4, Sheppard 1-4 MISSED FIELD GOALS: None MORE INDIVIDUAL STATS
