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Reid, Savage lead comeback win against Nebraska

Oct 28, 2006 - 11:34 PM STILLWATER, Oklahoma (Ticker) -- Bobby Reid showed his resiliency. Dantrell Savage showed his first 100-yard game last week was no fluke.

Reid passed for 229 yards and two touchdowns and Savage rushed for 117 yards and two scores as Oklahoma State rallied from a 16-point deficit and defeated 20th-ranked Nebraska, 41-29, in a Big 12 Conference contest.

Third in the nation in passing efficiency, Reid suffered a blow to the head in the first quarter of last week's 34-33 overtime loss to Texas A&M and did not return. But with his status uncertain for this game, the sophomore quarterback bounced back and led a comeback against Nebraska, which entered with a 36-3-1 lead in the all-time series.

"I am proud of my players for coming from behind against such a good team," Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy said. "We could have gone in the tank after we fell behind 16-0, but we didn't. As an alum and as a former player, I am proud to say that we got it done."

Oklahoma State snapped a 24-game losing streak in the series with a 24-21 victory here in 2002. Then the stars were Josh Fields, Tatum Bell and Rashaun Woods. Fields threw for two touchdowns, Bell rushed for 182 yards and Woods had 134 receiving yards.

This time, Reid, Savage and D'Juan Woods, Rashaun's brother, led the way for the Cowboys (5-3, 2-2 Big 12 South), which totaled 496 yards and eclipsed their season average of 37.4 points per game.

"We just went out and executed," said Reid, who completed 13-of-21 passes and rushed for 61 yards. "This win is a turning point for us."

Nebraska (6-3, 3-2 North) did not match its season average of 34.9 points, but totaled 452 yards.

The Cornhuskers, who were coming off a 22-20 loss to Texas, remain tied with Missouri for first place in the Big 12 North. Missouri, which plays at Nebraska next week, lost earlier in the day to Oklahoma.

Riding the running of Brandon Jackson, the Cornhuskers jumped to a 16-0 lead. The junior, who never had rushed for more than 116 yards in a game, had 124 yards and two touchdowns by halftime and finished with 182 yards.

On Nebraska's first possession, Jackson rushed for 66 yards on six carries to set up a 26-yard field goal by Jordan Congdon with 8:22 left in the first quarter.

After Tierre Green intercepted a pass by Reid and returned it 15 yards to the Nebraska 49, Jackson broke off a 28-yard run. Frantz Hardy ran for three yards on a 4th-and-1 play to keep the drive alive before Jackson capped it with a two-yard touchdown run with 33 seconds left in the first quarter.

Another turnover by the Cowboys - a fumble by Savage that was recovered by linebacker Stewart Bradley at the Nebraska 39 - led to Nebraska's second touchdown. Zac Taylor then hit Hardy with two passes for 38 yards before Jackson scored on a 24-yard run with 10:43 left in the second quarter. Jake Wesch fumbled the snap on the extra point attempt, leaving Nebraska with a 16-0 lead.

But then Reid went to work. He scrambled for an electrifying 56-yard run and beat a blitz with a 16-yard touchdown pass to running back Keith Toston with 8:12 remaining in the second quarter.

"Bobby's run changed the game for us," Gundy said. "It was a busted play, and he kept the ball and ran it down the sidelines 50 or 60 yards. That gave us a chance to get on the board."

However, the extra-point attempt by Jason Ricks was blocked. Ricks had one blocked in overtime in the 34-33 loss to Texas A&M.

After Nebraska went three-and-out, the Cowboys took over at midfield. Toston ran three times for 32 yards before Savage scored on an 18-yard run. The crowd gave a loud cheer when Ricks converted the extra point to pull Oklahoma State within 16-13 with 4:13 left in the second quarter.

Nebraska then put together a seven-play, 78-yard drive. Marlon Lucky caught two passes for 25 yards before Taylor connected with Maurice Purify on a 22-yard scoring play to give Nebraska a 23-13 advantage with 56 seconds left in the half.

Freshman Perrish Cox returned the ensuing kickoff 39 yards. On the next play, Reid hit Adarius Bowman with a 45-yard touchdown with 15 seconds remaining.

"That gave them momentum right before the half," Nebraska defensive end Adam Carriker said. "We were going in with a 10-point lead, we were going to get the ball to start the second half and it was a big mental boost for them getting that touchdown. It was a huge play."

After a scoreless third quarter, Reid connected with D'Juan Woods on a 55-yard pass. Woods made a double move before making the catch down the left sideline behind cornerback Andre Jones, a transfer from Kentucky. On the next play, Savage darted to his right and scored on a 20-yard run to give Oklahoma State a 27-23 lead just 26 seconds into the fourth quarter.

Savage rushed for a career-high 134 yards against Texas A&M last week.

Reid then directed a nine-play, 77-yard drive which featured a 19-yard pass to Bowman. Savage and Toston combined for 49 rushing yards before Julius Crosslin scored on a one-yard run with 8:05 left to increase the lead to 34-23.

Defensive end Nathan Peterson recovered a fumble by Taylor and raced 19 yards for a touchdown with 3:16 remaining to seal the win.

"It's frustrating," Taylor said. "You've got to give them credit, they stepped up and they started making plays and adjustments. The second and third quarter we really could have taken advantage of the lead, but offensively we just didn't do it."

Taylor threw for 241 yards and two touchdowns and moved ahead of Jerry Tagge and 2001 Heisman Trophy winner Eric Crouch into second place on Nebraska's all-time passing list with 4,718 yards. Taylor capped the day with a five-yard scoring toss to Purify with seven seconds left.