No. 3 Cornhuskers Defeat Oregon State

Oregon State lost to third-ranked Nebraska, 35-7, Saturday in a game that was closer than the score indicates.

The Beavers trailed, 21-7, after Pat Chaffey scored on a two-yard run with 2:10 left in the third quarter, and if it hadn’t been for three Oregon State turnovers, it could have been close to the finish.

Nebraska scored after all three turnovers.

Nebraska, ranked second nationally in rushing with an average of 394 yards per game, managed only 193 yards through three quarters. Nebraska finished with 278 yards.

Quarterback Gerry Gdowski ran for one touchdown and passed for another to lead the Cornhuskers (4-0) over the Beavers (2-2).

Nebraska Coach Tom Osborne sounded as if his team had lost. “Hang with us, don’t give up on us,” he said. “We’re going to get better.”

Gdowski ran seven yards for Nebraska’s first score as he capped the opening 42-yard drive.

Bryan Carpenter added an eight-yard touchdown run early in the second quarter after a fumble recovery by Nebraska’s Mike Petko at the Oregon State 35.

Bruce Pickens intercepted a pass by Nick Schichtle to end an Oregon State drive in the third quarter. Nebraska’s Richard Bell then went 48 yards to help set up a two-yard touchdown run by Ken Clark to give the Cornhuskers a 21-0 lead.

Chaffey’s touchdown came after Schichtle threw 39 yards to Maurice Wilson and had 16-yard completions to Jason Kent and Phil Ross.

Gdowski then found Jon Bostick on a 60-yard touchdown pass play just over a minute after Husker safety Reggie Cooper intercepted another pass by Schichtle.

Sophomore quarterback Mike Grant added another Nebraska touchdown when he passed nine yards to Mark Dowse with 4:34 to play.