Big Eight Roundup : Nebraska and Oklahoma Roll On

No. 2 Nebraska put together its best offensive effort of the season Saturday in dismantling Kansas, 56-6, at Lincoln, Neb., but must prepare for its Big Eight Conference shootout at Oklahoma with injuries at several key positions.

Nebraska, the nation’s top rushing team, amassed 639 total yards--498 rushing and 141 passing--while holding the Jayhawks to 77 yards passing and 67 yards rushing.

“We played awfully well--on defense particularly,” Cornhusker Coach Tom Osborne said.

Jayhawk quarterback Mike Norseth, who last week set a Big Eight one-season total offense record, completed only 8 of 25 passes and was sacked 9 times.

But Nebraska linebacker Marc Munford tore ligaments in his right knee and was scheduled for surgery today. Also, tight end Todd Frain strained his right knee and probably will not play against Oklahoma.

Nebraska, which has won at least nine games each of the last 17 seasons, improved its record to 9-1 and 6-0 in the Big Eight. Kansas fell to 5-6 and 1-5.

Nebraska fullback Tom Rathman rushed for 159 yards, wingback Von Sheppard caught touchdown passes of 35 and 82 yards, and reserve I-back Keith Jones ran back a kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown.

I-back Doug DuBose added 109 yards in 17 carries.

Osborne said highly touted freshman quarterback Steve Taylor of San Diego Lincoln High will see action against Oklahoma. Taylor scored on a nine-yard run against Kansas.

“I hope Steve Taylor now has the maturity to play in a big game like next week,” Osborne said. “We figure to use him.”

Oklahoma 31, Colorado 0--Quarterback Jamelle Holieway scored two touchdowns to lead the No. 7-ranked Sooners in a battle of wishbone offenses at Norman, Okla.

Holieway scored on runs of 2 and 20 yards for Oklahoma, 7-1 overall and 5-0 in the Big Eight. Colorado is 6-4 and 3-3.

Holieway carried 20 times for 79 yards and completed 2 of 8 passes for 38 yards before leaving at the end of the third quarter.

High-powered Oklahoma finished with 360 yards rushing and 399 in total offense, while Colorado was able to gain just 109 total yards against the Sooners’ top-ranked defense.

Oklahoma’s first score came on its second possession, when halfback Patrick Collins went in from one yard out. Holieway scored his first touchdown with 19 seconds remaining in the half.

Holieway, a freshman from Los Angeles Banning High, then broke the game open by scoring late in the third quarter. Backup quarterback Eric Mitchel led the Sooners to their final touchdown, a five-yard run by Spencer Tillman.

Oklahoma State 21, Missouri 19--Thurman Thomas rushed 32 times for 172 yards to help No. 10 Oklahoma State survive a scare at Columbia, Mo.

Missouri pulled within 21-19 early in the fourth quarter when sophomore kicker Tom Whelihan, who had four field goals including a school-record 54-yarder, made a 44-yard field goal.

However, Whelihan missed a 44-yard attempt midway through the final quarter that could have put Missouri ahead.

Oklahoma State improved to 8-1 and 4-1, while Missouri fell to 1-9 and 1-5.

Iowa St. 21, Kansas St. 14--Alex Espinoza hit Hughes Suffren on a 67-yard touchdown pass play with 1:24 left as the Cyclones, ranked No. 104 among 105 NCAA Division I-A teams in total offense, escaped a four-way tie for the conference cellar by raising their Big Eight record to 2-4 and overall mark to 4-6.

Kansas State, whose offense is ranked No. 105, dropped to 1-9 and 1-5.