Football '98:
vs Missouri, October 24, 1998

(7) NEBRASKA 20, (19) MISSOURI 13 LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - With the Count of Monte Christo running the offense in the second half and Eric Johnson delivering for the defense on the last play, Nebraska didn't need a miracle this time. Former walk-on quarterback Monte Christo came off the bench for starter Bobby Newcombe, running for two second-half touchdowns as No. 7 Nebraska rallied to beat No. 19 Missouri 20-13 on Saturday. Like last year's dramatic finish between the teams, it came down to the last play again. But this time, the Cornhuskers (7-1, 3-1 Big 12) didn't need an amazing catch to win. Last year Matt Davison caught a pass in the end zone after it had been kicked by teammate Shevin Wiggins as the Huskers tied it on a remarkable final play, then won 45-38 in overtime. Christo, nicknamed "The Count of Monte Christo," was the difference this time with his extra-effort running, gaining many of his 67 rushing yards after contact with defenders. But Christo also gave the Tigers (5-2, 3-1) a final opportunity by fumbling a snap as Nebraska tried to run out the clock, giving Missouri the ball near midfield with 1:38 to play. Corby Jones drove the Tigers to Nebraska's 22 with nine seconds left, where he threw incomplete in the end zone to John Dausman, who let the ball go through his hands. Jones lined up the Tigers up with four seconds left, scrambling in search of an open receiver before Johnson sacked him for a 12-yard loss that ended the game. "I looked in Corby's eyes and it looked like he had checked off on something," Johnson said. "He rolled the other way. I just kept running and running. Somebody tried to cut-block me, and I fought that off, got to him and got it done." Said Jones: "I didn't have a prayer on that one." Christo, a fifth-year senior who endured a series of injuries through his first four years in Lincoln, scored his first career rushing TD on a 1-yard run late in the third quarter to tie it 13-13. "I've seen it all," said Christo, who put Nebraska ahead 20-13 on a 3-yard keeper with 10:27 to play. "I'm comfortable out there, being poised and able to think, then act. That's what I get from being here five years." The Huskers limited Missouri's Devin West, the nation's No. 2 rusher at 175.1 yards per game, to 72 yards on 24 carries. The Tigers rushed for only 77 yards. Jones, who threw for 233 yards and three TDs last year against Nebraska, was 8-of-20 for 89 yards this time. Wiggins and Davison contributed again on the third-quarter drive that helped Nebraska tie it 13-13. Wiggins returned a punt 43 yards to Missouri's 14. On third-and-8 from the 12, Christo threw his only completion -- a 7-yard pass to Davison. Newcombe, still limited by swelling stemming from a partially torn knee ligament, rushed for 33 yards and was 7-of-11 for 65 yards. It wasn't known if he'll be ready for next week's game against Texas. "We're going to take it one step at a time and make sure Bobby is close to 100 percent," quarterback coach Turner Gill said. "If he's like he was today, then next week we'll probably go with another quarterback." Missouri led 13-6 at halftime, thanks to a 41-yard fumble return for a touchdown by defensive tackle Steve Erickson and a blocked field goal that Harold Piersey returned to the Nebraska 25.

(7) NEBRASKA 20, (19) Missouri 13

                   1ST 2ND 3RD 4TH  FINAL
                   --- --- --- ---  -----
Missouri            0  13   0   0    13
Nebraska            3   3   7   7    20

First Quarter
      Neb-FG Brown 38, 7:23.
Second Quarter
      Mis-Erickson 41 fumble return (kick failed), 12:07.
      Mis-Jones 1 run (Long kick), 3:52.
      Neb-FG Brown 30, :00.
Third Quarter
      Neb-Christo 1 run (Brown kick), 1:32.
Fourth Quarter
      Neb-Christo 3 run (Brown kick), 10:27.


                           MIS       NEB
                           ---       ---
First downs                 10        22
Rushes-yards             37-77    61-256
Passing                     89        72
Return Yards                41        66
Comp-Att-Int            8-20-0    8-16-0
Punts                   8-45.1    4-49.3
Fumbles-Lost               2-1       4-2
Penalties-Yards           5-41      4-26
Time of Possession       27:06     32:54


INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING-Missouri, West 24-72, Black 2-5, Jones 11-0. Nebraska,
Buckhalter 25-125, Christo 20-67, Newcombe 9-33, Makovicka 7-31.

PASSING-Missouri, Jones 8-20-0-89. Nebraska, Newcombe 7-11-0-65,
Christo 1-5-0-7.

RECEIVING-Missouri, Dausman 4-34, Black 2-7, Wise 1-32, Layman
1-16. Nebraska, Buckhalter 2-20, Wiggins 2-17, Jackson 2-12,
Haafke 1-16, Davison 1-7.

A-76,425.