(c) Copyright the News & Observer Publishing Co. and The Associated Press, 1994
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) -- Forced to go to its third quarterback, second-ranked Nebraska went to its No. 1 running back to roll over Oklahoma State 32-3.
Sophomore Lawrence Phillips ran for 221 yards on 33 carries and scored three times to lead the Cornhuskers (6-0) in their Big Eight opener. The yardage and carries were career highs.
Phillips came through in the second half after Nebraska pulled starting quarterback Brook Berringer. Pressed into the starting job last week when Tommie Frazier was hospitalized with a blood clot, Berringer suffered a partially collapsed lung against Wyoming. A precautionary X-ray was planned for him at halftime Saturday, and it revealed some damage to the lung.
Nebraska officials said Berringer, who was wearing a flak jacket, wasn't in pain but was held out in the second half as a precaution.
Matt Turman, a sophomore walk-on who started the fall as a third-teamer, opened the second half and drove Nebraska to two touchdowns in its first three possessions.
Nebraska's defense helped considerably, holding the Cowboys to 12 yards in the third quarter. Oklahoma State's only first down came on a penalty.
For the second week in a row, Nebraska failed to score in the first quarter, losing fumbles on its first two possessions and having another drive ended by a holding penalty.
Oklahoma State (3-2) could manage only a field goal of 27 yards by Lawson Vaughn, however, for a 3-0 first-quarter lead.
Phillips, who had 103 yards rushing in the first quarter alone, put Nebraska ahead with a 2-yard run. Darin Erstad added a 48-yard field goal just before the half for a 9-3 lead.
Nebraska missed its first extra-point kick but converted two pass plays after Phillips' other two scores. Turman hit tight end Eric Alford on the first and holder Jon Vedral lobbed a pass to kicker Erstad after a bad snap following the third TD.
Oklahoma St. 3 0 0 0-- 3 Nebraska 0 9 16 7--32INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
OSU--FG Vaughn 27
Neb--Phillips 2 run (kick failed)
Neb--FG Erstad 48
Neb--Phillips 2 run (Alford pass from Turman)
Neb--Phillips 7 run (Erstad pass from Vedral)
Neb--Childs 7 run (Erstad kick)
A--75,453.
OSU NEB First downs 7 30 Rushes-yards 31-40 68-372 Passing 96 103 Return Yards 5 68 Comp-Att-Int 6-20-1 12-20-0 Punts 9-41 2-34 Fumbles-Lost 2-1 4-3 Penalties-Yards 3-31 5-49 Time of Possession 23:05 36:55