Nebraska State used a strong, if not wild, third quarter to upset top ranked and #3 Texas aTm in College Station Saturday night 47-35.

NSU stopped the Aggies cold in its first possession and moved the ball meticulously down the field on the Prairie Dogs' first drive, but QB Tony Schifano fired an ill advised pass to Aaron Gaithers, who raced 78 yards untouched for Texas aTm. It was Schifano's 16th pick of the year.

NSU would regroup and drive down the field again but ended with only a 28-yard field goal by Bryon Harrell to cut the first quarter lead to four. aTm got its offense together and extended the lead after a Vaughn to Smith touchdown still in the first quarter.

NSU would repay the Aggies when Brian Scott stepped in front Vauhgn's fifth interception of the season. Scott spun around and raced 74 yards the other direction for the NSU score, with no Aggie closer than 20 yards back. Texas aTm would answer the challenge as Vaughn took just seven plays to find George, who out-dueled CB Lee Hodges for the ball, and capped the final 39 yards to make the score 21-10.

NSU would add a field goal with just 15 seconds remaining in the first half. That was more than enough time for the potent Aggie offense. After a seven-yard gain by Montgomery, Texas aTm used a timeout for one final play. Vaughn took the shotgun snap, caught Scott on a pump fake and fired a bullet to Hicks, who raced 69 yards for the score as the first half came to a close with aTm out front 28-13.

"I told our players to relax and concentrate on making the plays they need to make and everything would work out," NSU head coach Ryan Ditka told his players during halftime.

It worked.

On NSU's first play of the half, Schifano barely got off a screen pass to Franklin on the left side. Franklin came towards the center of the field to get the ball, used a couple of blocks before out-racing several Aggies back to the left sideline. Another block allowed Franklin to turn upfield. An Aggie defender had the angle on Franklin, but a block by block by WR Kevin Leonard allowed Franklin to break the arm tackle, keep his balance and race into the end zone for a 77-yard touchdown.

"Ya know, everything was set for that play. Tony was a little short on his throw, but I was able to go to the ball and take it up field. My teammates' blocks were perfect and that got us the score," said Franklin, who was named Player of the Game. The senior finished with 97 yards receiving and 125 more on the ground.

The Aggies, however, were not impressed. On the first ensuing play, Vaughn hit Hicks after Scott fell down for a 76-yard touchdown pass just 12 seconds after Franklin's. The score got the stadium rocking, but just as fast NSU took the air back out.

Chuck Ruud took the kickoff and raced up the middle of the field before cutting left and raced untouchded for a 96-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. In just 37 seconds of play, the teams combined for 249 yards and three touchdowns.

"If you're around the game long enough, you're gonna see some crazy things. But I don't remember anything like this before. I'm just glad it worked out for us in the end," Ditka said.

With the offensive and special teams fireworks complete, the NSU defense took over. Texas aTm allowed no more than 30 yards on any aTm drive the rest of the game. NSU's offense was just getting started. Schifano hit Marshall for a 7-yard touchdown and Rodgers for a 16-yard scoring pass before then end of the third. The 27-point third quarter allowed NSU to overcome a 15-poind deficit and lead 40-35.

Franklin added the clinching score with 5:22 left on a 23-yard run as the Prairie Dogs played an umbrella defense to hold off the Aggies.

Adding to the celebration was the announcement earlier in the night that North leading Nebraska fell to Oklahoma 24-21. NSU sits just a game back in the North Standings while the Aggies fell to #10 and #8 in the polls and in a three-way tie for the South Division. The win also put NSU back in the rankings at #25 in the media poll.