COLLEGE FOOTBALL : Big Eight Roundup : Nebraska Is Tricked, and Colorado Is Treated to 20-10 Victory

Resorting to a little reverse psychology, Colorado Coach Bill McCartney, who had hyped his team’s rivalry with Nebraska the previous four years, downplayed this week’s game at Boulder, Colo., saying it didn’t really qualify as a rivalry because of the discrepancy between the two programs.

It qualifies now.

Thousands of Colorado students stormed the field and tore down both goal posts Saturday after the Buffaloes upset the third-ranked Cornhuskers, 20-10.

The victory snapped Colorado’s 18-game losing streak to Nebraska, dating back to 1967, and marked the first Colorado victory over the Cornhuskers in Boulder since 1960.

Halfback O.C. Oliver connected with Lance Carl on a 52-yard touchdown pass play, and Jeff Campbell scored on a 39-yard run as Colorado used trick plays and an aroused defense to keep its Big Eight record unscathed.

“This is a moment in our program we’ll always cherish,” McCartney said. “Up to this point, I don’t think we’ve beaten a great team. We did today. And I think we have a rivalry now.”

Said Colorado quarterback Mark Hatcher: “It took trick plays to win this game, but whatever it takes. . . . It’s the biggest win I’ve ever been a part of. We knew it was going to take all we had.”

But there was nothing tricky about Colorado’s defense. It held Nebraska, ranked second in the nation in rushing with 335.2 yards, to only 123.

The Nebraska defense was equally stingy, limiting Colorado to 263 yards in offense and forcing three fumbles.

But Colorado was able to use a couple of big plays to win. After a 15-yard punt by Nebraska’s John Kroeker to the Cornhusker 46, the Buffaloes moved for their first score.

On second and 13, Campbell took a handoff from quarterback Mark Hatcher and raced 39 yards with 4:39 to go in the first quarter for a 7-0 lead.

The Colorado defense sacked Steve Taylor for a 23-yard loss and forced a fumble. Four plays later, Dave DeLine kicked a 57-yard field goal for a 10-0 halftime lead. DeLine also had a 36-yard field goal midway through the fourth quarter.

Nebraska was held scoreless until the 14-minute mark of the third quarter when Steve Taylor went in from two yards out to make it 10-7.

Colorado rebounded on its next possession to make it 17-7. Oliver took Hatcher’s pitch and lofted a strike to Carl, who went the final 15 yards untouched.

The victory, Colorado’s third straight, leaves the Buffaloes 3-0 in Big Eight play and 3-4 overall. Nebraska is 6-1 overall and 2-1 in the conference.

Oklahoma State 24, Kansas 6--Tailback Thurman Thomas rushed for 170 yards and a touchdown, his first 100-yard game since last season, as the Cowboys defeated the Jayhawks at Stillwater, Okla.

Thomas, who suffered a knee injury during the off-season, looked like his old self with several long runs. His touchdown in the third quarter was a 56-yard dash, and he also had runs of 36, 20 and 17 yards. Thomas carried 19 times before leaving in the third quarter with a bruised calf.

The 170 yards gave the junior 3,087 career yards to join Terry Miller and Ernest Anderson as the only players in school history to crack the 3,000-yard barrier.

Oklahoma State is 3-4, 1-2 in conference play. Kansas is 3-4 and 0-3.

Missouri 17, Kansas St. 6--Darrell Wallace sped 72 yards for a touchdown, and Ronnie Cameron passed 2 yards for a second score at Manhattan, Kan., enabling the Tigers to snap a five-game losing streak with a rain-soaked victory over the Wildcats.

Cameron, Missouri’s sophomore quarterback, celebrated his return to the lineup by guiding the Tigers to their third victory in two years. He had missed most of the four previous games with injuries.

Wallace, a sophomore running back, totaled 148 yards in 23 carries.

Missouri is 2-5 overall and 1-2 in the Big Eight. Kansas State, seeking consecutive Big Eight home victories for the first time since 1978, is 2-5 and 1-2.