NEBRASKA QUARTERBACK Scott Frost and Missouri quarterback Corby Jones share their thoughts after the game. Jones had 293 yards of total offense as Missouri moved to 25th in The Associated Press Poll despite its loss.
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Huskers need OT to beat MU as Davison saves the day
Gameday Notebook
COLUMBIA, Mo. - It ended with the Missouri football team kneeling on the grass at Faurot Field, the players eyes watering as they stared at the scoreboard's glowing numbers in disbelief.
And the Tiger fans, screaming excitedly in anticipation of a run for the goal posts to celebrate their first victory over Nebraska in 18 years, watched it end while standing silent on the bleachers.
Fifteen minutes earlier, the 29-point underdogs led the No. 1 team in the nation 38-31 with 1:02 remaining in the fourth quarter.
But Husker Matt Davison halted the premature celebration when his outstretched fingers grabbed a Scott Frost pass intended for Shevin Wiggins in the end zone after Wiggins dropped the ball and kicked it upward, sending the game into overtime.
NEBRASKA QUARTERBACK Scott Frost is pulled down by Missouri linebacker Al Sterling as Frost scores a touchdown in the first half to tie the game at 14.
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Several of the unranked Tigers - who gave the No. 1 team in the nation its toughest challenge of the season - disputed the call, claiming the ball touched the ground before Davison scooped it up.
But in the end, the scoreboard read Nebraska 45, Missouri 38.
The numbers, harshly illuminated in the scoreboard's bright lights against the dark, early evening sky, hardly testified to the effort given by the Tigers, said MU Coach Larry Smith.
"It was just one stinkin' play," Smith said. "The bottom line is, I don't think there is any Missouri player or fan ashamed of our effort today. It still goes down in the record books as a loss, but I've never felt prouder after a game, even in victory."
Challenging the Huskers seemed an unreachable goal only four years ago when the Tigers hired Smith in hopes of bringing respectability back to the program.
Now, in their fourth season under Smith, the Tigers have climbed back from the depths of Division I, claiming six wins for the first time since 1978.
Alamo Bowl representatives in Columbia on Saturday also pointed to a probable bowl bid for MU, its first in 14 seasons.
NEBRASKA I-BACK AHMAN GREEN runs for a first down Saturday. Green rushed for 189 yards against Missouri and moved into second on the Huskers all-time rushing chart with 3,290 yards.
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Despite the accomplishments of this Missouri team, the fact remains that the Tigers have not posted a victory over Nebraska since 1973. It's a truth that, just minutes after a field-storming, premature celebration, most players found difficult to accept.
"I'm not a referee," cornerback Shad Criss said. "But that catch, well, it was a little too close.
"It was really hard for me to leave the field. I wish we could play Nebraska every week. Everybody can laugh and say, 'Oh, you're just Missouri.' But we are a good team. We weren't playing for respectability anymore. We were playing for a win."
And play they did. Missouri broke a total of five team and individual records while scoring its highest point total since 1947 against Nebraska.
Quarterback Corby Jones recorded his career-best passing performance, completing 12 of 20 attempts for 233 yards.
Jones, along with running back Brock Olivo, also claimed a share of the MU all-time rushing touchdown record. Each scored his 26th career touchdown in the third quarter.
"If Corby Jones isn't the best quarterback in the Big 12, I don't know who is," Smith said. "He played with a lot of courage and heart."
Now, Smith said, the Tigers must heal their broken hearts. Missouri plays host to Baylor next Saturday, a team it must defeat in order to remain third in the league.
"When players put everything on the field like that, it's just total devastation to lose," Smith said. "But we have to bounce back. We played hard, and with that kind of effort and spirit, we can win a lot of games."
Even with the loss, tight end Eddie Brooks said, the 6-4 Tigers gained the confidence needed to finish the season strong.
"It was always us against the world," Brooks said. "Nobody picked us to win games, especially this one. But we outplayed Nebraska for four quarters.
"If they are the No. 1 team in the nation, then we are definitely not far from it."
