Nebraska Wins This One With Defense

In a game of turnovers and tough defense, Damon Benning showed the way to victory for No. 5 Nebraska with two big fourth-quarter runs on Saturday at Lubbock, Texas.

Benning returned a punt 51 yards and two plays later scored on a five-yard run on which he fumbled the ball but recovered in stride to cap the Huskers’ 24-10 victory.

The score was tied, 10-10, at halftime, with the Red Raiders (4-3 overall and 3-2 in the Big 12) capitalizing on a fumble by Benning and a seven-yard touchdown return of an interception by rover back Robert Johnson off a pass by Husker quarterback Scott Frost.

But Frost scored the go-ahead touchdown on a three-yard run 5 1/2 minutes into the third quarter and Nebraska (5-1, 3-0) took control with its defense, forcing five fumbles and holding Division I-A rushing leader Byron Hanspard to 107 yards in 31 carries, less than half his 217-yard average.

No. 9 Colorado 20, Kansas 7--Koy Detmer threw two touchdown passes and moved into second place on the school’s career passing list as the Buffaloes romped to an easy victory at Lawrence, Kan.

Colorado (5-1, 3-0) overcame an interception by Detmer that killed one drive and a nice defensive play when cornerback Jason Harris knocked a pass away from James Kidd in the end zone late in the first half. The Buffaloes came away after the latter play with a 20-yard field goal by Jason Lesley for a 10-0 halftime lead over the Jayhawks (3-3, 1-2).

The Buffaloes, playing without six players suspended because of apparent improper use of athletic department telephones, drove 80 yards in seven plays in 2:36 at the start of the second half, scoring on a 21-yard pass from Detmer to Rae Carruth, who beat defensive backs Tony Blevins and Jason Harris in the end zone for a 17-0 lead.

Colorado reported the apparent violation to the NCAA and suspended the players. Sitting out were defensive backs Rashidi Barnes, Tavon Cooper, Ben Kelly and Damen Wheeler, tailback Dwayne Cherrington and receiver Marcus Stiggers.

Oklahoma State 28, Iowa State 27--Reserve tailback Andre Richardson gained a career-high 173 yards, including 151 in the second half, as the Cowboys overcame a 17-point deficit at Stillwater, Okla.

Richardson scored two touchdowns and led the Cowboys (4-3, 1-3) after David Thompson left because of an injury.

Troy Davis gained 238 yards on 36 carries and became Iowa State’s career rushing leader, but the Cyclones (2-4, 1-2) weren’t able to hold on. The Cyclones are 0-21-1 away from home since defeating Missouri, 23-22, on Nov. 2, 1991.

Oklahoma 28, Baylor 24--Justin Fuente threw for three touchdowns and ran for another to rally the Sooners (2-4, 2-1) from a 14-point deficit for a Big 12 Conference victory over the Bears (3-3, 0-3) at Waco, Texas.

Fuente, a redshirt freshman, scored on a one-yard sneak in the third quarter and passed to James Allen on an 11-yard touchdown with 11:39 remaining to complete the comeback. Both touchdowns were set up by Baylor fumbles.