Nebraska Overcomes Sluggish Start, 33-9 : Big Eight: Cornhuskers score 23 second-half points to defeat Oklahoma and maintain hopes of winning conference title.

It took a while, but Nebraska’s offense finally got rolling Friday afternoon. Once that happened, Oklahoma was in trouble.

The 12th-ranked Cornhuskers, behind the running of Calvin Jones, scored 23 second-half points to defeat Oklahoma, 33-9, and keep alive their hopes of winning the Big Eight championship.

Jones had 137 yards and two touchdowns as the Cornhuskers--held to six yards in the first quarter--rolled up 400 overall. Derek Brown added 88 yards, putting him and Jones over 1,000 yards for the season.

Nebraska led, 10-9, at halftime, but scored a touchdown on its first possession of the second half and remained in control thereafter.

“Our first drive of the second half was a big momentum shift for us,” Coach Tom Osborne said. “Our strength up front began to show. I was really pleased with the way we played.”

The Cornhuskers (8-2 overall, 5-1 Big Eight) will go to the Orange Bowl as conference champions if they beat Kansas State next weekend in Tokyo.

Oklahoma (5-4-2, 3-2-2) lost its chance to go to a bowl and concluded its worst season since going 3-7 in 1965.

“Our team, they’re not disappointed in themselves,” Coach Gary Gibbs said. “They know they played hard. We’ve just got to continue to build.”

The Sooners outgained Nebraska, 142-6, during the first quarter, limiting the Cornhuskers to only one possession. But they trailed, 7-3, when the quarter ended. The touchdown came when linebacker Ed Stewart intercepted a pass by Cale Gundy and returned it 50 yards.

The Sooners were not able to score a touchdown despite moving the ball well during the first half. Drives stalled at the Nebraska 16-, five- and 26-yard lines, leading each time to field goals by Scott Blanton.

“You always want touchdowns because of the power and abilities of Nebraska,” Gibbs said.

“Even at that time it’s a heck of a ball game. We had some opportunities.”

Blanton’s three kicks gave him 14 field goals in a row, breaking the Big Eight record of 11 in a row by Dodge Schwartzburg of Kansas in 1984 and Tim Lashar of Oklahoma in 1985.

Tommie Frazier ended Nebraska’s opening drive of the second half by throwing a 24-yard touchdown pass to Gerald Armstrong.

Oklahoma threatened after that, driving to the Nebraska 22 before Gundy was intercepted again, at the one-yard line.

Oklahoma forced a Nebraska punt, but Dewell Brewer failed to field the ball and it died at the seven-yard line.

Three plays later, Gundy was sacked in the end zone for a safety and Nebraska had a 19-9 lead.

Jones scored on a 14-yard run to give the Cornhuskers a 26-9 lead. His two-yard run late in the fourth quarter finished the scoring.

Gundy was booed loudly on the two possessions after the safety. He refused to be interviewed after the game.

Brown suffered a shoulder separation and will not play against Kansas State. Osborne said he expected Brown to be ready for the bowl game.