NSU Rallies Past Sooners for 1,000th Win
Game Report Posted: December 19, 2008 15:44
Nebraska State rallied from a 17-point halftime deficit to knock off 10th ranked Oklahoma to seal the program's 1,000th win in its history.
Justice's 78-yard punt return with 6:02 left to play in the fourth quarter gave NSU its first lead of the game. The defense forced a three and out and the offense was able to grind out the remaining 3:23 with a all-running drive of 48 yards on 11 rush attempts that ended inside the five-yard line as the clock expired.
The Prairie Dogs cut the halftime gap down to three after Rivers gained 41 of his game-high 213 yards for the score on the opening drive of the second half. NSU's defense, much maligned in the first half, forced the Sooners to punt on its first second half possession. Facing 3rd and 13 following a sack, King avoided a quick OU rush and rolled to his right and fired a deep pass to Forte. Forte and his defender fought for the ball but Forte snared the ball and slipped the tackle and ran remaining 23 yards for the touchdown. King rebounded from a three-interception first half to finish the day seven of 13 for 173 yards.
After an OU scored on a three-yard run by Richards, King navigated the Prairie Dogs down the field using several Flex running plays. King capped the play after avoided the rush and taking the ball up the center of the OU defense for a five-yard score to again cut the lead to three.
OU's McPhee started quickly, guiding the Sooners down the field. The drive stalled but McDonald nailed a 55-yard field goal to give Oklahoma the early lead. After NSU's Brown tied the game, McPhee hit tight end Mitchell on a quick slant that went 74 yards for the score. McDonald hit his second long field goal of the game, this time from 45 yards out as OU held a 13-3 lead after one.
McPhee would again find the end zone in the second quarter, throwing scoring passes of 80 and 15 to book end King's 35-yard option gallop for NSU, part of the junior QB's 106 rushing yards. OU would build the lead to 34-10 before Rivers sprinted 58 yards for a touchdown just before halftime.
The win was NSU's second straight over a Top 10 opponent after roughing up previous #3 Texas 56-28 last week. The season doesn't get much easier for the Prairie Dogs as NSU faces #12 Missouri next week and still has current #1 Colorado at home later in the season.
