Nebraska 41
Virginia Tech 21

Dec. 31, 1996 • 6:15 p.m. Central
Orange Bowl • MIami, FL • CBS
1st2nd3rd4th F 
Virginia Tech777021
Nebraska017141041
First Quarter
VT: Parker 19 pass from Druckenmiller (Graham kick) 3:14
Second Quarter
NU: Brown 25 field goal, 13:25
NU: Frost 5 run (Brown kick) 9:14
NU: Peter 31 fumble return (Brown kick) 3:36  
VT: Scales 6 pass from Druckenmiller (Graham kick) 0:19
Third Quarter
NU: Benning 33 run (Brown kick) 9:54 
VT: White 33 pass from Druckenmiller (Graham kick) 4:58
NU: Benning 6 run (Brown kick) 0:20
Fourth Quarter
NU: Brown 37 field goal, 7:52
NU: Frost 22 run (Brown kick) 3:26

                            VT       NU
First downs ............... 22       25
  By rushing .............. 11       15
  By passing .............. 11        8
  By penalty ............... 0        2
Rushes-Yards .......... 39-193   49-279
Passing yards ............ 214      112
  Comp-Att-Int ....... 16-33-0  11-22-0
Total offense ......... 72-407   71-415
Punt returns-Yards ....... 0-0     4-32
Kickoff returns-Yards ... 3-95     4-84
Int. returns-Yards ....... 0-0      0-0
Fumble returns-Yards ..... 0-0     1-31
Punts-Average ......... 5-34.2   2-44.5
Fumbles-Lost ............. 1-1      1-0
Penalties-Yards ......... 5-89     3-16
Time of Possession ..... 31:02    28:58
Third-down conv. ........ 9-16    11-16
Fourth-down conv. ........ 0-1      1-1
Sacks By: Number-Yards ... 0-0     3-24

RUSHING
VT: Oxendine 20-150, Parker 8-22, Druckenmiller 9-18, Stith 2-3.

NU: Benning 15-95, Frost 9-62, Green 7-52, Sims 8-48, Makovicka 4-12, Turman 2-8, Schuster 4-2.

PASSING
VT: Druckenmiller 16-33-0-214.
NU: Frost 11-22-0-136.

RECEIVING
VT: Jennings 4-58, Oxendine 3-60, Parker 3-28, White 2-38, Stuewe 2-23, Scales 2-7.

NU: Wiggins 3-36, Lake 2-27, Cheatham 1-23, L.Brown 1-23, S.Jackson 1-11, V.Jackson 1-9, Holbein 1-5, Benning 1-2

Att. - 51,212

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Coverage

Stats & Recap

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Benning, Frost shine as Huskers fend off Hokies

Nebraska used strong performances from I-back Damon Benning and quarterback Scott Frost to down 10th-ranked Virginia Tech, 41-21.

The sixth-ranked Huskers picked up their third straight bowl victory as Benning rushed for 95 yards and scored on touchdown runs of 33 and six yards on his way to MVP honors. Frost completed 11-of-22 passes for 136 yards while rushing for 62 yards and two touchdowns.

After the Hokies jumped ahead 7-0 on a Jim Druckenmiller touchdown pass, the Huskers responded on their next possession as Kris Brown’s 15-yard field goal early in the second quarter. Nebraska took a 10-7 lead on its next possession as Frost capped a three-play, 45-yard drive with a five-yard touchdown run.

The Nebraska defense pushed the margin to 17-7 after rush end Mike Rucker sacked Druckenmiller and forced a fumble that defensive tackle Jason Peter picked up and raced 31 yards for a touchdown.

The Hokies would not go away quietly, though, as Druckenmiller threw a pair of touchdown passes, closing the gap to 24-21 midway through the third quarter. Nebraska finally extended its lead as Benning’s six-yard touchdown gave Nebraska a 31-21 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

In the final quarter, the Husker defense held the Hokies on a pair of drives in NU territory, while the offense added a Brown 37-yard field goal and a 22-yard touchdown run by Frost with three minutes left, clinching the win.

Recap source: 1997 media guide

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Photos/Audio/Video
jason peter TD Jason Peter scores on a first-half fumble return.
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Pregame & team info
1996 schedule
04/20Reds 20, Whites 17
09/07Michigan St.W 55-14
09/21@ Arizona St.L 0-19
09/28Colorado St.W 65-9
10/05@ Kansas St.W 39-3
10/12BaylorW 49-0
10/19@ Texas TechW 24-10
10/26KansasW 63-7
11/02@ OklahomaW 73-21
11/09MissouriW 51-7
11/16@ Iowa St.W 49-14
11/29ColoradoW 17-12
12/07TexasL 27-37
12/31Virginia TechW 41-21
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