Huskers Use Goal Line Stand to Topple OSU

Kansas City, Mo. -- No. 2 Nebraska used a fourth-quarter touchdown return by Joe Walker and a decisive goal-line stand in the final moments to hold off an upset-minded Oklahoma State squad, 24-17, in Kansas City, Mo.

Walker's 73-yard punt return with 7:37 remaining broke a 17-17 tie as the Huskers extended their winning streak to 19 games in the Big 12 opener.

The Cowboys had a chance to send the game into overtime, driving to the NU 1 before Mike Rucker, who finished with a career-high 11 tackles, stopped OSU?s Nathan Simmons inches away from the end zone with five seconds remaining to preserve the win.

After a scoreless first quarter, OSU scored first on a Tim Sydnes 37-yard field goal before senior Kris Brown answered back with a season-long 48-yard field goal with 1:06 remaining.

The Huskers broke the halftime deadlock marching 76 yards on seven plays before quarterback Bobby Newcombe scored from six yards to give the Huskers a 10-3 lead. The key play in the drive was a 40-yard pass from Newcombe to Sheldon Jackson to the OSU 12-yard line.

Nebraska increased its lead to 17-3 on its next possession, using a 30-yard pass play from reserve quarterback Eric Crouch to Jackson to set up a DeAngelo Evans 1-yard touchdown run. The Huskers stuggled offensively, managing just 73 yards rushing, the lowest regular-season total since November, 1975.

The Huskers had a golden opportunity to put the game out of reach when defensive tackle Jason Wiltz intercepted an OSU pass, but it was nullified by a penalty. The play was costly as the Cowboys scored on a Jamaal Fobbs 3-yard run five plays later to cut the margin to 17-10. Oklahoma State tied the score at 17 on a 67-yard TD pass from Tony Lindsay to Ethan Howell setting the stage for Walker's game-winning punt return with 7:29 remaining.

Sophomore cornerback Erwin Swiney and junior linebacker Tony Ortiz topped the Huskers with 14 tackles each. In all, six NU players had 10 or more tackles.