#21 Oregon State – 8
#12 Nebraska – 13
LINCOLN, Neb. -- What will go down as one of the greatest plays in college history was witnessed tonight by a sold out crowd of 82,000. When Oregon State and Nebraska took the field to begin the game, everyone believed that it would be a dominate victory by Nebraska vaunted Blackshirt Defense.
After a chess match of posturing throughout the first half, Nebraska went on the attack after receiving the second half kickoff. Offensive general QB Zac Lee was able to engineer a drive with a few passes, but let the work horse RB Castille do the dirty work. Behind a powerful left side of the offensive line and a roughing the passer on 3rd down a 9, the Cornhuskers moved the ball down to Oregon State's 24-yard line. The drive took three minutes off the clock. Bo Pelini was faced with a decision on 4th and 1. He decided to trust the offensive line as he chose to run the ball with the score tied at 0-0. Vinny Castille was rocked in the backfield for a 2-yard loss.
Nebraska quickly got the ball back after a three and out by OSU. QB Zach Lee made a mistake on first down by going for the victory and was intercepted. The Blackshirts took the field with the game on the line and delivered, forcing Lyle Moevao on two sacks to create a third and long. On third down, QB Moevao rolled to his left where he was met by Phillip Dilliard and Blake Lawerence. As Lyle tried to throw the ball he took a big hit from Phillip Dilliard which jarred the ball loose. Blake Lawerence was able to pick up the fumble and return it 6-yards as he dove across the endzone for a touchdown.
After Moevao's fumble led to the tie-breaking score, he gathered the offense up on the sidelines. Star wideout James Rodgers made it clear that if the ball was thrown to him, he would make the play. Moevao connected with James Rodgers twice on ensuing drive. Nearing the end zone, Lyle Moevao dropped back to pass and threw up a miracle ball that fell between three players, and James Rodgers caught the ball and held on after the big hit for a 36-yard touchdown. Coach Mike Riley decided to roll the dice on the road by lining the Beavers up for a 2-point conversion attempt. Lyle Moevao connected with senior tight end Howard Croom for a completion. The 82,000 fans in attendance went silent as they watched hopes of advancing slipping through the cracks.
As the Cornhuskers offense took the field after a 13-yard return by tight end Mike McNeill, QB Zac Lee was ready to put his name in the history books. With eleven ticks on the clock remaining and three timeouts in his back pocket, Zac Lee hit a wide open Quentin Castille for a 18-yard wheel route and called a timeout with three seconds remaining. Bo Pelini went to the final trick in his bag, the Hailmary. With three wide to the right and one wide to the left, Zac Lee motioned Quentin Castille out of the back field and to the left. Zac Lee threw up a prayer the crowd held their breathe as the ball reached the goal line. The ball fell into the hands of Nebraska's wide receiver Chris Brooks as he was dragged down at the goal line for a game winning 43-yard touchdown.
Pandemonium broke loose in Memorial Stadium. The fans went crazy as the student section rushed the field mauled the Cornhuskers on the 50-yard line for celebration. Students and fans tore down the goal post in the victory.
Nebraska's defensive was able to hold Jacquiz Rodgers to zero yards rushing. Although defensive star Ndamukong Suh was held to zero tackles, he forced a double team all night that freed up the rest of the dominating defensive line that compiled six sacks.
Stats:
Nebraska
Zac Lee – QB rating (121.0) 6/12 86 yards, TD, INT
Quentin Castille – rushing: 15/52, 47 yards after 1st hit; rec 4 / 30 yards
Chris Brooks – 1 rec 43-yards game winning TD
Niles Paul – 1 rec 13 yards
Phillip Dilliard – 3 tackles, 2 TFl, 2 sacks, FF
Anthony West – 2 tackles
Larry Asante – 2 tackles, TFL
Blake Lawerence – 2 tackles, sack, TFL, FR, 6 yard TD
Barry Turner – 2 tackles, TFL, sack
Oregon State
Lyle Moevao – QB rating (164.0) 7/11 116 yards, TD, INT
James Rodgers – 3 rec 60 yds, TD, 2 KR 40 yards
Howard Croom – 1 rec 11 yards & 2-point conversion
Keith Pankey – 6 tackles, 3 TFL
David PA'Aluhi – 4 tackles, TFL
Patrick Handerson – INT
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