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Current Husker News
Cowboys Gun Down The Huskers
Oklahoma State Wins 24-21
by Mark Fricke
October 19, 2002
The Oklahoma State Cowboys reached a new height they hadn't seen since 1961, while the Nebraska Cornhuskers fell to a depth they haven't experienced since that same year.
For the first time since the Kennedy administration Oklahoma State defeated the Nebraska Cornhuskers. The 24-21 win lifted the Cowboys to 3-4 on the season. The Huskers now find themselves facing a 5-3 record, their worst start since going 3-4-1 in the final year of Bill Jenning's tenure at Nebraska.
It was a turn of events that was reflected in the locker rooms after the game.
"It was a wonderful feeling with great emotions all around the field. Coach (Les) Miles told us that we hadn't beaten them in 41 years. It was just sweet." said OSU defensive lineman Greg Richmond.
"Bottom line is we did not play well enough to win," said Head Coach Frank Solich.
"Offensively we made some plays, but we hurt ourselves. Defensively we never really got anything under control in the second half."
Oklahoma State quarterback Josh Fields passed for 192 yards and two touchdowns. Rashaun Woods was on the receiving end of 11 of those passes covering 134 yards.
Oklahoma took the lead in the second period on a 45 yard Luke Phillips field goal. The Huskers were able to regroup before the half and take a lead in the locker room.
The Huskers drove 53 yards on four plays and scored on Dahrran Diedrick's two-yard touchdown run. The key play of the series came when quarterback Jammal Lord connected with freshman tight end Matt Herian for a 44-yard reception that put the ball on the OSU 9-yard line.
Oklahoma State was able to regain the lead on their opening drive of the second half. Fields capped an 80-yard drive with a three yard bootleg run.
A Nebraska error helped OSU pad their lead. Lord fumbled at the NU 40 and seven plays later Fields connected with Woods on a five-yard touchdown pass to make the score 17-7.
Nebraska tried to rally in the fourth period after Tatum Bell was stripped of the ball and Nebraska recovered at the OSU 49. The Huskers were able to punch it in on the drive when Horne raced in from 2 yards out with 2:53 left.
Horne became the first Husker I-back to top 100 yards this season. He set career highs by rushing for 125 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries.
"Iıd rather have 50 yards and a win than 120 yards and a loss," Horne lamented. "Itıs a big loss for us."
Oklahoma bounced right back with a game winning drive.
Driving 80-yards in nine plays, Fields finished it off by hitting a diving John Lewis in the back corner of the end zone for a 12-yard touchdown, pushing the lead back to 24-14.
Lord tried to give Nebraska one more chance. He calmly engineered a 70-yard drive by hitting three straight passes for first downs. Lord scored from one yard out to pull within 24-21.
Oklahoma State was able to burn off the final 2:24 to claim the victory.
Lord completed 7-of-14 passes for 110 yards, while rushing for 73 yards and a score.
The Huskers remain winless on the road this season. Their road to recovery doesn't ease up next week when they visit Texas A&M.;
Horne knows this is a critical time for the team.
"Hopefully we'll get in some hard practice this week, make some improvements on offense and defense, just whatever it takes to get the win. Right now, getting a win on the road is big for us."
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