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Kansas 23
Nebraska 13

Oct. 12, 1968 — 2 p.m.
Lincoln, NE
Kansas       0    0    9   14  -  23
Nebraska     0    6    0    7  -  13

Second Quarter
NU: Joe Orduna 28 run (Paul Rogers kick failed) 4:47 
Third Quarter
KU: Intentional safety, Ernie Sigler, 7:04 
KU: Donnie Shanklin 1 run (Bill Bell kick) 2:04 
Fourth Quarter
NU: Orduna 1 run (Rogers kick), 9:58
KU: Bobby Douglass 1 run (Bell kick) 4:09
KU: Douglass 10 run (Bell kick) 1:11

                    NU     KU
First Downs ......  15     15
Rushing Net ...... 188    154
Passing Net ......  51     78
Total Offense .... 239    232

Leading NU Rushers: Joe Orduna 98, Dick Davis 74.
Leading NU Passer: Ernie Sigler 5 for 9-37 yards

Kansas fullback John Riggins is hit by Dana Stephenson.

Kansas fullback John Riggins is hit by Dana Stephenson.

Official recap

With a Nebraska and Big 8 record crowd of 67,119 looking on, the Cornhuskers and the Kansas Jayhawks collided in a tremendous conference opener. And despite a brilliant Nebraska effort, the powerful Jayhawks - who had been averaging 51 points a game - pulled out a 23-13 victory.

It took a back-to-the-wall drive in the final quarter for the Jayhawks to win.

Nebraska led at the half, 6-0 on Joe Orduna's sensational 28-yard run, and the Cornhuskers again led 13-9, after falling behind 9-6 in the third quarter, with only 9:58 left in the game.

But Bobby Douglass drove the Jayhawks 73 yards to score the cinching TD with only 4:09 left in the game. Nebraska's fourth-down gamble late in the game failed at the Husker 23, setting up a gratis tally in the final minute to provide the final margin.

Nebraska's tough defense shut out the point-happy Jayhawks until 7:04 was left in the third quarter. And then the Jays got on the board through a gift as Nebraska elected to take a safety rather than punt from the end zone with a 6-0 lead.

The Jayhawks got more help a short time later when Dick Davis fumbled at the NU 19. Six plays later Kansas led 9-6, but the Huskers refused to buckle.

Getting possession at the KU 49 early in the fourth quarter, the Huskers marched to a go-ahead TD in 11 plays, Orduna going the final yard.

But victory hopes were dashed as the Husker defense could not stop Douglass & Co. during a time-consuming, 14-play drive that supplied a clinching 16-13 lead.

Disappointment, of course, but a great effort had been made against a great Kansas team that was Orange Bowl-bound, and the Cornhuskers were 3-1.

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